For a day that began with an incredible run of bad luck that cost us at least four two hundred pound class yellowfin tuna for a variety of reasons, the most significant if which was an unfavorable change in the weather, we managed to tread water until the odds came around preventing a humiliating debut as the village idiot. This was a bona fide day of trophy yellowfin tuna action that saw all five of the long range vessels in this area score multiple two hundred pound class fish in addition to decent scores on one hundred fifty to one hundred ninety five pound models. I simply can not relate the impact of these stops where herds of giant yellowfin come crashing out of the water throwing bait, spray, and themselves in every direction. It is these moments that we live for. These moments that drive us to challenge, compete, and prevail. Simply put: this is the apex of Southern California style live bait fishing.

If it hadn't happened for numerous consecutive years on fall ten day voyages I could talk about how amazing or unusual these big fish in this zone are but the history is impossible to ignore. Ten day fall long range voyages in the months of October through December have become consistent producers of yellowfin tuna in the one hundred fifty to three hundred pound class. Not every trip mind you but it seems that at least one or two, some years more, trips a season return with tales of unreal offshore giant yellowfin action and trophies in the holds to prove it.

Speaking of trophies I have to return to my original story of hard luck that befell us yesterday right from the get go. There were plenty of opportunities to go around and we were certainly getting ours, but true to the nature of big fish angling, the margin for error is zero and we were on the wrong side of the equation. It never ceases to amaze me that even when everything is perfect one little shift in the trend can throw your game off, and once the snowball begins rolling down hill, it can be very difficult to stop. A perfect example of this was our first day where we were living right landing an amazing ninety percent of the big fish we hooked contrary to the traditional averages of about fifty to seventy percent; fifty percent of course being a bad day. On cloud nine with swollen pride, we began day two ready to resume our activities and were torn down, kicked about, ravaged, and reduced to sniveling by dumping the first seven big fish we hooked. That's right, seven in a row! Needless to say tensions were high and a few expletives were thrown about as several of the trophy class bruisers were lost within plain sight only yards from gaff (another common occurrence in trophy yellowfin angling). Landing the last two from our banner morning stop did wonders for morale and the next stop, two and one half hours later, the odds definitely turned in our favor when we landed the first fish we hooked at about one sixty, the second at three hundred six, and the third at two hundred thirty. From the bottom of the barrel to the top of the heap in a snap of the fingers; or in this case a couple of grueling, hour long battles.
To top it off mastman and long time Royal Star crewman Joey Conrad made the spot of the year picking off a area of crashing trophy yellowfin a mere ten minutes before full blackness in windy, choppy conditions with four to six foot seas. This amazing feat of talent and perseverance propelled into our final stop of the day that produced momentary pandemonium as the voracious giant yellowfin came up the line meaning business hammering about seven of the first ten or twelve baits to hit the water. When the smoke cleared from the initial rush we had four fish remaining and managed to land three a one seventy, a one eighty, and a final two twelve to finish our day on a good note.

It was a long story I know but it is a great example of just how this trophy yellowfin tuna fishing goes down. Needless to say we are especially pleased with our exceptional good fortune landing the three hundred pound trophy as well as all the other big fish yesterday. The newest member of the coveted three hundred pound yellowfin tuna club is Ernie Adams who definitely earned his fish of a lifetime the hard way. Like all of the fish in this area, I have never seen a fish pull harder or put up a more valiant effort. Damn are these fish mean and tough! Huge congratulations to Ernie and all the other fortunate anglers to land trophies this trip.

Now the giant yellowfin phase is over as we head up the line contending with a weather change as we do so. We hope to offer a few more opportunities at variety tomorrow before continuing up the line to fish our final day on the coast.