Words can not really describe the sentiments we possess following a day of giant yellowfin tuna fishing that will go down in the history books as the finest ever, again, that this fleet has ever experienced. As I write this message, reports are coming in from boats that remained in the area with catches of two hundred pound yellowfin tuna similar to the scores coming from places such as Clipperton and Hurricane bank last year in entire trips! Fourteen over two hundred with another six from one ninety to one ninety eight was our grand total in addition to several others in the one hundred eighty pound class and a handful of "tiny" one sixties and one seventies we released. Particularly spectacular in our case is that we accomplished all this before one thirty p.m. and found ourselves, with all holds at maximum capacity, in the distressing position of having to leave the best day of giant yellowfin fishing we have ever seen long before dark; traditionally the best time of day. One can only speculate, but it is very safe to say, in light of the fact that the final dozen or so fish we landed were in the one hundred ninety five to two hundred fifty pound class, and they were still biting eagerly, that there would have been plenty more action on giant "cows" had we remained drifting. This speculation was actually verified by our good friends on the Red Rooster who took over our biting school when we departed and landed another seven from two hundred to two hundred ninety pounds before dark! This fact in addition to the overall significance of this incredible day on the water removed any form of complaint we could muster about our premature departure; not that we really had any. At day's end, when all is said and done, I find myself feeling genuine emotion about this trip, this day, and this stretch of fishing.

I know I stated it previously, but the only way I can relate the significance of this fishing is that we, meaning all the long range captains, have been waiting our entire lives, or better said, fishing careers, to experience fishing like this; in my case twenty years. All discussions among us on the radio at present contain statements of pure wonder and amazement that this fishing is actually taking place; something like we want to pinch ourselves to see if this is actually real.

And so we head north with a boat load of giant yellowfin, thirty of which we know are over two hundred pounds, with plans to fish our way up the coast reveling in the glory of our good fortune with a strong emphasis on simply having a good time. Of course we will be targeting other species while on the ridge and above the following day, but we are far past the stage of seeking any quantity of fish. Enjoyment and perhaps a few types of fishing we don't regularly do will be on the agenda so we sign off today on a thankful note, thankful that we were able to experience this marvelous day of fishing and be witnesses to the unlimited potential of the ocean we spend so much time on.