It was a fitting end to a great trip with another day of superb weather and plenty of tagging action on yellowfin tuna. Another two over the coveted two hundred pound mark were released as well as ten in the 170 - 195# class. Combine those with eleven others from 125 - 160 and another 20 yellowfin in the seventy to ninety pound class and one can easily determine that it was a very busy day. In fact, the tuna fishing was so good, we never got around to targeting any Wahoo for a final hurrah.

Overall, I cannot give higher commendations to this group of anglers who eagerly embraced the tagging effort, pursued the goal of tagging yellowfin tuna and Wahoo with incredible zeal, fully appreciated the whole experience that is much more than simply fishing while in the Revillagigedo Island Reserve, and, most importantly, maintained the appropriate focus of having a good time together in the process. I have provided plenty of insight and opinions about this project in past years all with the goal of introducing anglers to a visionary project that features a new, progressive sport fishing opportunity that benefits everyone involved.

I want to take a step back today and re emphasize that this is a legitimate scientific study that could not be conducted were it not for the joint cooperation between Mexico's Instituto Nacional de Pesca, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, Royal Star, and of course anglers who provide the funding and specimens for tagging during the cruise. From our perspective, everyone wins on these voyages. Incredibly valuable information about yellowfin tuna movements and habitat utilization is gained from recovering archival tags placed in tuna within the Revillagigedo reserve. This has been proven through the recovery of many tags from the 2006 and 2007 tagging cruises, two of which were from yellowfin at liberty for almost two full years. The resources on which we so depend are gaining from the IATTC's and INP's better understanding and management strategies as a result. A relative few lucky tuna and Wahoo win as they literally get a second chance in life by being released after capture. And most of all, relative to sport fishing, a select group of anglers wins by obtaining access to a amazingly special, one of a kind, closed tropical marine reserve where the amount of life and fishing potential surpasses anything in the world today short of Clipperton Island at its best. The fact that in the year 2008, with all the demand and competition for resources on this rapidly shrinking planet, that a sport fishing opportunity of this caliber exists is nothing short of amazing. As a fisherman who has spent twenty years targeting yellowfin tuna and Wahoo in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, I will take the memories of this fishing opportunity to the grave. Like I said, aside from Clipperton Island at its best, I have never seen anything like it. It is a genuine tuna and Wahoo fisherman's paradise.

That said I will sign off today with plenty more to share on the ride up the line. It was with great sadness we all bid Isla Clarion goodbye yesterday as it seems one can never quite get enough good fishing - eight and a half days or otherwise. It was good. It was beautiful. It was amazing. What a chance to simultaneously have such a fantastic time and do some good for the world.

p.s. Don't fret boys, I'm not going "green", but I certainly have had my perspective broadened by this project. There's a heck of a lot more to it than just stacking them into the hold.

Tim Ekstrom