Well it didn't come easy, but we finally found the action. Blustery, bumpy conditions, made more pronounced by a stiff uphill current, were the theme, but fortunately the yellowtail we encountered were in a biting mood swarming the boat on a couple of occasions that provided full speed action on any choice of tackle fulfilling just about every angler's yellowtail expectations. For the most part yellowtail are now checked off the list with the vast majority of anglers releasing, recording, or enjoying the show from the sidelines after two good shots at them.

On this note I have to commend these anglers who set an incredible example for the rapidly dwindling "old school" approach that traditionally retained fish after fish, regardless of whether there was a strategy for utilizing them or not, until they found themselves with a confounding quantity of product they were scrambling to give away at the conclusion of their voyage. The vast majority of Royal Star anglers now have a plan in place, regularly reference our tally board on which we record every individual fish that is stored in our holds by number and species, and opt to catch and release when their goals for retention are reached. This approach should be embraced by all long range anglers, actually all sport anglers in general, as we are the highest profile user group out here. Our image is extremely significant and should project responsibility and a strong sense of stewardship for these resources we have the privilege to exploit. Now I am not going all green and touchy feely on all of you, I am as hardcore as one can be when it comes to loading up on fish, but I am also keenly aware that this world has evolved, the stakes are profound, and we all must be at the forefront of the trend to preserve what we have. Think about this on all your future fishing excursions. If you don't have a direct use for the fish, such as personal consumption and/or sharing the fantastic product with family and friends, think about releasing it for the next round.

So, with my sermon of the day completed, we will be dedicating our final day's effort targeting yellowfin tuna on the outside. The good news is that the tuna also appear to be in abundance in this zone, in many cases right alongside their yellowtail buddies, but as of yet they are not showing quite the same enthusiasm for coming on board. We did have a handful of stops today that produced thirty six tuna in the 20 - 35# class, so our hope is that if the weather straightens out even a notch or two that the tuna will get with the program. As I mentioned there is no shortage of them around. The weather forecast indicates impending improvement so we will see if a reprieve is in the cards for our final day of fishing tomorrow.

For our photo today I am pulling one out from a couple of days back at Rocas Alijos. Charter master Larry Fancher is well known for his fantastic groups he has assembled for many years. In fact, I think Larry's long range beginnings might even precede mine going back to the old RP days in the mid eighties. Larry's cheerful demeanor and focus on making a good time of any circumstance is a huge attraction to his annual ten day Royal Star voyage that is always exceptional in every respect. As evidenced by the photo, Larry doesn't do half bad at the rail either always landing his share with a smile. Our thanks to Larry for his many years of support and the many more to come.

Tim

Photo Here...