Fish Report for 4-21-2010
Royal Star Fish Report
4-21-2010
Royal Star
It was a war zone at Roca Partida today. Every tuna was hard earned as the local denizens were determined to take their share - and ours too. There was quite a bit of back and forth as we traded salvos and adjusted our tactics to exploit weaknesses in our mutual defenses. And in the end I would venture that the overall results were a dead heat. Suffice to say that there are a lot less hooks and crimps on board than there were prior to our arrival at Partida. And there are a lot more yellowfin tuna sporting new piercings and bling.
With a voracious gang of sharks doing their best to spoil the day at the Rock one likely asks why we remained hard at it for so long. Why would we endure the grief? Why not just leave? Take our ball and go home. The answer is relative to the Revillagigedo fishery that is and always has been tormented by gangs of pelagic "Silky" sharks that follow the schools of yellowfin tuna in these and all other Eastern Pacific tropical waters. They are simply part of the program down here in varying degrees. There are plenty of times when they back off or move out of the shallows providing a welcome break from their torment. But more often they are determined to get in the game. In the Revilla's we employ a barometer of tolerance based on a couple of factors. If the sharks in the mix are eating hooked baits, stealing hooks, and stealing an occasional hooked tuna or Wahoo they are tolerated. If they are doing the aforementioned, but are taking a disproportionate percentage of hooked tuna, they are not tolerated. It was a close call for a while today. Particularly in the morning when they seemed to be especially full of energy and vigor.
The big motivation to tough it out was the size average and quantity of yellowfin tuna that fit the bill perfectly for what we are seeking. As we so often encounter at Roca Partida tuna in the 20 - 80# class were present in tremendous abundance. But of greater significance to these anglers was the quantity of 100 - 160# fish with a sprinkling of cows (fish over 200 pounds) in the mix. With good signs of big fish discovered mid morning all along the edge, we set to targeting the size class tuna we were hoping for with fair success rates early that thankfully improved as the day progressed into afternoon. It was a patience test definitely not for the faint of mind or heart; a character building exercise to say the least. But in the end we closed out the day with two over the coveted two hundred pound mark and at least twenty five others in the 100 - 160 pound class. Combined with thirty or forty more in the 20 - 90# class it was a lively, action packed day of fishing.
To complete the picture all of the day's triumph and tragedy was partaken amongst flat calm conditions as near zero wind and seas combined for another heavenly setting on the open ocean. What a day to be fishing on the high seas. Taking all things into account, and a forecasted weather change certain to spoil the tranquility we have languished in thus far, we opted to continue the trek to the southwest at dark targeting yellowfin tuna at Isla Clarion tomorrow and beyond. Recognizing the very good big fish potential at Roca Partida however we haven't ruled out a return trip before our time in the reserve comes to an end. For now though we are satisfied to move on in search of "cleaner" waters.
Photos of the day feature the big man himself Steve Kimbrough who to the surprise of no one boated the first "deuce" of the trip. I say to the surprise of no one because Steve's fishing skill and ability is nothing short of legendary among those of us who know him. In today's case Steve's almost superhuman strength served him well as he just about ground his 220 pound tuna through the guides amidst a hot and heavy afternoon stop that produced both deuces landed today as well as a bunch of other mixed grade fish. Our respect and congratulations go out to Steve who earned his catch in every respect.
Now that our satellite carrier Stratos is back on line look for reports to continue daily. I hope.
Tim
Photo Here...
Photo Here...
With a voracious gang of sharks doing their best to spoil the day at the Rock one likely asks why we remained hard at it for so long. Why would we endure the grief? Why not just leave? Take our ball and go home. The answer is relative to the Revillagigedo fishery that is and always has been tormented by gangs of pelagic "Silky" sharks that follow the schools of yellowfin tuna in these and all other Eastern Pacific tropical waters. They are simply part of the program down here in varying degrees. There are plenty of times when they back off or move out of the shallows providing a welcome break from their torment. But more often they are determined to get in the game. In the Revilla's we employ a barometer of tolerance based on a couple of factors. If the sharks in the mix are eating hooked baits, stealing hooks, and stealing an occasional hooked tuna or Wahoo they are tolerated. If they are doing the aforementioned, but are taking a disproportionate percentage of hooked tuna, they are not tolerated. It was a close call for a while today. Particularly in the morning when they seemed to be especially full of energy and vigor.
The big motivation to tough it out was the size average and quantity of yellowfin tuna that fit the bill perfectly for what we are seeking. As we so often encounter at Roca Partida tuna in the 20 - 80# class were present in tremendous abundance. But of greater significance to these anglers was the quantity of 100 - 160# fish with a sprinkling of cows (fish over 200 pounds) in the mix. With good signs of big fish discovered mid morning all along the edge, we set to targeting the size class tuna we were hoping for with fair success rates early that thankfully improved as the day progressed into afternoon. It was a patience test definitely not for the faint of mind or heart; a character building exercise to say the least. But in the end we closed out the day with two over the coveted two hundred pound mark and at least twenty five others in the 100 - 160 pound class. Combined with thirty or forty more in the 20 - 90# class it was a lively, action packed day of fishing.
To complete the picture all of the day's triumph and tragedy was partaken amongst flat calm conditions as near zero wind and seas combined for another heavenly setting on the open ocean. What a day to be fishing on the high seas. Taking all things into account, and a forecasted weather change certain to spoil the tranquility we have languished in thus far, we opted to continue the trek to the southwest at dark targeting yellowfin tuna at Isla Clarion tomorrow and beyond. Recognizing the very good big fish potential at Roca Partida however we haven't ruled out a return trip before our time in the reserve comes to an end. For now though we are satisfied to move on in search of "cleaner" waters.
Photos of the day feature the big man himself Steve Kimbrough who to the surprise of no one boated the first "deuce" of the trip. I say to the surprise of no one because Steve's fishing skill and ability is nothing short of legendary among those of us who know him. In today's case Steve's almost superhuman strength served him well as he just about ground his 220 pound tuna through the guides amidst a hot and heavy afternoon stop that produced both deuces landed today as well as a bunch of other mixed grade fish. Our respect and congratulations go out to Steve who earned his catch in every respect.
Now that our satellite carrier Stratos is back on line look for reports to continue daily. I hope.
Tim
Photo Here...
Photo Here...
