Fish Report for 4-26-2010
Royal Star Fish Report
4-26-2010
Royal Star
Well we were all queued up for our final day with everything prepared and positioned to maximize the anticipated big daylight hit. Based on the indications, and the prior three days of fishing, we had no reason to expect otherwise. But that is where one consistently runs into problems when it comes to fishing. Expectations, especially when it comes to bite times and behaviors, are too often shattered; as was the case this morning. So as I was saying we were all systems go, on the perfect spot in the breaking dawn, had our kite anglers up, and other anglers at the rail with baits in the water. When they came through like they had the previous three mornings, we were going to bushwhack them big time. Then, they didn't come through. Not even one. Not a single fish. Not even a shark.
As if divining our strategy the big tuna pulled a morning no show; no sign, no life, no indication that they were even around. As this was our final day it was a sinking feeling - nothing like the fishing taking a nose dive when success is so close. I have to say however that in no way was I surprised. After living this exact scenario so many times I simply marvel at the fact. And, I study on what elicited the change - for about one minute, then I move on. The reason being that I am about as far along in figuring it out as I was twenty five years ago. I have found that in these circumstances it is much better to skip to the next move rather than attempt to make water into wine - and fast.
So that was the strategy as we departed our honey hole - search for glory, or anything really, to end the day on a high note. In this case the high note had actually become quite a bit lower as fishing success is always relative. When you start off the day with nothing, it doesn't require much to breach the barricade of success. So with our standards slightly adjusted, we set off on a full tour circumnavigating the island in record time. We saw nothing. In fact, within twenty minutes of departing our glory zone in search of greener pastures, I wished I was back.
Though there is plenty of science to fishing, such as water temperatures, current, tides, and so forth, there is also much to instinct and gut feeling - in my opinion. That mentioned suffice to say that shortly after heading out to survey other zones my sense was that we needed to get back to where we left from with haste. And we did. After a quick scenic tour of a couple of special nooks on the weather side, we hauled ass back to our starting point content to put all our effort into this zone. What I really felt was that it was a time of day scenario more than conditions motivating the fish.
So at 1000 hrs. we had zero tuna to show for our efforts. At 1100 we had one. At 1230 we had seven, and at 1630 we had forty eight with the majority again weighing from 120 to 150 and a handful of standouts from 160 to 175. It was good action; especially on the kites that were going off with such consistency that was all we could do to keep up. For at least a couple of hours as fast as we could deploy one bait, the other would get hammered, and vice versa. The big tuna moved into the shallows with a spectacular show flying out of the water and blowing out on any bait fish in their path. As they walked in from the deeps we were all able to easily monitor their progress, and anticipate the result when they arrived in our proximity. Good fishing, tremendous exhilaration, and complete satisfaction. That is how I describe the atmosphere during and after the action. We nailed it. Thanks to the fish gods.
Today's photo features a sequence of south land angler Todd Phillips, who is well known as superb fisherman, as well as a stellar individual to share time with at the rail. I have fished with Todd dating back to my days of youth on Eddie Mc Ewen's Pacific Queen in the mid eighties. I can say with confidence that a better all around fisherman does not exist - unless one considers Todd's brother Greg, who is also as talented an angler as they come. In today's sequence take particular note of Todd's face at the moment he is shoving his tagged one hundred seventy five pound yellowfin back over the side. This sentiment is reflected in every Revillagigedo tagging voyage participant to date. Good times.
Tim
Photo Here...
Photo Here...
Photo Here...
As if divining our strategy the big tuna pulled a morning no show; no sign, no life, no indication that they were even around. As this was our final day it was a sinking feeling - nothing like the fishing taking a nose dive when success is so close. I have to say however that in no way was I surprised. After living this exact scenario so many times I simply marvel at the fact. And, I study on what elicited the change - for about one minute, then I move on. The reason being that I am about as far along in figuring it out as I was twenty five years ago. I have found that in these circumstances it is much better to skip to the next move rather than attempt to make water into wine - and fast.
So that was the strategy as we departed our honey hole - search for glory, or anything really, to end the day on a high note. In this case the high note had actually become quite a bit lower as fishing success is always relative. When you start off the day with nothing, it doesn't require much to breach the barricade of success. So with our standards slightly adjusted, we set off on a full tour circumnavigating the island in record time. We saw nothing. In fact, within twenty minutes of departing our glory zone in search of greener pastures, I wished I was back.
Though there is plenty of science to fishing, such as water temperatures, current, tides, and so forth, there is also much to instinct and gut feeling - in my opinion. That mentioned suffice to say that shortly after heading out to survey other zones my sense was that we needed to get back to where we left from with haste. And we did. After a quick scenic tour of a couple of special nooks on the weather side, we hauled ass back to our starting point content to put all our effort into this zone. What I really felt was that it was a time of day scenario more than conditions motivating the fish.
So at 1000 hrs. we had zero tuna to show for our efforts. At 1100 we had one. At 1230 we had seven, and at 1630 we had forty eight with the majority again weighing from 120 to 150 and a handful of standouts from 160 to 175. It was good action; especially on the kites that were going off with such consistency that was all we could do to keep up. For at least a couple of hours as fast as we could deploy one bait, the other would get hammered, and vice versa. The big tuna moved into the shallows with a spectacular show flying out of the water and blowing out on any bait fish in their path. As they walked in from the deeps we were all able to easily monitor their progress, and anticipate the result when they arrived in our proximity. Good fishing, tremendous exhilaration, and complete satisfaction. That is how I describe the atmosphere during and after the action. We nailed it. Thanks to the fish gods.
Today's photo features a sequence of south land angler Todd Phillips, who is well known as superb fisherman, as well as a stellar individual to share time with at the rail. I have fished with Todd dating back to my days of youth on Eddie Mc Ewen's Pacific Queen in the mid eighties. I can say with confidence that a better all around fisherman does not exist - unless one considers Todd's brother Greg, who is also as talented an angler as they come. In today's sequence take particular note of Todd's face at the moment he is shoving his tagged one hundred seventy five pound yellowfin back over the side. This sentiment is reflected in every Revillagigedo tagging voyage participant to date. Good times.
Tim
Photo Here...
Photo Here...
Photo Here...
