Fish Report for 8-9-2010
Royal Star Fish Report
8-9-2010
Royal Star
Somewhere in my eulogy, that of course will be self written in advance, I am going to devote a passage to the California Yellowtail. Of all the fish that we depend on, they are the most reliable. I can't even begin to relate how valuable they are to our fishery. While I know the majority of long range angler's primary goal is to catch albacore and tuna, as is ours, yellowtail are far from second class citizens. As a game fish they are impossible to criticize, and with the advent of RSW, they are extraordinary table fare. After today's results on the water, and the prior two day's lack of, I am shamelessly supplicating at the yellowtail alter. They saved our bacon big time - again.
We had just about the perfect day in the triangle beginning with a steady pick on 18 - 25# class fish that lasted through about 1030 when conditions changed dramatically. Actually, conditions changed dramatically before we began fishing. We awoke to 62 degree green water that had a feeling more akin to Morro Bay or Santa Cruz than where we were. I have to say that an early sense of foreboding was prevalent; most certainly motivated by the prior two busted days. We took a page from the old play book however and went about our business as if the temperature didn't matter. As it turned out, it didn't.
After our steady morning scratch on the anchor we relocated to a different area that was a result of information gathered through our network. We put it to good use. One decent shot at school size yellows got us started. The second shot got it done; a boomer drift that developed into a school determined to catch a ride to San Diego come hell or high water. We left them eager and biting with enough to satisfy all goals of production on that size class of fish. Epic fishing. Throw in grease calm conditions, and finally, sunny skies, and the picture was complete.
As if the success found wasn't already enough, we had a little extra time to spend targeting trophy or "premium" yellowtail as we call them before heading up the line. As we poked our way along we came upon as picturesque a spot as imaginable with birds up and doing their thing and big yellows plowing around underneath. We snaked our way through the kelp stringers to a perfect little opening, kicked over the anchor, and spent the final two hours scratching up twenty two 28 - 35# yellowtail amidst a fantastic surface show of straight primos. It was a perfect ending to a wildly successful day that cleansed our psyche of the traumatic, fishless first two days. It is a good thing, for all our sake.
I was talking with one of my favorite colleagues last night sharing some comic relief to alleviate the grief we were both experiencing. We have a running joke between us about keeping a bozo the clown and donkey suit in the closet for those occasions when we make a boner move. The threat is to don either upon return in the event a trip doesn't work out due to an avoidable fishing disaster. At the end of the day yesterday we were debating who was to wear which, the donkey or bozo. At the end of today, we were rolling up the spooner garb in mothballs for what will hopefully be a very long interval. As stupid as this ritual exchange probably sounds, it is hard to explain how supportive it is between us. We are brothers out here. Competitive as all get out, but there for each other in any and every way; good times and bad.
So we head back out a day's end ready to try our hand offshore again in search of albacore and tuna. While we know it has been a real struggle, we also know that nothing has ever been located by not looking. With money in the bank in the form of an RSW tank near full of beautiful yellowtail, and ideal looking weather on the outside, it is time to get out there and do it. Like I told our anglers in our meeting upon departing the island: even if we don't catch a single tuna, it is the right move to make. I have never caught an albacore or tuna by not trying for them. Here we go.
Photo of the day features long time Royal Star veteran Wayne Tamanaka pulling on the long rod in quintessential yellowtail form. Afterward, Wayne and Capt. Sims display his prize that was wrested from the grip of the kelp during an epic battle. Look for tomorrow's final trip report.
Tim Ekstrom
Photo Here...
Photo Here...
We had just about the perfect day in the triangle beginning with a steady pick on 18 - 25# class fish that lasted through about 1030 when conditions changed dramatically. Actually, conditions changed dramatically before we began fishing. We awoke to 62 degree green water that had a feeling more akin to Morro Bay or Santa Cruz than where we were. I have to say that an early sense of foreboding was prevalent; most certainly motivated by the prior two busted days. We took a page from the old play book however and went about our business as if the temperature didn't matter. As it turned out, it didn't.
After our steady morning scratch on the anchor we relocated to a different area that was a result of information gathered through our network. We put it to good use. One decent shot at school size yellows got us started. The second shot got it done; a boomer drift that developed into a school determined to catch a ride to San Diego come hell or high water. We left them eager and biting with enough to satisfy all goals of production on that size class of fish. Epic fishing. Throw in grease calm conditions, and finally, sunny skies, and the picture was complete.
As if the success found wasn't already enough, we had a little extra time to spend targeting trophy or "premium" yellowtail as we call them before heading up the line. As we poked our way along we came upon as picturesque a spot as imaginable with birds up and doing their thing and big yellows plowing around underneath. We snaked our way through the kelp stringers to a perfect little opening, kicked over the anchor, and spent the final two hours scratching up twenty two 28 - 35# yellowtail amidst a fantastic surface show of straight primos. It was a perfect ending to a wildly successful day that cleansed our psyche of the traumatic, fishless first two days. It is a good thing, for all our sake.
I was talking with one of my favorite colleagues last night sharing some comic relief to alleviate the grief we were both experiencing. We have a running joke between us about keeping a bozo the clown and donkey suit in the closet for those occasions when we make a boner move. The threat is to don either upon return in the event a trip doesn't work out due to an avoidable fishing disaster. At the end of the day yesterday we were debating who was to wear which, the donkey or bozo. At the end of today, we were rolling up the spooner garb in mothballs for what will hopefully be a very long interval. As stupid as this ritual exchange probably sounds, it is hard to explain how supportive it is between us. We are brothers out here. Competitive as all get out, but there for each other in any and every way; good times and bad.
So we head back out a day's end ready to try our hand offshore again in search of albacore and tuna. While we know it has been a real struggle, we also know that nothing has ever been located by not looking. With money in the bank in the form of an RSW tank near full of beautiful yellowtail, and ideal looking weather on the outside, it is time to get out there and do it. Like I told our anglers in our meeting upon departing the island: even if we don't catch a single tuna, it is the right move to make. I have never caught an albacore or tuna by not trying for them. Here we go.
Photo of the day features long time Royal Star veteran Wayne Tamanaka pulling on the long rod in quintessential yellowtail form. Afterward, Wayne and Capt. Sims display his prize that was wrested from the grip of the kelp during an epic battle. Look for tomorrow's final trip report.
Tim Ekstrom
Photo Here...
Photo Here...
