Rather than a fall from grace I would classify our results today as a correction for the fact that were we enjoying one of those mysterious honey hole's for the prior two day's. For whatever reason - a slight blip in the ridge, an underwater eddy, or even plain luck, one spot or another will often out produce when fishing amidst plenty of company with no real explanation as to why. And then today the classic element of fishing that forever maintains my fascination and interest occurred.

Naturally confidence was high as the prior two days identified our zone of choice as highly productive. Fully prepared to keep the roll established we prepped for another good day, rolled out early, and then watched the show as one of our colleagues enjoyed the lion's share of the action. Classic fishing, just when one thinks they have it dialed in the rug is pulled from beneath them; nothing changed visibly, but something obviously did. I won't go as far as saying it's a total mystery though. The bottom has plenty to do with results in this zone. A little local knowledge goes a long way. A lot of local knowledge goes even further.

Not that we didn't make a day of it or fall completely short in the catching department. We had a decent albeit scratchy day of putting fish onboard one at a time but for the occasional short flurry for two or three. As usual they seem to accumulate just the same. We finished the day pleased but not ecstatic. The gold ring evaded our best effort while we did good on the brass. But, with a fisherman's idea of the what and why we'll see if we can't outfox the fox tomorrow. We are in great position regardless with a couple of days to go, plenty of resources, and the resolve to wallop a lot more of these tuna.

Photo today features Royal Star angler Mike Carlson who is a story in himself for the past three days. I have to admit that even I am now amazed after being merely impressed in the beginning. You see Mike has surpassed every idea of reasonable in the category of hooking fish. I honestly can not answer the question of whether he is lucky or good. He is definitely some, or a lot, of one, both, or the other. The first day he was good hooking his share and then some with an obvious skilled hand in live bait fishing. The second day he was better hooking more than his share, a lot more, with an obvious heightened knowledge of the micro aspects of this style fishing. Today he was just plain damn lucky. No one can be that good. Can they? One after another, bait after bait he is on. Right in the middle of everyone, using identical equipment, on the port side, starboard side, in the middle of the stern, under the boat, up the side, on the kite - it doesn't matter - he is on. Following yesterday's performance I began observing closely hoping to glean the secret from such mystifying mastery. I haven't seen it yet. I will keep watching however, and report accordingly.

Here is the undisputed hero along with a call out to his friends who Mike assured me are watching the voyage results closely. I can say with gratitude that the current results in the hatch are much better with Mike a part of this adventure. What a fisherman.

Tim Ekstrom

Photo Here...