Whether it stems from my own instinct to question and/or doubt, or my overall perspective of human nature, I can't help but wonder what percentage of you reading this narrative believe I am full of baloney; specifically when I offer ideas about upcoming voyages with space available aligning with excellent fishing opportunities; yesterday's report was a perfect example. Every time I draft something along the line of favorable things developing and "now is a perfect time to jump on a trip" I get the sense that at least some readers think I am putting promotion ahead of reality - tumble weeds rolling by, dreadfully scorched earth with sinister dust devils dancing among the rippling heat waves, I stand fast clutching my bullhorn and a fistful of tickets to the most refreshing water park on planet earth just over the next rise "for only twenty nine ninety five!".

We opened the first round of our 2011 summer season with a solid afternoon for sixty nine Bluefin Tuna from 30 - 46 pounds and three 30 - 35# five pound albacore. There were numerous positive indications, and plenty to stop on with the traditional bluefin behavior of some spots biting while others did not the predominate theme. Two different spots produced ninety five percent of our catch with the last hit for forty one being the best. For the first fifteen minutes of that stop fishing was the real deal with instant bites on the corner and ten to twelve bluefin hooked at all times. Afterward, and during our other good stop for twenty five, it was fine scratch fishing with the anglers favoring thirty pound fluorocarbon keeping one to four hooked while the catching lasted.

Today's fishing was already in three day range and the signs were perfect for sport fishing - no big schools, no purse seine Armageddon watching school after school get annihilated while we writh agonizing despair; small scattered groups that offered plenty of opportunity. Let us hope it stays this way for some time to come. I am encouraged by several different indications that speak to more opportunities for all of us. And while the only downside of the day was the crappy weather that continues to plague us, ironically it is the best thing that can happen to thwart the relentless efforts of the industrial fleet. It evens the odds for us, perhaps even swaying them in our favor. That is a whole different topic however that I may expound upon at another time.

Needless to say we have no plans to relocate and will be receiving some help tomorrow in the form of several of our colleagues who will join us. While the weather promises to remain sloppy, we will put the advantage to good use if the opportunity arises. Otherwise we are plenty happy to get things started off and hope this is the beginning of much greater things for all. And, I do want to mention that we have plenty of space of the upcoming June 29th - July 2nd three day that is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the offshore opportunities we see developing. In another three weeks I would say it is a darn good gamble that things will have advanced well beyond what we are seeing now.

Photo today offers solid evidence that they are here and ready. Royal Star angler Phil Miranda, whom you may remember posing for a fantastic shot with a 250 or thereabouts yellowfin tuna back in January, does the honors today with crewman Steve Gregonis on the gaff. This was Phil's first thirty five pound class bluefin of the day but not his last. He was on fire ending the day with close to a handful of the chunky little devils that are swimming gold.

On a complete sidebar, but relevant to the topic of swimming gold, that Kawakawa in yesterday's photo was a quality of sashimi that can only be described as spectacular - grade triple A quality, rich, beautiful in color, and delicious beyond description. If you enjoy sashimi and are lucky enough to catch one of those don't let the opportunity pass you by.

Tim Ekstrom

Photo Here...