By day's end we were deep into the first, bona fide flat calm sea state we have experienced since I don't even remember when. And when I reference the term flat calm I mean literally flat calm; lake like, inviting, so becoming in every respect that one would gladly succumb, blissfully senseless, to the advances of such heavenly temptation over any horizon. And though we well know the underlying truth, we are more than willing to drop our guard and accept the gift sequestering our wariness in favor of the sweet indulgence such conditions manifest.

Cups of coffee are confidently left unattended, loose items are set down lackadaisically, tasks unfinished are temporarily abandoned in favor of more compelling pursuits, conversations between one or two become all out round tables as anywhere, outdoors or in, beckons impromptu, lively gatherings - all these, and countless others, are the familiar consequence of flat calm conditions. Life at sea is made so easy by such an uncommon deficit of motion that it is almost akin to being at home - where one need never think of the effect of motion on any and every single routine. Now surround the setting with the magnificence of an endless ocean, tranquil, inviting, and generously offering a wealth of spectacles and sounds, and the significance of a day on the high seas in such conditions is instinctually recognized by seafarers journeyman and apprentice alike.

And while transiting this incredible ocean brimming with possibilities none other than the beauty itself was realized by M/V Royal Star. We applied our efforts in the form of dragging jigs, and eyeballing intently, but honestly we were not staking our success on today's passage; bigger and better things await below, or so our instinct tells us. Up above scattered sign of bluefin across several hundred collective miles of ocean dominated the reports; none however were compelling enough to yank our chain to stop. In that respect our decision to continue forth was made easy.

At day's end, awash in calming pastels of pinks, lavenders, and blues, brilliant coronas, luminous and reaching called eyes to the west each paying homage to the indescribable, to the magnificence, of what is beyond. Thoughts of fishing were far from the moment as the dwindling western hues trailed into the sea finally exhausted by the passionate display extinguished by time.

While that time is presently in our favor - five day's of it in fact to get the job done, it is a rather fragile balance not to be taken for granted. Needless to say we sure hope for some good fishing to talk about tomorrow; and beyond.

Tim Ekstrom