Wow, what a catch! I just helped the boys pitch off a load of mixed bluefin, yellowfin, and dorado that would have done a long range trip proud. There was even a coveted Opah to add color and exception to the occasion. What timing. Throw in the fishing skills of Capt. Toussaint, and the incredible effort the Royal Star crew puts forth to treat anglers to a fishing vacation of exceptional quality, and the anglers who jumped on this impromptu 1 ? day voyage were rewarded with a fantastic introduction to the Royal Star long range fishing experience. We even coordinated our arrival with Fisherman's Processing so anglers had the option of having their catch professionally filleted and vacuum packed and/or smoked or jerked. Most took advantage of the processing service and were on their way in short order with their premium product in hand.

Now we gear up for the next 1 ? day with Capt. Brian Sims taking the helm. With the offshore fishing for tuna still rolling, the full moon coming tomorrow, and continuing primo weather in the forecast, the stage is set for another successful outing. Let's hope our good fortune continues. We plan to follow the same format on this second voyage with Fisherman's Processing meeting the boat to offer full filleting, smoking, and vacuum packaging to returning anglers. Like all other Royal Star voyages processing orders are completed on board in advance of arrival to expedite unloading and processing of our angler's catch in the quickest time possible.

On a completely different note I want to address an issue regarding a daily report containing an inside joke between an angler and I a few days back. In the report I made direct reference to "snivelers whining" about my reports being too long winded based on a conversation I shared on the bridge with the angler referenced a few trips ago. The angler was busting my balls about having to read all the way through the daily narrative to find the sometimes obscured fishing details. It was friendly, humorous, and good natured; as was my intent in the daily narrative. I had a good laugh and long conversation with the angler who got the joke and called me to respond yesterday. Sadly in the same conversation he informed me that in addition to drawing his attention I stoked up the diehard "I hate Tim Ekstrom Crew" who went to gnashing their teeth and spewing their usual hateful internet rhetoric: I'm an idiot, a fool, a wannabe, a blowhard, a big dope, etc. etc.

In varying degrees all of these assignations may be accurate. But, I assure all of you reading along that I am completely comfortable in my own person. My life, family, accomplishments, and contributions to the sport fishing industry speak for themselves. I confidently assure the world that every angler who rides a San Diego based sport fishing vessel today has a better experience, and enjoys higher quality standards because of the contributions I, and we on Royal Star, have made and freely shared. To the super majority who don't believe that my character and/or person falls into the above mentioned negative categories rest assured that I will go forward the same. To the super minority who go to sleep at night thinking up new ways to slander me and/ or desperately hoping to tear me down rest assured I will go forward the same. And, to close this topic for the day, or better yet perhaps for the rest of my days, I call on anyone who harbors such vehement dislike for me to actually meet me; or better yet to actually fish with me. You'll be amazed at how terrible I'm not.

Finally I want to post a couple of more bluefin photos from the Tom Walker six day that ran smack into the opening wave last Tuesday. At full resolution here's the one and only Tom Byer with his fifty pound class bluefin along with Capt. Gregg Tanji at the gaff and long time Royal Star friend Rick Sweetster providing a happy background. This is what I like about our fishery; this and about ten million other things I could write about all day long. In fact, I do.


Tim Ekstrom

Photo Here...