A lot more photo opportunities today as we more than tripled the previous day's tally. Still the fishing was slow; still conditions, in the form of twenty five knot winds and current running contrary, extracted most of fun from it, and still these anglers were resolute throwing their full effort into the challenge. There wasn't a single thing pretty in the whole episode; it was plain work to be out there.

And while I am disappointed when these occasions arise I also recognize that nothing will change the elements. Reasonable discourse with an agitated Zeus and Poseidon is futile. When the two collaborate we take and make the best of it. And in the case of today's fishing make the best of it we did. Truth be told there were actually a couple of junctures when I had a fleeting sense that we might just get things going with steadier fish coming over the rail. There were at least a couple of decent packs of tuna showing themselves and occasionally flashing through but the majority refused to settle in. And the few that did put on the brakes and set up camp in our vicinity were fickle and finicky at best.

Between that and conditions that made getting any fly lined bait away from the boat a monumental victory it was a setting ripe for temptation. The temptation to drop down in gear size is age old and worn. Oh how many disasters, how many heart breaks, how many disappointments have I officiated during the past twenty five years in this arena. And yes every once in a while the miracle occurs, as it did today, but such practice is so predictable; as are the 99% majority results. So a few brave, brazen souls dropped their gear size today and prompted the bite they were after. One was on the receiving end of a probable once in a lifetime gift from Poseidon, the others got predictably smoked or busted off after drawn out battles.

Credit where credit is due veteran Royal Star angler Larry Ritter did a number of things right that led to his successful outcome. First was loading his reel with fresh, 50# Izorline. If one is attempting to best one in a thousand odds Izorline is the monofilament to prepare with. To steal the slogan it definitely is "Brutally Strong" - perfect for the environment on a long range vessel. Second was Larry's choice of gear beginning with an improved Shimano TLD 30 in perfect working condition. Third and most important was the application of patience that I am admittedly incapable of.

Captain Brian Sims and Larry finessed that fish on a backup with at least five hundred yards of line out, in addition to the four hundred yards on the original reel, until the poor devil ultimately expired under the stress and sank to the bottom. Then, similar to the three hundred eighteen pound beast we captured on sixty pound in the same fashion a few years ago, they slowly but surely dragged the fish across the bottom until it was straight under the boat and wound it up dead as dead can be, stiff as a board. Needless to say we have the soft mud bottom of these lower banks to thank for this success story. And of course Captain Sims and Larry for showing dogged determination to refute the odds. When the battle ended in triumph I congratulated Larry and promptly told him the same thing I told the lottery winner a few years back: "Great job, now please, don't ever try it again". Actually I think the language was a little saltier than that; in good humor of course.

Here is Larry and his tuna that bears the mark of the epic collision with the bottom that led to it's demise. Road rash does little to affect the table quality of this 158# trophy though. Certainly Larry will be savoring the results of his victory for many months to come.

Tim Ekstrom

Photo Here...