5/30/12

Feast your eyes on today's photos and reminisce about days of old; the days when we targeted vast
quantities of quality offshore Bluefin less the flying circus that has annihilated the fishery since.
Today there were no boats, no pens, no planes, just us and a whole sea of opportunity to ourselves. We
didn't score big in numbers but in significance and relative proportion we made a big score.

Far off the beaten track, in the face of difficult working weather, we chose the difficult route upon
departure from Alijos yesterday. Recognizing the obvious fact that finding fish offshore would only
happen if we were there we forged into the crucible unable to resist a zone that has been nagging at us
since our departure. We made a fishing move; like fishermen; as anglers who choose Royal Star for their
long range voyages would expect us to; as our nature compels us.

The result of our efforts was 24 Bluefin from two different stops the best of which produced a dozen. The
first stop caught more than a few anglers off guard as the size range of today's fish was 60 - 75 pounds
with one that came in at 106. Between the difficult weather, the larger fish, the typical, head shaking
Bluefin behavior that tears loose an amazing number of hooks, and the necessary acclimation to better
size fish that always costs a beginning few, the fishing during the first go around was way better than
the catching. After that though we got in the groove.

So now it is a matter of seeing just how much there is to it. Needless to say the red alert was
transmitted over the wire and at least a couple of our colleagues will join us tomorrow to expand on what
we found. The one thing I will offer with confidence is that when the weather calms down and more eyes
and sonar's join the search, there is a one hundred percent certainty that more, and better numbers, of
these Bluefin will be caught in this zone. It is simply a matter of time and conditions.

Of course on this note I again have to mention that we have one six day voyage with plenty of room to
accommodate those of you that have been waiting for signs to develop departing Sunday June 24th returning
Saturday June 30th. This voyage is lined up perfectly to target offshore Bluefin, yellowfin(did I mention
that we caught one 25 pounder yesterday?), and albacore as well as mix in an island or day on the coast
if the occasion calls for it. But offshore tuna is the main idea, and will be pursued first and foremost.
Now we know they are here; and this is only the beginning; mark my words.

Photos today feature Shimano master angler John Kuch who earned the coveted title landing "The First"
beautiful offshore Bluefin of the 2012 summer season. Let's hope that many like this will be filling
sport anglers sushi platters from this point on. Photo number two features first time long range angler
James Haiber kneeling in triumph next to a rack of 60 - 75 pounders dressed and ready for storage in the
RSW tank. Can you imagine? Perfect, fat seventy pound Bluefin in the RSW tank at thirty degrees for only
two days; a sushi lovers dream no doubt, and the finest quality product one will ever find. I can't wait
to catch more. This is what we live for.

Tim Ekstrom

Photo Here...

Photo Here...