Fish Report for 6-1-2012
Royal Star Fish Report
6-1-2012
Royal Star
5/31/12
Wow!, but first I have to admit that as the 4:00 p.m. hour rolled past and we were still sitting on a
sole 22 pound Bluefin landed while drifting at daylight my confidence was slightly shaken. Not that we
felt the fish were gone and never to be found; it was simply a matter of time; of the clock ticking away
opportunity as we bumbled around in search of the proverbial needle in a haystack.
Fortunately, and this is a big point, we called in the cavalry yesterday and they arrived today to join
the search. This is key to consistent offshore success. Obviously off the main vein early the three of us
spread out in full search mode combining our efforts toward collective success. And when we received the
call at 3:45 that our colleague was on them ten miles distant we dropped the hammer giving these brand
new Caterpillar C-18's a good run.
For an hour we crashed and smashed our way toward the glory missed so far. It was worth it. Upon arrival
we found a spot in no time and got down to business. Eighteen of the sixty to seventy five pound beauties
came aboard from our first attempt that wound down in rather short order leaving us in the classic
position Captains wrangle with so often. With an hour and a half of daylight, loads of fish under and
around us, do we wait them out and hope for the sun downer? Or do we leave this spot behind in search of
a fresh school and a big finish? Those anglers who have fished with us before know our decision process
by now. We just don't, we can't, settle for the certain few if our gut tells us there is a shot at a big
hit; we'll leave those last few, those crashing around not biting bastards, in our wake every time.
And though it doesn't always work in our favor, the majority of the time, when we are firing on all
cylinders, it does. After departing our first stop in full confidence that it was the right move for the
occasion I wasn't so certain as the sun dipped within inches of the horizon. Wringing my hands and
cussing the Bluefin the bridge dialogue was classic - Randy, Sean, and I cruising along feeling the noose
tightening when I stated something to the effect of " expletive, we are in the right water now, this is
right where they should be". No sooner did I say it, the words were literally coming out of my mouth,
when the sonar light up directly on our bow. Randy didn't even skip a beat. "And there they are" he said,
then grabbed his gear and headed below to broadcast tickets to the show; and a show it was.
It was a blast from the past, moments of the incredible nineties before Armageddon purse seining of these
beautiful Bluefin began. It was the real deal. Twenty more of the dandies came on board in short order as
our group of anglers, now well schooled, put the wood to them. For the final two and a half hours of our
fishless full day we landed thirty eight total with the largest coming in at 100.2 pounds.
It was a fitting end to the day and the trip. Satisfied with the fruit of our labors we took off for home
at dark planning to drag the jigs and do some early morning scouting before officially calling it.
Photos for the day feature "The First" one hundred pound Bluefin tuna of our summer, 2012 season. Angler
Joe Baker receives full honors for his 106 pound beauty that he amazingly landed using a Shimano Talica
8, 40 pound fluorocarbon, and a Terez rod in very sloppy sea conditions. This catch was a testament to
both Joe as an angler and the forgiving action of the Terez series rods that make a huge difference in
this exact scenario.
Photo number two features Royal Star and long range veteran Steve Hogan who landed his 100.2 pound trophy
amidst the hot and heavy action of our first afternoon go around. Photo number three features another
Royal Star veteran whom some may recognize from the Bill Roecker calendar with a near identical Bluefin
two years past. L.A. fireman Keith Bridges (with crewman Blake Wasano) handily dispatched this seventy
five pound dandy along with four or five others during the past two days; a job well done!
Tim Ekstrom
Photo Here...
Photo Here...
Photo Here...
Wow!, but first I have to admit that as the 4:00 p.m. hour rolled past and we were still sitting on a
sole 22 pound Bluefin landed while drifting at daylight my confidence was slightly shaken. Not that we
felt the fish were gone and never to be found; it was simply a matter of time; of the clock ticking away
opportunity as we bumbled around in search of the proverbial needle in a haystack.
Fortunately, and this is a big point, we called in the cavalry yesterday and they arrived today to join
the search. This is key to consistent offshore success. Obviously off the main vein early the three of us
spread out in full search mode combining our efforts toward collective success. And when we received the
call at 3:45 that our colleague was on them ten miles distant we dropped the hammer giving these brand
new Caterpillar C-18's a good run.
For an hour we crashed and smashed our way toward the glory missed so far. It was worth it. Upon arrival
we found a spot in no time and got down to business. Eighteen of the sixty to seventy five pound beauties
came aboard from our first attempt that wound down in rather short order leaving us in the classic
position Captains wrangle with so often. With an hour and a half of daylight, loads of fish under and
around us, do we wait them out and hope for the sun downer? Or do we leave this spot behind in search of
a fresh school and a big finish? Those anglers who have fished with us before know our decision process
by now. We just don't, we can't, settle for the certain few if our gut tells us there is a shot at a big
hit; we'll leave those last few, those crashing around not biting bastards, in our wake every time.
And though it doesn't always work in our favor, the majority of the time, when we are firing on all
cylinders, it does. After departing our first stop in full confidence that it was the right move for the
occasion I wasn't so certain as the sun dipped within inches of the horizon. Wringing my hands and
cussing the Bluefin the bridge dialogue was classic - Randy, Sean, and I cruising along feeling the noose
tightening when I stated something to the effect of " expletive, we are in the right water now, this is
right where they should be". No sooner did I say it, the words were literally coming out of my mouth,
when the sonar light up directly on our bow. Randy didn't even skip a beat. "And there they are" he said,
then grabbed his gear and headed below to broadcast tickets to the show; and a show it was.
It was a blast from the past, moments of the incredible nineties before Armageddon purse seining of these
beautiful Bluefin began. It was the real deal. Twenty more of the dandies came on board in short order as
our group of anglers, now well schooled, put the wood to them. For the final two and a half hours of our
fishless full day we landed thirty eight total with the largest coming in at 100.2 pounds.
It was a fitting end to the day and the trip. Satisfied with the fruit of our labors we took off for home
at dark planning to drag the jigs and do some early morning scouting before officially calling it.
Photos for the day feature "The First" one hundred pound Bluefin tuna of our summer, 2012 season. Angler
Joe Baker receives full honors for his 106 pound beauty that he amazingly landed using a Shimano Talica
8, 40 pound fluorocarbon, and a Terez rod in very sloppy sea conditions. This catch was a testament to
both Joe as an angler and the forgiving action of the Terez series rods that make a huge difference in
this exact scenario.
Photo number two features Royal Star and long range veteran Steve Hogan who landed his 100.2 pound trophy
amidst the hot and heavy action of our first afternoon go around. Photo number three features another
Royal Star veteran whom some may recognize from the Bill Roecker calendar with a near identical Bluefin
two years past. L.A. fireman Keith Bridges (with crewman Blake Wasano) handily dispatched this seventy
five pound dandy along with four or five others during the past two days; a job well done!
Tim Ekstrom
Photo Here...
Photo Here...
Photo Here...
