This was what we call a real character builder today that thankfully ended up okay with a shot of fair size yellowtail in the afternoon, but definitely characterized just how tough present fishing is. Aside from an occasional plea for mercy, radio chatter within our group was silent as we all spent our day in intense consternation over just where one can go and make a catch of decent yellowfin tuna. So, should everyone sell their equipment or trade everything in for lifetime access to Irvine lake? Should we climb aboard the doomsday express and attach extraordinary significance to this period of slow fishing? Is this the first time in history that fall ten day long range Captains are working quadruple time to find worthy areas to fish and still barely making any kind of catch? No.

In fact there have been many times in my twenty one seasons of fishing these waters when slow downs have occured. I could name a long list of examples such as ten day voyages in the late eighties and early nineties that completely bypassed the Baja offshore and coastal regions in favor of three of days of fishing at the Revillagigedo islands where there was at least a chance of making a noteworthy catch. I vividly recall a handful of ten day voyages in this region that returned with a decent catch of mixed gamefish that did not include any significant amount of, and in some cases zero yellowfin tuna. These periods of change are built in; they are inevitable, and honestly, underscore just how exceptional fishing down here has been during the past eight seasons.

So, rather than go on and on beating this drum I will end today's report with a though that I have expressed on countless occasions. When one considers a long range voyage for the following week, month, year, or beyond, make your arrangements with the full expectation of going fishing and passing time on the glorious ocean among friends. The fishing will come - the vast majority of the time. You simply can not determine when however and must accept the reality of the hunt - that sometimes the results will not be what you expected and may not match your wildest dreams. They may though. Just think about it. Do you think that any of the anglers who booked on fall ten day voyages for 2005 ever expected to experience the kind of fishing for giant yellowfin tuna they found? That is the beauty of this amazing fishery. Every day, every week, every month, and especially, every year is different.

All that said we are now beginning the trek north with plans to target gamefish along the coast tomorrow before continuing the journey up the line. We have plenty of time and bait to dedicate to the effort so we will see what tomorrow has in store for us.