Day one offshore struggling to make it happen is part of the game - you don't get 'em every day. Day two offshore with zero for the effort is a whole different story. While one can slough off a day of slow fishing, a second day, consecutively, invokes an reaction that is far from good. Anglers are generally very good about absorbing the tough days recognizing the obvious fact that we are working twenty four/seven to get the job done. No sacrifice is too great, and no effort is spared. While I feel confident that my colleagues practice their trade with similar zeal, with certitude I report that we do always. Our anglers know this so they are not tough on us when the fishing goes south. One can see it in their faces though. One can't help but empathize. The disappointment is impossible to obscure by the end of a two day struggle.

We took a long shot today stretching out in search mode seeking a new offshore zone that showed tremendous promise on the temperature charts. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. The conditions were there, as well as a few fish, but by 0900 we reached a critical point where a game changing decision was in order. With the breeze freshening, and a distinct sense of impending doom in the zone we were looking, we took off like a bat out of hell relocating for the late afternoon/evening. Even that merely served to set us up for the following day as the few fish we found we lazy and barely interested, but we got in some fishing; lines over the side from a stopped boat, that in itself was therapeutic. Tough fishing: no tales of glory, no jubilant anglers, no triumph to encourage the effort, and no results to feed the ego. No one cried themselves to sleep though. At least, I don't think so.

Tomorrow is a new day. A critical day admittedly, but we are all in. And, we are now in position in the triangle. A beautiful night of flat calm, stationary and angling, will be the preface to what we hope will be a day of fishing, and catching. One white sea bass has already come over the rail at the time of this report so we will see how the night unfolds. Regardless of the catching, this spot is heavenly.

Photo of the day features lucky long time Royal Star veteran Vance Husbands who got right down to business landing this twenty five pound class white sea bass in short order after we anchored our "secret" honey hole. Actually Vance wasn't lucky, he was fishing. Regardless he set the bar and incited a near stampede from the galley when he landed his prize. Fine job to Vance. And many more to come.

Tim Ekstrom

Photo Here...