Ecstasy and agony is how I would describe it - in about equal proportions. And the best part about it was that the ecstasy followed the agony, for most. Translated ecstasy took the form of good fishing for trophy yellowfin tuna; far better than anything we have experienced since July. Agony took the familiar grey, elongate, corpulent form of the Great White Shark, or sharks in today's case, that did their best to rain on our parade.

When all was said and done though, with the exception of an unfortunate few anglers that paid the tax and received the short end of the bargain, we departed feeling like winners in several respects. Best said our results today were not by chance. We methodically executed a strategy beginning on day one that led to the opportunity we were able to make good on. Mind you I'm not taking credit for the good fishing fortune, that happens to anyone and everyone who puts in their time out here, but I'll own the fact that we were more than ready to make good on any opportunity that came our way. It just so happened that this time the stars aligned in our favor.

Now we head north on the final leg in high spirits fueled on fine fishing and superb weather. There is nothing quite like a good day at Guadalupe followed by a departure sans crash helmets and full body armor. Not even a bump or a roll accompanied the ride that felt far more like gliding across a mountain lake than the Pacific Ocean; good times, in every respect. Offshore fishing will be the final pursuit seeking to add color to the catch in the form of a few dorado, or a sparkle of blue in the form of Bluefin tuna; though it might be better to say gold when referencing the bluefin tuna; swimming gold as I call them.

Photo number one today features ecstatic angler Mike Vasile with the second of his two Guadalupe yellowfin hauled through the gauntlet. After suffering the heartless injustice of this island on a couple of past voyages by feeding the locals without reward, Mike's day of reckoning finally arrived; ecstasy defined. Photo number two is purely for contrast; agony defined; for all parties involved. Viva Guadalupe!

Tim Ekstrom

Photo Here...


Photo Here...