A healthy dose of optimism, and perhaps a fair amount of intuition, got a leg up on events that unfolded this day. What a success!. It wasn't historic by any measure, but, it was a fantastic day of fishing that produced 44 good ones in the hatch, six of which surpassed the coveted two hundred pound threshold. In addition to the "deuces" at least a couple of handfuls of the remaining bigger tuna were 160 - 185 with the rest from 100 - 150#. It was good fishing; especially in light of the fact that only thirteen anglers produced such numbers!

At one point in the mid afternoon production actually dwindled due to pure lack of horsepower as anglers spent from a strong mid day rally on jumbos rested tired muscles and re-stocked reserves with a late lunch that was sacrificed earlier in favor of catching trophy yellowfin. Priorities around here, with Chef's Drew Rivera and Jeffery Grant's strong support, place fishing above all else - as it should be. In fact, as many Royal Star anglers can attest to, Drew is the first to set down the skillet and pick up a rod or gaff himself; he's quite handy in every respect.

There was a point following lunch when although the fish were still biting we were down to only one or two anglers at the rail. Sufficient time to digest, rest, and recover was definitely in order but I have to admit I was getting a little antsy knowing they were there for the taking and we weren't taking full advantage. Suffice to say that in the pure numbers game we could have done better. But, it didn't, and doesn't, matter in the slightest. We have a great catch, as much as anyone could want, already stashed in perfect condition in the RSW tanks. With a full day of fishing remaining, and potential for another good shot very high, any more fish landed would have simply been that - more fish. In the end I commend these anglers for self regulating. This is how it should be.

So tomorrow the real focus will be on trophy yellowfin. Not that we aren't up for a few more mid-ranger's in the tanks, we still have plenty of room to accommodate them, but our measure of success is definitely cows from here forward. Needless to say we are well prepared in both mind and matter. Though our beautiful weather has gone by the wayside we look forward to the last hurrah.

Photo for the day features first time Royal Star angler, but no stranger to long range, Gary Cotter with the big fish of the day, and his personal best, that came in at 272. With a little more "junk in the trunk" this long, skinny bruiser would have breached the three hundred pound mark. At seventy six inches it was simply a case of more groceries needed; luck of the draw. We'll gladly take it, without complaint.

Tim Ekstrom

Photo Here...