6/19/12

For being pinned down by harsh weather on the outside I can't say we fared all that bad. A
good morning of yellowtail action on quality, 18 - 25# fish got the day started on the
right foot though conditions even close to the coast were terrible at times. Winds in the
range of 25 - 35 knots and sloppy, wind against current conditions made every fish landed a
precious prize earned the old fashioned way. Suffice to say conditions such as we
encountered/endured today make the flat calm periods that much more significant, and never
taken for granted.

The good part of the story, aside from a fine morning of scratching quality yellows, was
the evening flat calm we were able to manufacture with the help of a huge mass of land.
Tucked away behind a lee point one would never imagine the rigors that were present on the
other side. It was heavenly, and much appreciated by all as the arduous day was nigh
forgotten in the evening grease calm. Ah what a relief; deck chairs were produced, and
spirits were warmed and flowing as the delight of such comfort and pleasure could not be
contained. It was perfect way to end the day; and really the only choice we had.

As the wind outside continues to rage we opt to remain near refuge awaiting the next
impending calm. As long as the sign of yellowtail remains strong we're in good shape for at
least a couple more days before the inevitable push to get back on the Bluefin forces our
hand.

Today's photo calls on old memories as two youngsters demonstrate the unbridled exuberance
of fishing that I can only hope we, as fishermen, can all remember. This image is an ideal
example of why we still come far and fish hard incessantly reaching for the gold ring of
this timeless treasure. Take a look at the expression of these young lads and recall the
days when it was this much fun. Twelve year old David Honadle and seven year old Duke
Ekstrom grind away in classic kid style on a couple of mid-morning yellowtail in the upwind
corner.

Tim Ekstrom

Photo Here...