The Bluefin Tuna Are Here

5/31/12

Wow!, but first I have to admit that as the 4:00 p.m. hour rolled past and we were still sitting on a 
sole 22 pound Bluefin landed while drifting at daylight my confidence was slightly shaken. Not that we 
felt the fish were gone and never to be found; it was simply a matter of time; of the clock ticking away 
opportunity as we bumbled around in search of the proverbial needle in a haystack.

Fortunately, and this is a big point, we called in the cavalry yesterday and they arrived today to join 
the search. This is key to consistent offshore success. Obviously off the main vein early the three of us 
spread out in full search mode combining our efforts toward collective success. And when we received the 
call at 3:45 that our colleague was on them ten miles distant we dropped the hammer giving these brand 
new Caterpillar C-18's a good run. 

For an hour we crashed and smashed our way toward the glory missed so far. It was worth it. Upon arrival 
we found a spot in no time and got down to business. Eighteen of the sixty to seventy five pound beauties 
came aboard from our first attempt that wound down in rather short order leaving us in the classic 
position Captains wrangle with so often. With an hour and a half of daylight, loads of fish under and 
around us, do we wait them out and hope for the sun downer? Or do we leave this spot behind in search of 
a fresh school and a big finish? Those anglers who have fished with us before know our decision process 
by now. We just don't, we can't, settle for the certain few if our gut tells us there is a shot at a big 
hit; we'll leave those last few, those crashing around not biting bastards, in our wake every time.

And though it doesn't always work in our favor, the majority of the time, when we are firing on all 
cylinders, it does. After departing our first stop in full confidence that it was the right move for the 
occasion I wasn't so certain as the sun dipped within inches of the horizon. Wringing my hands and 
cussing the Bluefin the bridge dialogue was classic - Randy, Sean, and I cruising along feeling the noose 
tightening when I stated something to the effect of " expletive, we are in the right water now, this is 
right where they should be". No sooner did I say it, the words were literally coming out of my mouth, 
when the sonar light up directly on our bow. Randy didn't even skip a beat. "And there they are" he said, 
then grabbed his gear and headed below to broadcast tickets to the show; and a show it was.

It was a blast from the past, moments of the incredible nineties before Armageddon purse seining of these 
beautiful Bluefin began. It was the real deal. Twenty more of the dandies came on board in short order as 
our group of anglers, now well schooled, put the wood to them. For the final two and a half hours of our 
fishless full day we landed thirty eight total with the largest coming in at 100.2 pounds.
It was a fitting end to the day and the trip. Satisfied with the fruit of our labors we took off for home 
at dark planning to drag the jigs and do some early morning scouting before officially calling it.

Photos for the day feature "The First" one hundred pound Bluefin tuna of our summer, 2012 season. Angler 
Joe Baker receives full honors for his 106 pound beauty that he amazingly landed using a Shimano Talica 
8, 40 pound fluorocarbon, and a Terez rod in very sloppy sea conditions. This catch was a testament to 
both Joe as an angler and the forgiving action of the Terez series rods that make a huge difference in 
this exact scenario. 

Photo number two features Royal Star and long range veteran Steve Hogan who landed his 100.2 pound trophy
amidst the hot and heavy action of our first afternoon go around. Photo number three features another 
Royal Star veteran whom some may recognize from the Bill Roecker calendar with a near identical Bluefin 
two years past. L.A. fireman Keith Bridges (with crewman Blake Wasano) handily dispatched this seventy 
five pound dandy along with four or five others during the past two days; a job well done! 

Tim Ekstrom

Photo Here...

Photo Here...

Photo Here...
 

05/31/12

Posted: 08:28:20

5/30/12

Feast your eyes on today's photos and reminisce about days of old; the days when we targeted vast 
quantities of quality offshore Bluefin less the flying circus that has annihilated the fishery since. 
Today there were no boats, no pens, no planes, just us and a whole sea of opportunity to ourselves. We 
didn't score big in numbers but in significance and relative proportion we made a big score. 

Far off the beaten track, in the face of difficult working weather, we chose the difficult route upon 
departure from Alijos yesterday. Recognizing the obvious fact that finding fish offshore would only 
happen if we were there we forged into the crucible unable to resist a zone that has been nagging at us 
since our departure. We made a fishing move; like fishermen; as anglers who choose Royal Star for their 
long range voyages would expect us to; as our nature compels us.

The result of our efforts was 24 Bluefin from two different stops the best of which produced a dozen. The 
first stop caught more than a few anglers off guard as the size range of today's fish was 60 - 75 pounds 
with one that came in at 106. Between the difficult weather, the larger fish, the typical, head shaking 
Bluefin behavior that tears loose an amazing number of hooks, and the necessary acclimation to better 
size fish that always costs a beginning few, the fishing during the first go around was way better than 
the catching. After that though we got in the groove.

So now it is a matter of seeing just how much there is to it. Needless to say the red alert was 
transmitted over the wire and at least a couple of our colleagues will join us tomorrow to expand on what 
we found. The one thing I will offer with confidence is that when the weather calms down and more eyes 
and sonar's join the search, there is a one hundred percent certainty that more, and better numbers, of 
these Bluefin will be caught in this zone. It is simply a matter of time and conditions. 

Of course on this note I again have to mention that we have one six day voyage with plenty of room to 
accommodate those of you that have been waiting for signs to develop departing Sunday June 24th returning 
Saturday June 30th. This voyage is lined up perfectly to target offshore Bluefin, yellowfin(did I mention 
that we caught one 25 pounder yesterday?), and albacore as well as mix in an island or day on the coast 
if the occasion calls for it. But offshore tuna is the main idea, and will be pursued first and foremost. 
Now we know they are here; and this is only the beginning; mark my words. 

Photos today feature Shimano master angler John Kuch who earned the coveted title landing "The First" 
beautiful offshore Bluefin of the 2012 summer season. Let's hope that many like this will be filling 
sport anglers sushi platters from this point on. Photo number two features first time long range angler 
James Haiber kneeling in triumph next to a rack of 60 - 75 pounders dressed and ready for storage in the 
RSW tank. Can you imagine? Perfect, fat seventy pound Bluefin in the RSW tank at thirty degrees for only 
two days; a sushi lovers dream no doubt, and the finest quality product one will ever find. I can't wait 
to catch more. This is what we live for.

Tim Ekstrom

Photo Here...

Photo Here...