The bite started out slow this morning but gained momentum as the day progressed. Very good show all day with 40-100lb fish boiling all around us but like yesterday they wouldn't bite more than 40lb. We ended with a fine catch by dark with 82 yft from 40-105lbs going in the RSW tank. With the weather coming up we bid the rocks a fond farewell at dark and are heading into the beach where we hope to finish the trip in good weather targeting yellows. Our first shot is a rare photo of our chartermaster Mike Doi with a 105lber, he usually loses all the big ones he hooks. The second shows Jim Nomura having some technical difficulties with his spinning gear.

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We got the trip off to a nice start here at the rocks with a nice steady pick on 50-110lb tuna that bit until just before dark. Very good show most of the afternoon but they didn't let their guard down, most of the bites were on 40lb and even 30lb. The conditions are good for wahoo but aside from a few bite offs they were absent from the mix. We are going to spend the night and hope for another good day tomorrow. Today's shots show Erik masuda with a 115lber while Kelley Hall gets a hand from Blake 'beefcake' Wasano with her 75lber.

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Uneventful day traveling down to Alijos where we plan to start our Doi 7-day tomorrow. Offshore reports are a bit ugly at the moment making the move to the rocks the obvious choice. Fishing has tapered off a bit at the stones from last week but we're hoping for it to get back on the upswing tomorrow.

We ground out a day in the lower albacore zone scratching up one here and two there with the exception with one afternoon flash in the pan that sparked some hope, but fell flat of expectations. All told it was a typical day of offshore albacore fishing when the fish were either scarce or down. After about ten minutes in the area my evaluation was the former - not much fish. Recognizing this however is not a matter of pessimism taking over. It is very important to how we set ourselves up to fish the area, and our mind set.

I know in my case, and the case of the vast majority of fishermen that run offshore fishing boats, we possess an over the horizon mentality that compels us to strike out and push on to find the main vein or mother lode of fish. I have spoken of it before. It is the main driver behind the spectacular catches long range anglers consistently enjoy; that notion that if it is good here, or not, it is certainly better somewhere else. While this is true in every respect there are also times when the "Megellan" mentality drives one right out of the fish into left field where the agony of catching zero is exacerbated by the zone left behind producing. Those occasions are a particular joy that do a stellar job of making one feel and look like a donkey.

Taking this into account today was one of those times when the fishing was marginal, but much better than catching nothing. The catching nothing part was demonstrated at the end of the day by several colleagues who struck out in search of glory - and struck out. The writing was on the wall. It was one of those days when necessity called for hunkering down and making the most of what we had. So we worked our little cherry patch up and down, back and forth, and side to side until the husky call of the corpulent alto reverberated in our ears. At 1645 we were out of there on our way north with our nineteen albacore for the day; not any kind of day to be reveling in the highliner category, but a day we made nevertheless.

Now it is on the next seven day Michael Doi charter that will feature Capt. Randy Toussaint at the helm. Capt. Toussaint will head up the voyage that promises to make the most of any and every opportunity presented as is his trademark. There is no better fisherman out here. It is a fact. God help the fish when Randy is around because he certainly won't. Look for Randy's scant reports to continue as the voyage progresses. He is a man of few words, but lacks nothing when it comes to action. He is the man - plain and simple.

Last photos of the voyage feature two of the finest southland fishermen I know. Greg and Todd Phillips have earned their reputation fishing for everything from kelp bass to tuna offshore. Recognizing their expertise and savvy, Shimano sent them out with a wealth of equipment to test and try this voyage. They are the reason I had the opportunity to test drive the new Trinidad 14A I think so highly of. So, here it is again. My new love the Trinidad 14A with a couple of albacore subdued by it's flawless features. Greg and Todd are the appropriately featured anglers with scowling crewman Blake Wasano and a placid Capt. Sean Bickel doing the gaffing honors. Our sincere thanks to the Phillips Steel/Wood Group annual charter for a great time on the water. Until my next round of voyages good fishing to you all. I'm out.

Tim Ekstrom

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We got the day started right with a couple of hours of very good action on 14 - 18# yellowtail. In fact, the action was such that we filled our limits in short order and left them biting as wave after wave passed through us. Even after we departed I continued to see schools of yellowtail one after another for several miles above the area where we were fishing. There are a lot of yellowtail around. Appropriate thanks for the "Yellowtail Triangle" on all our behalf. This zone has been the savior of so many voyages in the past twenty five years I have been fishing down here that I couldn't even begin to recall. Between the scenery, consistency of production, and protection from weather when it comes, it is the finest area to target California yellowtail in the world. No where else even comes close.

With our quota of yellows prime in the RSW tanks, the time to venture out was again upon us. Always up for the task, and never one to shy away from a looking expedition, we struck out in search of tuna sign in slightly choppy seas. It took some time, and I'm disappointed to report that the results of our afternoon in the hatch would have been identical if we found nothing, but we did bump into a couple of decent spots of bluefin that unfortunately exhibited the same behavior they have been confounding us with since the beginning of the month. No bites. Fish crashing right under the bow, fish on the fathometer, and fish on the sonar around us, but, no bites. As the afternoon progressed into evening, the signs continued to improve, but with daylight running out we couldn't quite make it up to the final spot of fish we were headed for that Capt. Gregg Tanji spotted no less that five miles away.

I am not exaggerating or embellishing in any way. Between Gregg, Capt. Sean Bickel, and Capt. Brian Sims' eyes and experience, we regularly run on fish spotted in the three to five, even six mile range. It is a huge advantage. So many catches we make are attributed to the eyes of Gregg, Sean, and Brian that I can't count. Crewmen Steve Gregonis and Blake Wasano are no slouches either. They put us on spots that pop up along side or behind us regularly. Throw in the legendary eyes of Capt. Randy Toussaint and my confidence in our ability to effectively cover the water we are passing through is tremendous. I was speaking with one of my colleagues a few days past and he made a comment that spoke volumes. We were discussing some area I was planning to look, or some zone where the signs of fish were extremely subtle and he said "You guys will get on them. Your crew is fishy." While this may sound remedial, or even corny to some of you I can not express how complimentary this statement is coming from a peer I highly respect.

As an angler considering a long range voyage this should be a significant part of your decision process when choosing a vessel to invest your time and resources with. I have probably said it a million times now - experience is the key to success. It is not about luck, bumbling into something, or following all the other boats to the "spot" and driving around until they latch on. Sure, any of the above stated can and will make the occasional catch. But, success out here is about consistency. Making the most from every day, every opportunity, and every set of conditions the ocean offers up, every time. Experience is the only advantage anglers can rely on. This is a bit of wisdom I picked up during the past twenty three years out here. Every one makes catches when the fishing is easy and/or wide open. When it gets tough the real fishermen with salt in their veins, and experience to draw upon, stand out.

Photos for the day feature the bow action during one of the hot rounds when the yellowtail hit us all at once. And, a nice dorado that fell for one of the Shimano "Wax Wing" lures that up to this point have proven themselves to be incredibly effective on everything we have fished for during this trip. More from the offshore grounds tomorrow where we hope to put our highly touted "experience" to good use finding some fish. It is not looking to be easy - just how we like it. If there was ever an opportunity to stand out, this is it. Have a great weekend!

Tim Ekstrom

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So yesterday I revealed my love at first sight reaction to the new Shimano Trinidad 14A. Between the perfect dimensions for any hand size, and flawless balance of torque and precision, my instinct was triggered the instant I saw it. Of course I didn't know completely about the torque component. Precision yes; Shimano has never introduced a product that doesn't feature precision as an inherent quality, but, based on everything I know about previous Shimano reels, I took a guess that the new Trinidad 14A would not let me down when it came to cranking power.

As I put my rear end on the line by offering my glowing recommendation out of the gates. I felt obligated to run the new Trinidad 14A through the Tim Ekstrom test mill today. After subjecting the little devil to extreme standards while pulling on a number of fish my opinion is even stronger about this reel. It is even better than I imagined. The thing is not only sweet and smooth - it is a little tractor. It's like one of those little Bobcat's that are so versatile and tough they are capable of performing almost any feat imaginable. What a reel. As a final example of just how highly I think of the new Trinidad 14A I will offer this. It made me want to fish with it. Master angler Greg Phillips, who along with his brother Todd brought along tons of fantastic Shimano reels and products for anglers to use this trip, was using the 14A as well. I kept a close eye on him always ready to take advantage of every opportunity to grab the rig and fish when he set it down. I even went as far as bugging him to let me give it a try after he caught a few on it a couple of times. Every fish I caught with the thing made me want to use it again to catch another. I am rarely this appreciative of a new product. Shimano has nailed it with this one. Along with the entire Talica and Trinidad series, as well as the old faithful Tiagra's, it is impossible to not recognize how consistently Shimano is on the cutting edge. Their reputation is well earned.

On the fishing front we had a great day. Yellowtail, yellowtail, and more yellowtail was the theme in flat calm, scenic conditions that the "Yellowtail Triangle" has become so famous for. Fifteen to twenty two pound fish were prolific and cooperative entertaining anglers with a morning and early afternoon of great fishing before we moved on to target trophy yellows, or "premiums", as we like to call them. I can't say the hunt for "premiums" was all that spectacular, but the scenery was. Grease calm, blue water, island background - cocktails and malt beverages were the evening call as the sun settled into the Pacific and we made fast for the night in heavenly conditions. Yellowtail and offshore will be the call tomorrow as we forge ahead on day three of the adventure.

Photos for the day feature angler Rob Duby who was on fire with the butterfly jigs and "wax wings" using the Shimano "Stella" spinning reels with great success. Though I probably won't be the one using it, I have to say that the butterfly method is very successful - especially for yellowtail both offshore around kelps and in the shallows. It's not just when they are biting nails that I base my opinion on. I have seen numerous occasions when the butterflyer's nail a yellowtail, or two, three, or four when the live bait and standard west coast jigs aren't getting the job done. Today's shots do the system, and Rob, who definitely put forth the effort, some justice. Look for reports to continue.

Tim Ekstrom

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It was another one of those mornings that elicited an early bailout as we recognized that regardless of the amount of fish we were seeing, we weren't going to get the job done where we were. And so began another long search that produced various short stops on uncooperative bluefin tuna and other attempts on kelps. Not a lot of excitement to report until about 1800 when we found one kelp that rousted anglers from their slumber with good action on 15 - 20# yellowtail.

It was a quick hit, producing only seventeen fish, but again I extol the virtue of relative success. When you have nothing, a little something becomes significant; those 17 yellows, and the twenty minutes we fished from a stopped boat , had a palpable effect on morale. The fish crashed around, ate a few surface jigs, and hit us a couple of times; one in particular that saw eight or ten anglers hooked up at once. The atmosphere on board was transformed from angst and anxiety to hope and relief. Isn't fishing great? Although I struggle with the grief of inevitable defeat when the odds come around, I am driven to no end by the boundless gratification of success. I frequently recall a thought shared with me in my younger years by my good friend and huge mentor Jack Webster, who now heads AAFA (American Albacore Fishing Association), and fishes pole and line for albacore in the North Pacific. Jack expressed his love for fishing, actually the act of catching fish, as the second best thing in life. I agree. I'll leave it up to you all to decide the context. There are times however, albeit a rare few in my world, when I have to admit it can be a toss up.

On a different note, I have a love affair with a new reel that I have to recommend as the finest in it's size class I have ever seen. I am going to get not just one, but two, one for me, and one for my son Duke, as fast as possible. As always, Shimano is at the forefront. The new Trinidad 14A is perfection. For live bait fishing a sardine or anchovy with fifteen to forty pound test, or casting a swim bait or new Shimano "wax wing", no better reel has ever been produced. It is that good. You all know that I don't hang my hat on every latest trend or gimmick that comes along. I've seen plenty come, and plenty appropriately go. The new Trinidad 14A is not just a home run; it is a season winning grand slam. For an angler looking to upgrade their arsenal I can not recommend this reel highly enough. As always Shimano is on the ball. We endorse and use their products for good reason. The newest addition to the Trinidad line is a perfect example of why.

Photo of the day features the man himself, Todd Phillips, with the results of the new Shimano combo. Using the Trinidad 14A and a "Wax Wing" lure, Todd subdued this 20# class yellowtail in short order. In addition I am including a couple of shots of the lure and reel so you all get a measure of the dimensions. What a rig. I can't wait to catch a few myself tomorrow and report accordingly.

Tim Ekstrom

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A quick turn and we are again en route south to the offshore grounds. After unloading the RSW tank packed full of beautiful grade albacore and bluefin tuna, we are highly motivated by the quality to try our hand on the outside again. We are going fishing. This is a good point to make in light of the fact that thus far the 2010 offshore season has been identified by a constantly changing set of conditions that sets up every day as a new challenge. Following the beginning couple of weeks of early June, when the fish were actually settled in and the picture was stable, the playing field has been shifty at best, and about as unpredictable as one can imagine. Added to the stubborn to develop conditions are the cursed not biting fish that confound, confuse, and thwart all reason - especially the albacore that are typically reliable about climbing on when we do find them.

Capt. Sean Bickel and I were talking about the set up as we rolled down today and he said it perfect. "We are going fishing". It really is as simple as that. This has been one of those seasons when victory offshore is a particularly sweet success to be savored. In contrast to the early June period when I made the analogy about the incredible fishing being like going to the supermarket and loading up the cart, present times are the exact opposite. This is more akin to searching for victuals in a fertile valley on a exceptionally dry year. There are fish to be found, but only in little shifting pockets of small groups - for now. So, we are going fishing hoping we position ourselves in the right place on the right day. Actually, we have four full days on this five day "Phillips Steel/Wood Group charter to find the right zone. We are glad of it.

With more good weather on the way we have the most important component of offshore success in our favor. Our photo today features Royal Star angler Mike Neal and crewman Blake Wasano with a "fatso" albacore. It's a little gory, but does the trick. More from offshore tomorrow.

Tim

Another dubious beginning as we awoke to find brilliant, glassy seas, perfect, almost identical conditions to the previous day that produced steady fishing, and what seemed to be excellent fishing prospects - until we began fishing. At one hour after daylight without a fish landed in the area we were a little concerned; but they didn't wake up early yesterday either. At two hours after daylight without a fish landed between us it was becoming painfully obvious that something more dire had occurred. The fish that were so prolific yesterday had moved. We were in big trouble. Typical albacore fishing.

Nothing like coming into the final day, with the success of your trip hanging in the balance, and having the whole thing shut down. Being all too familiar with this scenario however, we recognized that the only solution was to hit the road and get to looking. It took until about 1400 to get things located. And it just so happened that the fish showed up almost exactly where we were headed - a lucky strike.

We finished off the trip with a fine afternoon of steady fishing on 28 - 35# albacore and a good mix of bluefin including a pair that weighed in at 56 and 57 pounds. Sixty and twenty one were the numbers that did a stellar job of elevating spirits and ending the voyage on a high note. It was just what we needed after what was an uphill battle for the first half of the trip. All's well that ends well. With a fine load of albacore, bluefin, and yellowtail resting in the RSW tanks in premium, Royal Star condition, we head up the line satisfied and grateful that the voyage ended well. Now it is on to the next Phillips Steel/Wood Group five day charter departing tomorrow. Yours truly will continue the narrative as I have the pleasure of taking the helm.

Photos today feature two very familiar Royal Star veterans who are superb fishermen and even better friends. Warren Sakamoto is all cheer pictured with Capt. Brian Sims and his fifty seven pound bluefin landed in the bottom of the ninth to upset the jackpot. Len Cunningham, pictured with Capt. Gregg Tanji and a fat albacore, also landed one of the two bigger bluefin alongside Warren. Len's came in at 56 pounds to capture second place. Look for reports to continue and have a fine day!

Tim

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Scratch albacore fishing all day combined for a respectable total in the end. Good weather, and plenty of action throughout occupied and entertained although there continues to be a maddening number of attempts that confound our best efforts. All I can say is that there is going to be some hell to pay when these albacore finally drop their guard anytime I am around.

So, with a catching instinct only placated by today's results, we are ready to give it our all again tomorrow, seeking to finish up the trip on a high note. If the fishing matched today's action, we would plenty satisfied. But, honestly, we are hoping for a lot more. Thus far the fishing has been just good enough to whet our appetite. A grand finale, where the fish bite with any kind of abandon would fit the bill perfectly. Without frowning on today's 105 albacore and 6 bluefin in the least, we are hoping to really clobber them tomorrow. And mind you while I moan and snivel about not loading up easy, our anglers are having a fantastic time. Fortunately most individuals do not suffer the "just over the next hill" curse I and so many fisherman are afflicted with.

The camera was finally liberated today capturing two images of our quarry and their conquerors. Ann Van Dyke, whom many of you recognize as the familiar, friendly voice in the Royal Star office with Tracy, landed the fish of the day, a forty pound albacore, during a late evening stop. Capt. Brian Sims does the gaffing honors for angler Bob Vogelsang and his 35# bluefin tuna.

Tim

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