Royal Star Revillagigedo tagging voyage

[Fishing Report]

02/09/11

Posted: 10:21:00
We set forth in deep thought of things that have been, things that are, and things to come. This being the first of our final three Revillagigedo tagging voyages, we have shifted gears dedicating our full effort to advancing the knowledge of yellowfin tuna behavior, movements, and habitat utilization within and beyond the Revillagigedo archipelago. This project, our participation, and the results are intended to form a better understanding of the yellowfin tuna population in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean. The development of improved management strategies focusing on sustainable harvest practices are the goal.

Every angler choosing to donate their time and resources to this project demonstrate a level of commitment to this fishery, and the sport fishing community from which we all benefit. Being the number one advocate of this project over the past six years, no one is more familiar than I with the dialogue surrounding this visionary idea. From the detractors clinging to the old school notion of success to the ardent supporters who revel in the opportunity to contribute I suspect that I have just about heard, or become aware of the full spectrum of thoughts and opinions. Wherever you fall in the long list of ideas what I have realized from the beginning is that this project is about the big picture. In order to see big one has to think big; to think beyond the immediate. And while the scope of this idea itself may alienate plenty from the cause I am resigned to accept the fact that one can never convince everybody. I do aspire for the majority.

Perhaps I will captivate you with some detail this voyage or the next. At the very least the success of this project, and what we have accomplished in the way of effectively handling and releasing yellowfin tuna up to 350 pounds in nothing short of astonishing. The images alone are stupefying; especially in context to all notions of what was possible prior to these voyages. Honestly, did you ever think you would see a 350 pound yellowfin tuna successfully scooped, lifted on board a San Diego based long range vessel, tagged, then released unharmed?

To this day I view many of the images from these legendary adventures and marvel at the thought. I also laugh. I laugh at the incongruity of it. The sheer ridiculousness of the idea of using a large scoop to boat giant yellowfin tuna is so contrary to our idea of "normal", of what is, is humorous in itself. Then I revel in the thought that we have done it. We have pulled off what was previously considered impossible evolving our fishery in quantum leaps. This is the ultimate accomplishment in my book. This whole idea, and so many others over the years, is signature Royal Star. This is what we are about.

So the narrative begins continuing through our return on the 26th. I have much more to share on this ride down that will end with our arrival and greeting of the tagging group in Cabo San Lucas this coming Saturday. From that point the fishing will begin. Until then we steam south enjoying what appears will be a fine passage. As of now our load of sardines is primo and we are settled in fine. We are ready and then some.

Tim Ekstrom

02/10/11

Posted: 07:09:00
Other than a quick few minutes of near fruitless sustanenance fishing the day passed in short order complimented by calm wind and seas; nothing like flat calm conditions to renew and rejuvenate. All appears well as we push south shepherding our little Eden along. With little else to report in the way of present boating this is a fine moment to pitch a few new voyages scheduled for the upcoming fall 2011 and winter 2012 season.

Recognizing the ever changing nature of this fishery we try our damndest to stay a step ahead. While guessing, or second guessing Mother Nature yields varying results at best, we seem to come out on the winning end of the percentage scale the majority of the time utilizing our instinct and experience. In this respect the first change to announce is the addition of two days to our annual Let's Talk Hookup ten day immediately following Thanksgiving. By adding two days to this voyage, now making it a twelve day, we expand our fishing options to include areas beyond the reach of a ten day and/or provide a couple of extra days to get the job done on the beach in the event the cows are lurking less great enthusiasm for biting. Departure on this voyage will now be Friday, November 25th. Return will now be Wednesday, December 7th 2011. Price is $3495.00. I do believe that there are a few spaces available for this newly adapted voyage that is positioned in the heart of big fish season. This time of year, and this length of trip is a winning combination that will produce.

Another new voyage to announce is the addition of a fourteen day ride down/ride back departing Saturday, February 4th, returning Saturday, February 18th 2012 to replace the dropped Revillagigedo tagging voyage. The price for this voyage is $3695.00. The results of this season's twelve through fifteen day voyage's speak for themselves. This new voyage will target giant yellowfin tuna and wahoo wherever they are to be found within the fourteen day time frame. If there are any groups of anglers seeking a voyage during this time frame this is a fantastic opportunity to nail down a block of spots on Royal Star. As of now I believe the new voyage is about half full. This is a great opportunity to jump on a longer Royal Star voyage and experience the difference our fish handling, and dedication to advancing customer's long range fishing experience does make.

And finally the format of the April 2012 fly down/fly back will remain the same but the focus will be Hurricane bank and/or the "buffer" zone around the Revilla's. Rather than let them go for science during this newly adapted voyage our intent is to return home with plenty in the RSW tanks to enjoy and share with friends and family. Eleven days is the total length of this voyage from Cabo San Lucas and the trip will originate in, and ultimately return, to San Diego.

To close for today look for several new features on our website including a new "Angler of the Month" category that will feature a chosen Royal Star angler every month along with photos and a story or two that goes along with. This is our chance to feature anglers and/or distinct catches that we feel represent both Royal Star and long range sport fishing in a positive light. This, and a few other new features left to be announced, will continue to identify Royal Star as a leader in our field.

And last but not least, the above related schedule changes are featured on our website in the "printable schedule" section. We do have openings on those, and select other voyages throughout the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Have a fine day and look for more information tomorrow.


Tim

02/11/11

Posted: 08:59:00
Sheet glass afternoon conditions revealed a thousand ocean secrets as legions of life migrated up to languish on the beckoning quicksilver slate. From sea turtles to sharks, swordfish to sunfish, and a spectrum of miniatures celestial in scope, every critter out here appears to rise for such occasions. It is remarkable. To see what otherwise appears to be a lifeless ocean come alive in flips, jumps, fins, and humps. A few minutes of peering over the rail exposes layers upon layers of life from plankton to whales in mass and dimension.

And as we blazed a trail through the riches' of the deep, time slid pass liberated from strain and struggle. Don't I wish they could all be this pleasant and wonderful. Disengaging from my reverie however we now prepare for the stark contrast of meeting our group tomorrow and getting down to what we came for. On schedule for our mid day arrival, we plan to be underway for the grounds by mid afternoon again forging ahead for the eerily primal island of San Benedicto.

Beyond that I'll cap it for the day recognizing that my philosophical narrative is prone to be self entertaining. A lot of good fishing should ground the story and revive general interest. Let us hope so. I'd have to guess that by now readers of this report know that if it's nuts and bolts they thirst for Captain Toussaint and Sims are their kind of guys. I have a little broader drive to describe.

Tim Ekstrom



02/12/11

Posted: 13:39:00
What a reunion as anglers arrived, sincere greetings were exchanged, and festivities marking the official commencement of this first of three final Revillagigedo tagging voyages began. A good time was had by all as the biblically referenced twin cities faded astern and the sun dipped below a continuing amenable horizon. This notoriously temperamental stretch of ocean just below the Cape has the tendency to sap the fun out of even the best intending revelers. Not this time though as flat calm sea conditions welcomed this group with open arms and benediction of things good to come.

One more half day of travel and the fishing finally commences as we arrive at our first destination of Isla San Benedicto mid day tomorrow - the beauty of the fly down option that cuts travel time to this magical island to less than twenty four hours. It is with great anticipation we traverse the final leg for many reasons. One in particular is the group of anglers who joined us last year from Thailand have returned with a whole new arsenal of equipment to pit against the undisputed toughest yellowfin tuna known to man. When I looked at the gear last February I shook my head and somewhat looked forward to the detonation, even while dodging the shrapnel, as these big yellowfin were certain to make mincemeat of such toys. Boy was I mistaken; and enlightened.

Between the big Shimano "Stella" spinning reels, the rods to go along with them, the poppers and butterfly jigs, and wealth of other smaller conventional equipment I had never seen, all of it far exceeded my expectations. Aside from a few busted rods thanks to the inhuman strength of resident gorilla/crewmember Blake Wasano all the gear held up in the most extreme conditions. Admittedly though, the real giants, or 200 to 300 pound yellowfin during that time frame, were touring off in the deeps somewhere other than around the islands. What I really want, what I really hope to see is how this gear performs when challenged by the real deal. As I have mentioned many times before the difference between a 175 pound yellowfin tuna and a 275 pound yellowfin tuna can not be overstated. It's like the difference between a horrifically irritated charging bull rhinoceros out for blood in a wager for it's life and a placid armadillo ambling along the southwestern desert floor. Needless to say I can't wait to see how the difference shakes out when and if the awaited confrontation occurs.

And of course the daily narrative will feature the results when it does. Those and others as we have eight full days of fishing time to look forward to within the magnificent Revillagigedo island reserve. Here we go.


Tim Ekstrom

[Fishing Report]

02/13/11

Posted: 08:06:00
Sparing the macro description and sugar coating San Benedicto was a worthwhile venture if nothing else for the opportunity to top off our bait before continuing on. In the way of tuna it was slim pickin's; not much sign, not much fish. What we did see was wily as all get out and tied close to local dolphins that had zero tolerance for our advances. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. With blankets of feed to focus on I speculate that our offerings drew little more than a yawn.

Actually it appeared that a few laughs were being had at our expense. As we approached any one of the numerous small spots of breaking fish their rubber skinned cohorts would dive at the last instant taking their tuna shadows with them. We would circle around and wait, occasionally throw a bait, and wind up moving on to the next spot that popped up another half mile off our bow. Of course as soon as the distance from our previous stopping point was around a quarter mile up came the fish again with their clever air breathing friends.

And so passed our afternoon that featured slight production at best, but set us up for a night of supplementation before weighing anchor for our next destination clearly visible thirty miles to the south. After checking in with the local navy garrison on Isla Socorro tomorrow we will ply the waters for tuna and squeeze in a thought or two for our sweethearts back home in recognition of St. Valentine. At this point, though we love our girls, tuna take precedent.

Tim Ekstrom

02/14/11

Posted: 09:55:00
Though our operating theater is slightly altered at the big island by military maneuvers, I have to comment that the Mexican Navy, in particular the base here at Socorro, could not be more welcoming, or more willing to offer as much access as possible. And it just so happened, following the customary meet and greet with the base, that the area we were directed towards offered the best sign of fish. What a fortunate coincidence that could just have easily gone the opposite direction.

Overall I would classify today's results as a good warm up with just over fifty yellowfin tuna tagged and released most of which were between 50 and 90 pounds. There were a few standouts over 100, and a few underwhelmer's at less than forty, but no one was too concerned with "measuring up" just yet as the pressing hunger to pull and catch is prominent.

Content to prospect this zone for at least one more day we will focus on the most productive area revealed by today's search. We didn't really get located until well after the noon hour so we will see if a repeat with more time in the right place will yield better results. Whether it does or doesn't I can say based on today's indications that it will not be from lack of fish. They are definitely here in force.

Photo today features a picturesque Socorro setting the backdrop for long time Royal Star veteran Don Ballanti who finally ventured a tagging voyage to visit the entire Revillagigedo island chain and do his part for science. An exceptional angler, Don got right in the action shifting gears to big fish mode without a hitch. No doubt there are many more cherished moments pending for Don during this adventure. This one was pretty idyllic.




02/15/11

Posted: 18:54:00
There are those occasional moments, when despite the highest level of professional attention possible, that conditions at the rail descend into near pandemonium. It usually coincides with a wave of tuna or other spirited game fish launching a coordinated assault grabbing everything being fished at the time. The setting on deck goes from fully in control to semi in control in the blink of an eye. Of course the guys are on it, and the chaos sown is cleared up in short order, but during those hectic moments I have to admit that there are times when it feels like it could go either way.

We had a few of those moments today. And while I was obviously not doing my part at the moment of today's photo, I couldn't help myself. Actually it was quite humorous as the dialogue at the rail containing various recommendations and advice was conducted in both Thai and English. Despite the occasional inevitable disaster everyone maintained a healthy sense of humor. The fishing was good, the tuna were in the 40 - 100 pound class, the weather was agreeable, and a few jumbos were lurking in the shadows.

Dr. Dave Hall was the champion of the day with a 195. Otherwise I have to report that overall we got our clock's cleaned by the remaining jumbos hooked that had an uncanny knack for shredding gear off using the bottom structure to their advantage. More than a few expressions of disdain were directed toward the big fish in this zone that have a history of such behavior. Regardless a good time was had by all as the action spread across the full day.

As already mentioned today's photo features one of the classic heated moments when things just about spun out of control. Every tight line in this photo had a fish hanging on the end of it. There were a lot of hands doing a lot of different things during this go around. Long range sport fishing at it's finest.

Tim Ekstrom


02/16/11

Posted: 09:24:00
Action packed best describes the results of our move west that featured non stop catching on tuna, wahoo, and of course the ubiquitous brown sharks this solitary rock islet is so well known for. As I put it to our anglers though the shark factor, for this place especially, was about a two or three on a scale of one to ten. As such we worked our way around and through the devils for steady results on yellowfin in the 50 - 130 pound class with a few unsuccessful shots at fish even bigger. Mixed in with obscene action on smaller tuna and wahoo there was never a dull moment.

And that is the beauty and trademark of these tagging voyages since the beginning expedition in 2006. Action oriented unlimited access to these incredible islands. Based on conditions, favorable weather, and sign of fish, we opted for at least another morning at Roca Partida before considering our next move to the outside. Indications here are too good to forego an early morning attempt.

Photo today is doesn't quite reach Ansell Adams status but is to my liking nevertheless. Angler's barely visible through the glare are Doug Taylor and Doug Hall while Jai lends his bent fishing rod to the back setting. All three were pulling on good ones on the bow during this late afternoon stop; another classic long range fishing moment.

Tim


02/17/11

Posted: 08:35:00
One of those unexpected surprises today that remind me of the vulnerability to believe that what I am seeing today somehow translates into what I will see tomorrow. Perhaps surprise is a little too strong in describing my reaction. Honestly, after twenty seven years of plying the ocean for fish, I have learned that surprised doesn't fit into the narrative. Amazed, interested, attentive, however put the fact is that I was confident that a morning at Partida offered good production potential based on the indications yesterday. And the results were almost the exact opposite. So much for the twenty seven year's experience.

Recognizing that this was not our first outing, and we had plenty to work with in the way of sign, weather, and time, we set to making the most of it scratching a few better yellowfin, looking at plenty that wouldn't bite, harassing a few wahoo, and enduring our fair share of harassment from the local grinnners. Another day at Roca Partida that is notoriously fickle when it comes to producing good hauls of big fish. So be it.

At the very least the lack of success at Partida made the next move obvious as we set forth for Isla Clarion ready to tangle with some trophy class yellowfin if they are ready for us. At present we could not be better prepared or better positioned for triumph. This group of anglers is eager to get back in the game with our final four days dedicated to trophy tuna if everything unfolds according to plan. No surprises though. We already saw how that worked out.

Photo today features one of our bona fide heroes in every respect. No kidding. Dr. Dave Hall has earned a level of respect through his dedication to the Revilla tagging project, his dedication to long range fishing, and his incredible achievements uncommon to say the least. I could ramble on for a long time about my admiration for Dr. Dave that goes far beyond fishing. As an amenable individual, as a positive influence on every voyage he is a part of, as someone who adds good to any and all occasions I can not say enough. I'd be willing to bet just about anything that one would be hard pressed to find anyone to disagree. Dave is pictured today test driving one of the new prototype Calstar 765xxxh rods against a spirited opponent that actually had a heck of the time putting a bend in the rod. Awesome. Pure power. But, it takes some real brawn, or brain, to fish this rig to it's full potential. Dr. Dave was the right man for the job.

Tim


02/18/11

Posted: 12:13:00
Traditional Revillagigedo style action here at Clarion with a good morning shot at 100 - 175# yellowfin leading into an extended mid day and afternoon lull. Then, just in time to resurrect enthusiasm for the effort, the tuna hit us at sundown closing out the day on a high note. We did see good fish throughout the day, but convincing them to bite was a challenging task. Wily is how I would describe them. We would see them, make our run, and watch the fish remain just ahead and away from the boat. We were able to scratch a few and stay busy, but there was no glory in it. Then again the opportunity to fish at this island, cloaked in big fish lore and mystique, could be considered glorious in itself.

Photo today features another huge supporter of the Revilla tagging project joining us on two voyages in 2011. Don Franks does the honors today enjoying one of those glorious moments I was referencing. Though not the best in quality, this image should put things in perspective. There is more to this than fishing. Even the most stalwart, die hard old schooler's might recognize the beauty of this moment. I know Don did. And, caught a few fish.

Tim



02/19/11

Posted: 08:51:00
Well I have to say that although we saw more than enough tuna to get the job done getting the job done at Clarion this round proved an insurmountable task. We did catch some; typical scratch fishing is how I would describe it, but given that the majority of the day's catch was made during the first thirty minutes of daylight, and the remainder of the day was painfully slow, we had our fill when day two on the outside came to an end.

No doubt about it these tagging voyages in the Revilla's have set a standard so titanic that even normal "good" fishing pale's in comparison. Two or three nice tuna in a day would typically produce one happy angler content that the time and effort was well rewarded. Since 2007 the Revilla tagging standard has been more in the neighborhood of two to three an hour, some days even more, with consecutive day's of such a pace consuming every waking moment of angler's time. Not so much of yet this voyage. Is it all over? Are they all gone? Did they all get caught? Is the sky falling?

I am tempted to answer with some wise crack but I'll spare reader's my attempt's at direct humor. It just doesn't seem to work for me. The answer to all the above questions is no. Plain and simple. First of all we are seeing plenty of fish that are simply not biting. Second fish regularly move in and away from these islands. The data from this tagging project clearly demonstrates such movements. While there are still plenty of fish around presently there is nowhere near the quantity we have been seeing during the previous couple of months. The bulk of them are probably touring around out there five, ten, twenty, or fifty miles away from the island. If my take is worth two bits, though I hesitate to mention it, I feel that this round has been negatively affected by the moon cycle. My lack of reference to the full moon is intentional, though this round it is indeed the full that elicited a significant change. This pattern is a repeat of what occurred during the last cycle as well.

I won't spend much time on how moon phases affect fishing production because there are no definite answers. Suffice to say however that with the changing moon cycles so changes the tides, current, many times wind and sea state, forage behavior and availability, and correspondingly the fishing. Whether it will change for the better or worse with a on coming full or new moon phase is indefinite. The fact that some kind of change will occur probably eight or nine times out of ten is not.

So, change or otherwise we head back inside in search of something much better in the way of quantity than Isla Clarion could muster. Quality on the outside was definitely not the issue. Though the bastards wouldn't bite we saw a boat load of big bruisers crashing all around. Maybe next time.

Not for master Royal Star/Revillagigedo tagging veteran Doug Taylor however. Doug was the chosen one today picking off a mid day 245 on the stealth gear that required a back up, and a boat ride to finally subdue. This fish, and observing the successful outcome of what was shaping up to be a very difficult battle, was a big morale booster for all of us. Toss in the fact that the big fella was fondled, tagged, photographed, and released and the outcome was that much more successful. Congratulations to Doug on a great catch and continuing to do more than his part for science. A better friend to Royal Star is not to be found.


Royal Star Sportfishing
2838 Garrison Street
San Diego, Ca. 92106
(619) 224-4764
(619) 224-4423 Fax
rs@royalstarsportfishing.com
http://www.royalstarsportfishing.com

[Fishing Report]

02/16/11

Posted: 09:24:00
Action packed best describes the results of our move west that featured non stop catching on tuna, wahoo, and of course the ubiquitous brown sharks this solitary rock islet is so well known for. As I put it to our anglers though the shark factor, for this place especially, was about a two or three on a scale of one to ten. As such we worked our way around and through the devils for steady results on yellowfin in the 50 - 130 pound class with a few unsuccessful shots at fish even bigger. Mixed in with obscene action on smaller tuna and wahoo there was never a dull moment.

And that is the beauty and trademark of these tagging voyages since the beginning expedition in 2006. Action oriented unlimited access to these incredible islands. Based on conditions, favorable weather, and sign of fish, we opted for at least another morning at Roca Partida before considering our next move to the outside. Indications here are too good to forego an early morning attempt.

Photo today is doesn't quite reach Ansell Adams status but is to my liking nevertheless. Angler's barely visible through the glare are Doug Taylor and Doug Hall while Jai lends his bent fishing rod to the back setting. All three were pulling on good ones on the bow during this late afternoon stop; another classic long range fishing moment.



02/17/11

Posted: 08:35:00
One of those unexpected surprises today that remind me of the vulnerability to believe that what I am seeing today somehow translates into what I will see tomorrow. Perhaps surprise is a little too strong in describing my reaction. Honestly, after twenty seven years of plying the ocean for fish, I have learned that surprised doesn't fit into the narrative. Amazed, interested, attentive, however put the fact is that I was confident that a morning at Partida offered good production potential based on the indications yesterday. And the results were almost the exact opposite. So much for the twenty seven year's experience.

Recognizing that this was not our first outing, and we had plenty to work with in the way of sign, weather, and time, we set to making the most of it scratching a few better yellowfin, looking at plenty that wouldn't bite, harassing a few wahoo, and enduring our fair share of harassment from the local grinnners. Another day at Roca Partida that is notoriously fickle when it comes to producing good hauls of big fish. So be it.

At the very least the lack of success at Partida made the next move obvious as we set forth for Isla Clarion ready to tangle with some trophy class yellowfin if they are ready for us. At present we could not be better prepared or better positioned for triumph. This group of anglers is eager to get back in the game with our final four days dedicated to trophy tuna if everything unfolds according to plan. No surprises though. We already saw how that worked out.

Photo today features one of our bona fide heroes in every respect. No kidding. Dr. Dave Hall has earned a level of respect through his dedication to the Revilla tagging project, his dedication to long range fishing, and his incredible achievements uncommon to say the least. I could ramble on for a long time about my admiration for Dr. Dave that goes far beyond fishing. As an amenable individual, as a positive influence on every voyage he is a part of, as someone who adds good to any and all occasions I can not say enough. I'd be willing to bet just about anything that one would be hard pressed to find anyone to disagree. Dave is pictured today test driving one of the new prototype Calstar 765xxxh rods against a spirited opponent that actually had a heck of the time putting a bend in the rod. Awesome. Pure power. But, it takes some real brawn, or brain, to fish this rig to it's full potential. Dr. Dave was the right man for the job.

Tim





02/18/11

Posted: 12:13:00
Traditional Revillagigedo style action here at Clarion with a good morning shot at 100 - 175# yellowfin leading into an extended mid day and afternoon lull. Then, just in time to resurrect enthusiasm for the effort, the tuna hit us at sundown closing out the day on a high note. We did see good fish throughout the day, but convincing them to bite was a challenging task. Wily is how I would describe them. We would see them, make our run, and watch the fish remain just ahead and away from the boat. We were able to scratch a few and stay busy, but there was no glory in it. Then again the opportunity to fish at this island, cloaked in big fish lore and mystique, could be considered glorious in itself.

Photo today features another huge supporter of the Revilla tagging project joining us on two voyages in 2011. Don Franks does the honors today enjoying one of those glorious moments I was referencing. Though not the best in quality, this image should put things in perspective. There is more to this than fishing. Even the most stalwart, die hard old schooler's might recognize the beauty of this moment. I know Don did. And, caught a few fish.

Tim






02/19/11

Posted: 08:51:00
Well I have to say that although we saw more than enough tuna to get the job done getting the job done at Clarion this round proved an insurmountable task. We did catch some; typical scratch fishing is how I would describe it, but given that the majority of the day's catch was made during the first thirty minutes of daylight, and the remainder of the day was painfully slow, we had our fill when day two on the outside came to an end.

No doubt about it these tagging voyages in the Revilla's have set a standard so titanic that even normal "good" fishing pale's in comparison. Two or three nice tuna in a day would typically produce one happy angler content that the time and effort was well rewarded. Since 2007 the Revilla tagging standard has been more in the neighborhood of two to three an hour, some days even more, with consecutive day's of such a pace consuming every waking moment of angler's time. Not so much of yet this voyage. Is it all over? Are they all gone? Did they all get caught? Is the sky falling?

I am tempted to answer with some wise crack but I'll spare reader's my attempt's at direct humor. It just doesn't seem to work for me. The answer to all the above questions is no. Plain and simple. First of all we are seeing plenty of fish that are simply not biting. Second fish regularly move in and away from these islands. The data from this tagging project clearly demonstrates such movements. While there are still plenty of fish around presently there is nowhere near the quantity we have been seeing during the previous couple of months. The bulk of them are probably touring around out there five, ten, twenty, or fifty miles away from the island. If my take is worth two bits, though I hesitate to mention it, I feel that this round has been negatively affected by the moon cycle. My lack of reference to the full moon is intentional, though this round it is indeed the full that elicited a significant change. This pattern is a repeat of what occurred during the last cycle as well.

I won't spend much time on how moon phases affect fishing production because there are no definite answers. Suffice to say however that with the changing moon cycles so changes the tides, current, many times wind and sea state, forage behavior and availability, and correspondingly the fishing. Whether it will change for the better or worse with a on coming full or new moon phase is indefinite. The fact that some kind of change will occur probably eight or nine times out of ten is not.

So, change or otherwise we head back inside in search of something much better in the way of quantity than Isla Clarion could muster. Quality on the outside was definitely not the issue. Though the bastards wouldn't bite we saw a boat load of big bruisers crashing all around. Maybe next time.

Not for master Royal Star/Revillagigedo tagging veteran Doug Taylor however. Doug was the chosen one today picking off a mid day 245 on the stealth gear that required a back up, and a boat ride to finally subdue. This fish, and observing the successful outcome of what was shaping up to be a very difficult battle, was a big morale booster for all of us. Toss in the fact that the big fella was fondled, tagged, photographed, and released and the outcome was that much more successful. Congratulations to Doug on a great catch and continuing to do more than his part for science. A better friend to Royal Star is not to be found.

Tim




02/20/11

Posted: 07:57:00
Today's results didn't exactly qualify as an improvement. But, we did accomplish the goal of extending our fishing time and options while scratching away at quality yellowfin tuna throughout the afternoon. A few more heartbreaks on giants were unfortunate, and actually almost inevitable as the weather turned sour making for sloppy, undesirable big fish conditions. It comes with the territory.

Perfection is doing a stellar job of avoiding us so far this voyage. Nothing serious, just the little details that fall into place to create an easy flow. The prior seven tagging voyages down here have been blessed with uncommon good fortune. The law of averages appears to be catching up to us on this run. And while I gripe keep in mind the standard of success I am using for these voyages. We don't just want it to be good. We want it to be insane, wide open, crazy type action to measure up. Such lofty goals do not make for a soft landing.

Regardless we are plugging away at it, and have another full day and final morning to hit the mother lode. Better said the biting mother lode. None of the results this voyage thus far have been from a lack of fish.

Today's photo's feature Ek with a mid morning 150# class yellowfin that he handily subdued using the Shimano Talica 25 II with a short top shot of 130# Blackwater fluorocarbon. While I wouldn't say the set up is ideal for giant yellowfin, Ek's rig was plenty adequate, and then some, for this contest. In fact, he flat out kicked the daylight's out of this fish. Then, he let it go.

Tim



02/21/11

Posted: 08:47:00
The final round was tainted with a sense of foreboding - from my perspective only. I was lamenting the decision to move back inside recognizing that the cardinal rule of fishing, never leave fish to find fish, was abandoned in my zeal to best what I considered slow fishing. It wasn't good enough. But, when the wind was blowing, the water color was nearly green, the sharks were on a tear, and there was little tuna to be found, what we left two hundred thirty miles behind began to look pretty good. It was a little late for that line of thinking though. This was it. The final full day had arrived. And, by the look of things it was lining up to be a long one.

Needless to say the sinking feeling in my gut was horrible. Tactical mistakes are not easy to swallow; especially when committed in the face of the obvious. Being boxed in by a terrible decision, then living the consequences - enduring the shame, and feeling the pain of all my angler's crushed expectations, was not a position to envy. Not to mention the gravity of the whole thing being exacerbated by the final day stakes. This was the final impression, the last hurrah, the final memory angler's take with them. Oh man, how could this have possibly gone so wrong?

Unfortunately the answer was all too clear. A moment or two of clouded thinking, a leap of faith, and disproportionate optimism added up for a Captain's self inflicted nightmare. And while I was reeling inside under the weight of this trouble my stoic veneer revealed none of it. First, the unfortunate fact is that all of us driving these rigs have endured a share of painful outcomes from fishing decisions that led to disaster. It comes with the territory. Second, and my go to line in such circumstances, is the old saying. "When the going get's tough, the tough double down". Strength in the face of adversity. Shouldering the burden while making the best of it is the only option. Hoping for a miracle goes without saying.

With my personal saga detailed now comes the good part of the story. At about 0900 we began to see little teasers, fleeting indications of good size tuna that would appear and quickly disappear to the point of nearly driving us mad on the bridge. We would see the fish, head toward them, and then see zero sign by the time we arrived. It was maddening. We knew we were seeing fish, but couldn't prove it with results. Then, at 0945, someone hit the switch. They floated. And this time they were ready to eat. Fifty to eighty pound tuna, with a few handfuls bigger, and a few handfuls smaller, got it on. The first stop was a quick warm up. The second lasted over two hours.

They were biter's. For the first hour and a half of our big stop it was anything that hit the water. Every bait, every jig, every surface popper produced. Royal Star veteran Stuart Exall's experience with the big surface "stick bait" summed it up best. On one cast of course he hooked a good tuna. It smoked him straight down and out, struggled for about five minutes, then came off. Five seconds later, as Stuart was retrieving the stick bait from untold depths, another tuna grabbed it, and a new battle began. It came off as well. And another tuna grabbed it. It came off. And another tuna grabbed it. And on, and off, and on, and off until finally the line broke for some unknown reason to end the chain. Five or six different mini battles on one cast made for good action, and better comedy. Stuart and I were laughing heartily counting out loud after the third time.

So passed the day until the fish, and many of anglers as well, threw in the towel in the late afternoon. It was tremendously satisfying, tremendously rewarding, and, in my case, an unspeakable relief. I cracked the first smile from my heart around 1500 hrs. Miraculous saves are the sweetest success. This was the day we have been seeking. All the morning doubt and soul searching, which by the way is normal as the sun rising among all of us out here, was put on hold until next time. We accomplished exactly what we came to do. The present is for celebration. A great day of fishing electrifies the atmosphere like none other. Today was no exception. This victory in particular was hard earned.

Our final morning will find us stationary in the world famous "Lunker Hole" where the opportunity to snag and tag a bona fide behemoth is as good as any in the Revillagigedo island chain. Regardless of tomorrow's outcome our satisfaction and gratitude for today's action can not be toppled. What a day of catching.

Photo today features T'ai and "O" in action during one of our afternoon go around's.

Tim Ekstrom



02/22/11

Posted: 09:48:00
Smokey broke from the more typical no fish mode to produce some good action on 50 - 150# yellowfin for a fine closing round. Like the previous day at Socorro most fish appeared stamped from a mold in the 60 - 70# range with a few larger standouts. While we did get a couple of nice hits the amount of fish around led one to imagine something even better. Most of what we saw preferred to swim around and under the boat uninterested in the prospect of sporting any new body piercings. Regardless it was a great way to end the voyage stretching out our fishing time to the last possible minute. Incredibly enough, we fished on ten out of eleven days this voyage - the beauty of a fly down/fly back.

All told it was another highly successful voyage with 380 tags deployed in yellowfin tuna, and 39 tags deployed in Wahoo. I will add more thoughts about this adventure, and the Revilla tagging voyage as the boat steams north during the next three days. Arrival in Cabo San Lucas is on target for the early a.m. tomorrow. All's well that ends well. There are presently smiles all around.

Today's photo features Jai pulling on a good one a few days back with Socorro island's famous Cape Pearce providing spectacular morning scenery. As we discovered last year Jai is one of those tackle manufacturer's and merchant's whom we have the highest respect for. As owner of Thailand's "Seven Seas" tackle, Jai is on the cutting edge of tackle development. Of greater significance to us is the fact that Jai is an exceptional fisherman. He is another one who not only talks the talk, but walks the walk. On a side note, for anglers' interested in all kinds of surface plugs, poppers, and a amazing variety of different types of tackle, the Seven Seas tackle website is worth a good look. The plugs and poppers are like nothing available in our part of the world. And, speaking from direct experience, they work.

Tim


02/25/11

Posted: 14:19:42
Take it from me: the express route is much easier than the long haul home. Not that I am seeking to avoid any share of the responsibility, but duty called to the north and I was duly reminded of the pleasure of returning home in two hours as opposed to three full days against prevailing winds, current, and seas. The beauty of the fly down/fly back format is that fishing time is compressed into the shortest amount of overall time necessary to visit the Revillagigedo region. There is nothing comparable. As such, we plan on at least one fly down and back voyage for 2012; perhaps two if there is sufficient demand. My point here is to encourage anglers interested in a fly down/fly back voyage for 2012 to give us a call in the office. We have the flexibility to customize a voyage if anglers are interested.



As far as Royal Star goes the guys are bumping and banging their way north making fair time despite the ocean’s minor efforts to throw a wrench in the works. So far it appears that Royal Star will return to Fisherman’s Landing around 1000 hours on the 26th. If you plan on meeting Royal Star to retrieve your gear please arrive before noon. Otherwise not much to report on the fishing end of things as we prepare to shut down until April completing our annual haul out and maintenance projects consistent with our schedule over the past five or six years. I do plan on maintaining the daily postings with pertinent information, news, and perhaps even a few opinions and anecdotes. We always seem to have something in the works so I will keep you all posted accordingly.






Look for tomorrow’s final trip report and a few more ideas about the Revillagigedo tagging project. Have a fine day!


Tim

02/26/11

Posted: 10:29:00
Now that Royal Star has returned we will be sharing video clips and photos from the latest voyage over the next couple of weeks. Capt. Sims’ is editing the material and posting to both our Facebook page and YouTube. We have some excellent material to finally address the many inquiries anglers make regarding the whole tagging process – how do we use the scoops to capture the tuna? Don’t the tuna go crazy on deck during the tagging process? Isn’t it difficult for anglers to release a two hundred pound tuna after fighting it for so long? While I have spent countless hours explaining the magnificence of this program, my efforts do not come close compared to watching it go down. A couple of quick video clips should do the trick.

And this will be a regular part of Royal Star Sport Fishing looking forward as we now have the equipment, and motivation to advance these ideas as the focal point of our outreach. All of us are fired up about the new opportunity we have to share our angler’s experiences with the sport fishing community. This is the beginning of a new era for Royal Star. All of you who have fished with us over the years know how we relish the opportunity to embrace something new. Look for daily reports to continue during the week as we haul Royal Star out of the water to begin phase one of our annual maintenance regimen.

Tim Ekstrom



Royal Star Sportfishing
2838 Garrison Street
San Diego, Ca. 92106
(619) 224-4764
(619) 224-4423 Fax
rs@royalstarsportfishing.com
http://www.royalstarsportfishing.com