8/30/13

Five minutes of driving around this morning and one could feel that things were different. It was palpable, dictating in
fishing language that there were, that there are, many and more good things to come. Though I have been sharing such
notions throughout this season, knowing full well that it is true, inevitable, today it was ridiculously obvious. New fish
have arrived. They are not coming, they are not on their way - they are here. And we made good on the chance, as well as
our colleagues.

Aquarium style fishing for Bluefin tuna, not something we enjoy all that often, was the result of our final morning.
Yellowfin from 12 - 28# pounds were also in the mix, and are soon to be loading RSW tanks big time, but our shot was at
the school size, 18 - 22# bluefin that were darn near suicidal in their zeal to join us on a final ride to San Diego.

Of course we were all too pleased to accommodate them. For a final hour we clobbered the eager little devils in grease
calm conditions that created a window into the deeps stunning in detail. Cast out a bait, watch it swim a few yards, see
one of the fifteen or twenty bluefin swimming around peel off, charge toward it and chomp it down, then set the hook,
watch a few head shakes and maybe a few baits get spit out, then see it scream off into the deeps while line pours off
your reel. That is a pretty accurate account of what occurred many times during the first twenty minutes of our final
outing.

It was a strong ending to be sure; exactly what we hoped for; but almost no surprise considering how fortunate we have
been throughout this whole adventure. This one was destined to be strong. This exceptional group of individuals created an
atmosphere that could not help but yield things positive, things grand. It is a credit to one and all. And we are grateful
to be part of the adventure, to do our part, and share in the fun.

Photos today feature a few moments of triumph from a few days past. Roger Shu and his seventy five pound trophy bluefin
and Mark Lytle with his second place, 83# bluefin close out this voyage in proper style. Enormous thanks to Ben Ouano and
David Garcia for making this trip a reality. This is a blue print for all long range voyages to follow.

Tim Ekstrom


Photo Here...

Photo Here...