Live from the Royal Star - Final Update

[El Shaddai]

Hey Y'all....

Hello from Marty, Les and myself....just a quick update to brighten your rainy day....

Typing from the bridge....getting ready to drift for the night...ended the day with a spectacular.....and I mean spectacular....bite on 150lb - 230lb yellowfin....incredible show...blow ups everywhere...boils the size of vw bugs...it lasted 3 hours...tomorrow the seas look great and the cutoff goes to 200lbs to keep them...everything else gets cut off...one guy was down to 3 wraps on his 80 wide....these fish are busting 100lb line and straightening hooks like no tomorrow...

5 more days....so many fish...so few days left....life is good....need to run grab another Pacifico...g'night for now...

[Onokai]

Not sure I needed that. Tuna dreams for sure. Mark

[corrirod]

Grrrrrrrrr.........

[wthr4d]

Im sitting here cold and just drying out from a dreary day and this is what I get? may as well go to bed and stay there till JUNE!!

paul

[djchaser]

You know you guys suck sometimes Just kiding sounds like your having a awsome trip,bring back some pictures.

[Hanapa'a Time]

Ah, the haoles and buddah head are at it

Been wonderin' how it's goin'

Glad to hear you guys are in 'em

Can't wait to hear more

Mahalo James and Aloha to Les and Marty

[Mark Mc]

Hehehe....well, notice how he waited until the fish started biting.....to drop in on us!! How many Pacificos did you drink before it layed down James :smile:??

http://www.royalstarsportfishing.com/news/index.php

Good to hear from the gang....can't wait to hear which of the trio had the most mojo.

[Mr. Fisherman]

0

[wak'm&stak'm]

Sounds wonderful....no! it sounds like a dream.

Give Les a hug for me.....and I bet you can't get a picture of marty without that grin on his face.

Enjoy..

[Seelicious]

That's awesome! Thanks for sharing the experience!

Can't wait to see some pics of those cows!

SL

[bajadan2000]

AAARRRRGGGGHHH

TIME TO MAKE THE DONUTS!!!!

GO GET THEM FOR US STUCK ON SHORE DREAMIN ABOUT IT.

[Salty Walty]

Thanks for the Report. I think.

[id. painter]

Once again,,
Your living right man ... id. p.

[MYRTLE BEE]

if you have time between hooking cows and drinking pacifico tell Marty I want to see pictures when you get back!!!

[El Shaddai]

Another solid day....we are truly blessed in that we are fishing with world class guys that have killed many cows over the years....today was just "so-so"....we had another great afternoon stop....it's still hard to get used to driving away from 100lb class fish that are devouring our mickey's.....slow day on 200lb plus fish...most were 150 -190lbs..

Everyone got railed today (caught fish)and the kite was hot....our very own Marty moved into 1st place in the jackpot with a 237lb cow...

I'm going nuts passing on these 100lb class fish...they are a gas but alas we are only cow hunting...

As for the trio stats...we are dead even but totally rooting for each other...

I decided today I need a bigger boat...(-:

Off to Mag Bay tonight to make bait...4 more days...I'll keep you updated...

[reeldick]

I don't fish the salt water and these posts are making me jealous.
Wow, some trip.

[RJ]

This Is Just Plain Mean Way To Go James ,Les And Marty..Find'm & Grind'm ...RJ

[Hanapa'a Time]

Way to "hana pa'a", braddahs

[OuterLimits]

Thanks for keeping us informed. I'm trying not to drool on the keyboard!

[tracker]

Keep it up "Team Salty Dogs"!

[djchaser]

Arrrgghh got my new Avet,need to fish Your Killing me

[Herring Problem]

Go ahead, rub it in. Landlocked here in Bend with Snow and you be fishin, Fine go-ahead "Rub it in!"


Hope your having a wonderful and joyous trip. Send Pics of that 200lb'er.
Sending filets would be better!

[HOGGEMIN]

right on looks like the best year ever for the COWS hope it is like this for next years trip also.

[tomictime]

about the only part of this I can duplicate is the cold beer...

CooL, thanks for the reports.

JD

[Killertraylor]

WOW! Way to go, Marty! Those pics on the website are incredible. I MUST DO THIS NEXT YEAR!!!!

[wthr4d]

What website? I did not see any link on here!! I wanna see 200lb sea cows doing the tuna dance.

Paul

[El Shaddai]

Another slow pick today.....that said, we did drive away from a proific.....I mean proific...blow up of 100lb. class of fish.....we were brailing and then all heck broke loose "to small" said the skipper.....I almost cried.
Once again the pm bite saved the day...we all landed fish between 120-185lbs class today...big fish for today was 278lbs...more to come tomorrow.

[Hanapa'a Time]

[Salty Walty]

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Way to go guys. Glad you are having a great time.

[northriver1]

Keta - Do you needa little help with jars and freezer space. I am here for you buddy.

[Jennie@ifish]

...sounds like a dream come true!

:smile:

[whaleraddict]

I second Corrirod :grin:.

[djchaser]

<-- will also donate storage space :grin: sounds like a great trip guys

[Mark Mc]

Bob, what you been drinking :tongue:? Keta is not on this trip. It's
Les (Booja1), James (El Shaddai) and Marty (Marty).

01/20/06
No glory to report today other than a favorable weather change that boosted spirits and definitely made for a pleasant afternoon of trophy yellowfin fishing. Similar to the past few days, the giants displayed their same reluctance to bite slipping away from us the majority of the time with only a few half-hearted boils way back or nothing at all. Fortunately, we were able to pick off what seems to have become our one school per day in the late afternoon and put a couple more over two aboard and a dozen others in the one hundred fifty to one hundred ninety five pound class.

"A little bit in the hatch every day adds up to a lot" is the saying I am reminded of at present, and at our current pace, we will be in fine shape if we can keep the ball rolling. This can be easier said than done however, especially with the present dynamics in this area, but, at the very least, the weather and time are still on our side.

[HOGGEMIN]

Not to change this thread Lee (Keta) left San Diago today aboard the Red Rooster III for a 15 day trip .............EEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRR some guys need to get a job............LOL

[djchaser]

not sure I can take it thats it not reading any more reports

[northriver1]

Nothing yet but give me a minute OK Mark. I am on the waiting list (#4) for 2006 in November on the Red Rooster. I sure hope a few of the boys can't get away from work.

[El Shaddai]

The big new's for today was 282lb cow....several others over 200lbs....quite a few in the 150-190lb class...Marty had a hot stick landed 4 so he's da' man for the day.....again we all caught fish this am, bite is beging to improve now...muscle's are beging to hurt...that's all for now.

[Mark Mc]

Hehehe.....Marty....quite the over-50 fishing stud....must be all that clean living.

[Onokai]

Hey Mark is this the same Marty thats the president of that name club?/ I cannot remember the details but am still laughing about that one. The other mark

[Mark Mc]

What club....the "over 50 fishing stud" club? Or the "Marty club?"

This be the man:





Note the left hand....

[Hooked on Fish]

Very, very, nice!

[Seelicious]

That is amazing! Congrats to the 3 Amigos!

How much longer do we have to wait for the pics?

[Mark Mc]

Boat arrives in San Diego on the 27th.

[5-Cents]

WOW!

[Flying Roast Beef]

You're killing me. I have to make a trip like that at least once in my life. I've been to Mexico and know what big tuna are about but to do it for two weeks? WOW!!

[Onokai]

Mark on a post back about a month you mentioned the club -something like the folks who use there names as Ifish user names-like Mark Mc and If I recall Marty is president.. As far as the over 50 stud club count me a member as well Mark

[El Shaddai]

Greeting's Dogs.....today was epic by any standard...13 fish over 200lbs today including a YFT 325lbs.....Les landed a 275lb YFT.....Marty continues to put on a clinic with several more landed today, inculding a YFT at 218lbs ...I also landed several incuding a 248lb YFT....all in all the Oregon dogs had a great day...we have almost plugged the boat....room for only five more cows...spirits are high...muscles are sore....and memories are burned forever...I have some awsome pic's to share when we get home...will do one final up date tomorrow...

BTW..check out satoscustomtackle.com each of us have been using his custom crimp kit and we have had no connection failures... good night for now.

[Mark Mc]

Thanks James, keep it coming!!
------------------------------------
(from the boat's website)

01/21/06
Following a horrific wake up call to a frigid sixty six degree water temperature that dropped two and one half degrees overnight, we thankfully made a short move to the south where we found the right water and the fish in it. Once we located the water and the fish, catching them was the challenge, and similar to previous mornings, the vast majority of the schools we located showed little or no interest in our offerings.

Now the stage was set: flat calm weather, big tuna crashing around that refused to bite, and a consistent pattern of slow morning fishing. Up to this point we have stuck to our guns using our heavy outfits exclusively in preparation for every opportunity that came our way on big fish. Adaptability is the key to a good fisherman's success and with nothing going into the hatch, and worse yet, nothing on the end of our lines, it was time for a drastic change to get the ball rolling. At ten thirty a.m. Captain Toussaint keyed the P.A. mic and made the call "O.K. guys, it's time to break out the gimmick gear, short top shots, fluorocarbon, whatever you want, try it." "With grease calm weather there will never be a better time than now so let's try to get something going."

The ensuing stampede was dangerous as anglers wedged five deep in the galley companionway throwing caution aside in their mad rush to re-outfit with the gear that would guarantee them a bite on a big fish every time. No more waiting, no more angling, no watching in frustration as fish crash around the boat impudently ignoring our every effort to entice them. It was going to be easy street from here on out. Finally, the time had come.

As we lined up on the next school, the stage was set for the ultimate showdown; about a third of the group with the new "souped up" outfits, and the remaining anglers staying with the tried and true rigging that had served them so well up to this point. The school was hit, we got them under us, and here they came, roaring up the wake appearing to mean business this time. First fish hooked - one hundred thirty pound, second - one hundred thirty pound, third - one hundred pound, fourth - one hundred pound, fifth - one hundred thirty pound fluorocarbon, and so on. It just so happened that this stop turned out to be the best of the trip so far lasting six hours while producing a total of twenty six yellowfin with five over two hundred pounds. Those anglers that began the stop with lighter outfits and the "gimmick gear" racked them almost immediately upon discovering that the fish wanted to bite this time and there was no need to assume the risk.

So what does this all mean. Nothing. Of course I am joking about the stampede and chaos, and I thought it was a good occasion to poke fun at anyone who had their pride wounded by our recommendations to stick to the heavy gear during the past three month's wide open action on giant yellowfin. The serious side of this anecdote is that there is a time and a place for such gear and we definitely arrived there yesterday. It just so happened that as soon as we relented, we found the right school that wanted to bite. When we did, the light outfits posed no advantage as the fish were aggressive and ready for action.

We are presently in good weather with two days of fishing to go on our trip. It is ten forty five a.m. and I have big news to report that is literally minutes old. Gary Sato of Sato's Custom Tackle just landed his fish of a lifetime; a yellowfin tuna weighing in at three hundred twenty four pounds. Huge congratulations to Gary the "kitemaster" Sato who just earned himself a new title as sinker fisherman extraordinaire.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Three hundred and twenty four pounds! Three hundred and twenty four pounds! THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FOUR POUNDS!
Oh for the love of God! Those Tuna need Jenney Craig or Dr. Ray!..... I am leaning towards Dr. Ray here.... I am sure I can help those fish shed some unecessary pounds...
Odin, can I borrow your sign and your street corner? I may be on a mission...

[djchaser]

man what a pig man what a trip

[Coastalfisherman]

I hear that Ray :grin: How about an Ifish trip about one of the long range boats. I am thinking 2008.....Just maybe

[Mark Mc]

Latest skipper's report

01/22/06
Wow! This was the day we have been waiting for with flat calm weather paving the way for another full day of fantastic opportunities at catching giant yellowfin tuna in the two hundred pound and larger class. At this stage of our voyage, we are far from needing a larger quantity of fish as we have plenty of volume in both our brine frozen and R.S.W. tanks. What we have been hoping for is a greater number of super jumbo yellowfin, fish in the 230# and larger class, as we would like to see every angler get that elusive opportunity at a bona fide fish of a lifetime. It just so happened that we found a spot of fish mid morning that impressed us immediately by producing a three hundred twenty four pound monster for long time Royal Star favorite and long range tackle specialist Gary Sato. Regrettably, I must report that every fish we landed thereafter was considerably smaller, but, only two of the remaining fourteen fish boated that stop were under two hundred pounds. Two hundred seventy five, two forty eight, three from two hundred thirty three to two thirty eight, and the remaining seven others from two hundred eleven to two hundred twenty seven pounds made for a spectacular day on the water, ideal for this stage of our voyage.

Once again the sequence of events leading up to this point are just shy of miraculous with the crummy weather and poor fishing in the beginning stage of the trip becoming a godsend that allows us to capitalize on these opportunities now. Needless to say we are mighty appreciative of our good fortune and are paying proper respects to the ocean we live on. Now for our final day tomorrow that we look forward to with great anticipation. The weather is perfect, our anglers are prepared, we are loaded for bear with plenty of perfect bait, and we have space remaining in our final R.S.W. hold for approximately six to eight more two hundred pound tuna. Even if we don't fill the hatch with two hundred pounders we will depart triumphantly with an epic trip under our belts and an incredibly beautiful catch of trophy yellowfin on board. But, while we are here with a little space left...

Of course, we will keep you posted.

[Onokai]

I have to stop reading this string. I've got clay fish to make and pottery to throw. Cow tuna do not help in that thought process- thats monster cow tuna. Mark

[Ragnar]

So, here I am breathing heavy, sweating and keeping a good rithym and my girlfriend busts in the door thinking I'm "doing something in the computer room" only to discover that I'm making a serious attempt to bite my own face off after reading this thread.
I begin to regail her with the accounts herein these entries. She can only empathise not having the sickness we Dogs share. She gave me that look that the kid from "Old Yeller" gave to the dog right before he shot it (cuz it had the fever and all ya know). She says that if she ever comes into a large sum of money, she will in fact send me on this trip as well.
I really love her.
This just brings all that read this to a whole new level of SICK! I love it!
You guys ROCK! Will you guys be my Dad?

Ragnar

[flapbreaker]

How long does it take to boat a 200# tuna? And how do you get all that meat home?

[Mr. Fisherman]

How long does it take to boat a 200# tuna? And how do you get all that meat home?

A. Not as long as it takes to get over the burn.
B. rent a trailer adn cover your 1700 pounds of fish with 900 pounds of ice. At least thats the way Hogemin and Keta did it last trip.
I am only speculating in answer A as I have not actually had the pleasure yet.

[Mark Mc]

Report from the final fishing day:
----------------------------------

01/24/06
Our estimated six to eight fish needed to fill the remaining hold space became five as Captain Toussaint commanded the helm on our final day to a capacity load of beautiful, trophy yellowfin. With two more over the two hundred pound mark yesterday, the trip total was thirty over two hundred including the one bonus 324# monster. All things taken into account, especially the rugged weather that hampered our efforts four of the nine days we had to fish, we could not be happier with the end result.

Always of great importance to us, but especially to this fantastic group of discerning anglers, is the superb quality of our catch; two thirds of which was handled to the highest standards being immediately pithed, bled, and dressed(gutted) upon capture. The fish were then thoroughly washed before being placed in our R.S.W. tanks for fresh storage at 30 degrees Fahrenheit. At the pace this catch was made - typically one or two fish coming over the rail at a time, every individual was processed and placed in the tanks within minutes of capture. I will confidently venture the opinion that this present load of giant yellowfin easily rivals any fresh tuna product available in the world today, and far surpasses most. In fact, Randy and I want to extend an open invitation to anyone interested to meet Royal Star upon our arrival at Fisherman's Landing on Friday and witness the spectacular condition of these incredible tuna when they are unloaded. I would also encourage anyone with a friend on this trip to make a phone call or two, perhaps subtly reminding your compadre of how much you enjoy a delicious tuna steak or fine quality sashimi.

I know I expend a significant amount of effort promoting the quality of our fresh product, and although there is a self serving, promotional motive, there is also the fact that we, meaning the Royal Star crew, feel genuine satisfaction and great pride when our anglers return with a product of this standard. There is a tremendous amount of work that goes into producing this premium quality product, all of which we gladly assume to raise the overall value of your long range fishing experience. Now, if you're an angler who does not eat fish or does not care about consuming your catch fresh, none of this means anything to you. But, there is a very good chance that most individuals who feel negatively about eating fish would change their opinion after experiencing the difference in a premium quality product. If you are among those who savor a delicious cut of fresh, superb quality, yellowfin, bluefin, albacore, or bigeye tuna, not to mention wahoo, yellowtail, or dorado, I sincerely hope you have the opportunity to fish with us and benefit from our enormous efforts.

After shimmying the last fished into the hatch, that weighed in at a respectable two hundred thirty four pounds, we took off for Cabo San Lucas at a leisurely pace enjoying a tranquil afternoon that was only occasionally disrupted by the high spirits of this fantastic group of triumphant anglers. In fact, the triumphant sentiment became much more pronounced following a cameo appearance by Captain Morgan, who's reputation is legendary among this group of anglers following a memorably festive day of travel last year. All in good fun of course, and on this occasion it definitely appeared that a good time was had by all. As a group of anglers who paid their dues and earned this catch, they certainly had every reason to celebrate their success. So did we, and believe me, there is no better feeling for men in our business than the atmosphere on Royal Star last night.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Well it couldn't have happened to a nicer group o fSalty Dogs. My hat is off to you gentelmen. Well done. I sure hope you were able to document this event in pictures and take time to jot down your thoughts so you will have them to reflect back on for a lifetime.
What an epic adventure

[Paddler]

I'd like to hear about the procedures used to pith, bleed and dress the fish. It sounds like a wonderful product, and I'd like to be able to treat my catch the same way. Given the limitations of a small boat, that will be a challenge. Especially leaving a hot bite if your catch exceeds your capacity to care for them.

What ratio of ice to fish is recommended? As one who doesn't have a RSW bath, icing is the best I can do.