THURSDAY PM
The Viking Starship leaves tomorrow at 6 AM for three day, and two full nights of canyon fishing. As always, I'm going over my list of things to bring twice...the important stuff...cannolis, espresso, poker chips or is that potato chips.
Fishing equipment keep it simple...Right! I'm a sucker for new stuff...can't afford it but got to have it! There's always something you forget. Tuna fishing has been luke warm. I hope that will change tomorrow afternoon.
1st DAY
Today was picture perfect. Last real day of summer...we're talking tank tops and shorts...a very light, southernly wind. The boys were barbecuing on the top deck...hot dogs and steaks. It was a joke...a great crowd of people. And Capt. Steve was enjoying an easy cruise out...doesn't get any better than this, I tell you.
We got out in the canyon in good time..no problems at all...feel like you're getting set up? Well we were...too calm...too nice...too perfect. The boat anchored up with out a hitch. The slick was out and within one hour Martin Lenzberg was into a brute...line screaming...Martin played this fish perfectly for a good 45 minutes.
Mike, one of the mates, and Capt. Steve stayed with him the whole time. The lines were taken out of the water all around Martin, so that there wouldn't be a massive tangle. A beautiful 155 lb. big eye came up in that slow circle, that only happens when they're done. The monster was gaffed and pulled in...we all applauded him as he sat there with that shit-eating grin.
Doesn't get better for a fisherman's dream. Well this young man's luck would not change. No sooner did he get his line back in than a few hours later he was in another brute. After another long, good fight he brought in a 120 lb. yellow fin.
Now, when all seems too good...the winds started to pick up...but not too bad. And we pick a fish here and there. Big Mike's wife hooked onto a monster. I've seen Mike's wife pull in tuna bigger than herself amny a time in the past. So, to see her have a hard time on this one got my interest.
I watched and followed her around the boat quite a few times. But when the time came, it was a big blue shark that would have won many a shark tournament...I mean this baby was in the 300 lb. range. She was angry that it was not a tuna or a sword and snapped him off, after another good 45 minute fight.
No need to feel bad...in my eyes she is one of the best women fishermen I've seen period. Well, a pick here, a pick there, as night came the wind started to pick up, but not so bad. We fished threw the night, a few small swords were caught and released. And a few medium tunas...Laughing at bad jokes and alot of stories went around.
I had the espresso pouring at 3 AM on threw, until the next morning. Passed out and got 4 hours of deep coma. The kind of sleep when you think that the person is dead. No sleeping disorders here...Oh no! Some stayed up, some slept...some tried for some tile fish. Tile fish is the best eating..."taste just like chicken"...only kidding...if you love lobster, you'll love tile fish!