Dr. Dave gets the nod today with several action photos including one following his famous dunking at Isla Clarion. With all Dave's giant yellowfin tuna photos since January, the bar is set rather high, but Dave is one of those anglers who has a great time regardless of whether he is catching a three hundred or a thirty pounder. One thing I can say about Dave is that he is a angler who knows the value of using the big gear when fishing for giant yellowfin. To each his own of course but Dave's success on giant yellowfin while using the 80 size tackle is an example I reference time and again when I see anglers begin manhandled by big tuna when using miniature souped up reels. More important than Dave's fishing style however is his demeanor on board as he is a friend to all and always having a good time. If you are fortunate enough to make a trip with Dr. Dave on Royal Star, you will likely learn a great deal about how many ways there are to enjoy your long range fishing adventure. Thanks from all of us Dave and again thanks for laughing with us when you went over the side.

You've probably all noticed a trend in these reports describing the majority of anglers featured as Royal Star veterans and friends. Especially in the case of the Revillagigedo tagging voyages, this is true for the main reason that I have been promoting in these reports from their beginning. The highly experienced veterans have embraced the Revillagigedo tagging voyages because of the unmatched fishing potential we have encountered now four voyages running. For the finest giant yellowfin tuna fishing one can imagine, in the most beautiful setting available, these anglers are ecstatic to have legal access to this legendary fishery.
No angler demonstrates this motive better than our good friend and superior angler Warren Sakamoto who has likely shared the Royal Star deck with many of you over the past fifteen years. Warren is one of those anglers who always wears a smile and always seems to have a fish on the end of whatever line he is soaking. This voyage was no exception as Warren added tremendous effort to the deployment of electronic and conventional tags. Thanks for sharing all the good times with us Warren and congratulations on the one deuce and at least half a dozen "on the fence" one ninety fives.

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Ron Jew has joined us now on two Revillagigedo tagging voyages and on both voyages accomplished many significant feats with his impeccably maintained equipment and consistent effort at the rail. Ron plugged away at the big fish throughout the last trip compiling quite a score of one fifties through one nineties. Then during the final two days at Socorro the stars began to align in his favor. Ultimately I believe Ron ended up with three over two hundred with the highlight being a two eighty seven landed during the final evening hit. What a fish and what a what a tremendous effort Ron put forth to land his trophy weaving in and out of countless close calls during the "nail biter" of a battle. Ultimately Ron earned his unofficial title as Jackpot winner with his 287. Thank you to Ron from all of us and we look forward to fishing with you again next year!

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Today's photos feature my good friend Bill Grimsley who in addition to being an exceptional fisherman also has a significant place in the history of Royal Star Sport Fishing. Bill and I met on board Royal Star in 1993, struck up a strong, loyal friendship, and over the next few years developed the ideas that led to the first website, daily reports, and daily photos maintained by a San Diego Long Range vessel. Bill's company, Corporate Network Professionals Inc. has played a crucial role in positioning Royal Star far ahead of our competition in the technology category. Without the outstanding effort and advances Bill and CNP have accomplished, Royal Star would likely have been far behind in the computer realm. Thanks for a job well done Bill and the guys at CNP.

The photo of Bill and I features Bill's 243 taken in the early a.m. on the big bait at Isla Socorro.

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Today's photos feature our good friend Jack West who always stands out as a extraordinary addition to any Royal Star voyage with his kind disposition and dedicated angling. Jack is one of those anglers who always seems to get his big fish, and after fifteen years of spending time offshore in his company, I am certain it is not just luck. After so many memorable voyages together, there isn't an angler out there that I would rather spend time with. In addition, Jack's passion for photography has provided us all with many phenomenal images over the years, especially during the most recent Revillagigedo tagging voyage. So huge thanks to Jack for the photos today and the many others to be shared in the upcoming month.

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Looking through all the amazing photos we have to send, I will do my best to feature every angler who joined us with a shot or two of their trophies as well as in action, or relaxing, at the rail. Today's photos feature two long time Royal Star veterans. Making his first tagging voyage, Ed Janowski kept the pace throughout the trip and ended on a fantastic note with three over the coveted two hundred mark on our final day of fishing. If I recall correctly, the big fish in the night time photo taped out at 217.
Also featured today is Len Cunningham whom many of you may recognize as the undisputed tagging champion of Royal Star. Len has joined us on all but three tagging voyages including the seven fall ten day Royal Star voyages where voluntary tagging has been performed. I believe Len, as an individual angler, has the greatest number of tags deployed, and the highest number of tags recovered to his credit. Needless to say Len, at the young age of seventy six, commands all of our respect and admiration in this arena. I believe the photo of Len and I features Len's 207 caught mid day at Isla Socorro.

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Today's photos feature Instituto Nacional de Pesca observer Juan Urias who eargerly embraced the fishing responsibitilites that come with his title on this voyage. In addition to becoming very adept with a rod and reel, and landing the 208 pound yellowfin tuna in the photo, Juan is a real gentleman who did a fantastic job representing INP and the Government of Mexico. We are very appreciative for the opportunity to share the concept of tagging voyages with Juan and sincerely enjoyed his gregarious company on board.

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A couple of skiff photos today feature fishing veteran and Cabo San Lucas resident Mike McHatton who was indoctrinated to the world of Revillagigedo giant yellowfin tuna fishing in every way imaginable. Kite fishing, skiff rides, big baits, sardines, you name it Mike was up for the challenge and mastered every new method like the veteran fisherman should. The photo taken in the skiff features Mike and I with a one hundred eighty five pound yellowfin tuna landed after a classic Socorro sleigh ride. Thanks again from all of us Mike and please enjoy the photos courtesy of Dan Fuller.

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The tale of two tunas I related on Let's Talk Hookup a couple of weeks prior is verified by this round of photos that I jumped in a took with Dan Fuller's fantastic waterproof Olympus digital camera. After being released, these two one hundred sixty to one hundred seventy pound class yellowfin tuna preferred to hang around the boat remaining with us as we drifted for about an hour. To our delight, they contentedly toured around Royal Star in plain view allowing all of us to observe their behavior and graceful form as they went about their business. Enjoy these shots and look forward to plenty more.

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So much for the flat calm ride as yesterday's sea state rapidly degenerated after 0800 into a rock and roll fest that was tolerable enough but an extreme, unwelcome change from the previous two days. As such we were set back about forty five minutes on our ETA in San Diego on Wednesday which is now around 1015 at Fisherman's Landing.
For the final at sea report I want to inform everyone that I will continue to post photos daily throughout the month of May as Royal Star will be down again through the 24th. Sadly, we had to drop our annual May 16 day voyage for the first time in twelve years from a lack of participation. The upside however is that the down time will be put to good use maintaining a few more mechanical systems and cosmetics in preparation for our full summer and fall schedule. On that note, we do have plenty of space remaining on many upcoming summer and fall voyages so if you are considering a trip, give us a call to check availability.

In closing today, I want to thank all the anglers on the latest tagging voyage for their participation that was rewarded with classic Revillagigedo island fishing for giant yellowfin tuna. Between the epic fishing using traditional big baits at Socorro, the incredible scenery, and the rewards from being a part of this visionary project, this was a long range fishing adventure that blew the doors off all of our expectations and goals. Thank you again to everyone involved in the project and special mention to Jack West, Tim Shields, Kurt Schaefer, and Dan Fuller for sharing many of their fantastic photos with us. Please take the time to review and enjoy them during the upcoming weeks as many are nothing short of phenomenal. Finally, if you are considering one of the Revillagigedo tagging voyages in 2009, please call now as extremely limited availability is closing the door on both the February and April 2009 voyages quickly.

Royal Star Revillagigedo Island tagging participants April 2008 as follows.

Bruce Posthumus
Warren Sakamoto
Len Cunningham
Ed Janowski
Tom Cahillane
Murray Darch
Dave Hall
Jack West
Andy Cooperman
Chris Yamada
Greg Koonce
Mike Noerenberg
Ron Jew
Tim Shields
Mike McHatton
Bill Grimsley

Thanks again to all of you from the Royal Star crew

Tim Ekstrom
Brian Sims
Steve Gregonis
Gregg Tanji
Blake Wasano
Drew Rivera
Jeffery Grant

Well we are really living right on this run up the line as the dues we paid traveling between the islands are now being rewarded with primo, flat calm conditions. As such we are very close to being on schedule with a San Diego arrival time of 0930 at Fisherman's Landing on Wednesday, April 30th. With nothing ominous forecast in the next twenty four hours, all bodes well for a pleasant final leg of the seven hundred eighty mile northwest journey.

Now, as with previous Revillagigedo tagging voyages it is of the utmost importance to recognize that many individuals are responsible for the success of this project that is the first and only of its kind, and a quantum leap beyond the format of a traditional long range fishing voyage. Being a high profile venture of such significance, those agencies and individuals involved in developing this idea from the beginning and obtaining permits are owed a huge debt of gratitude from our organization and every individual who has enjoyed the privilege of participating in this project.

First and foremost, senior scientist Kurt Schaefer from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission is where this idea originated and his drive led to its fruition. Along with IATTC scientist Dan Fuller, the effort and contributions to the success of this project by these two professionals must be recognized as irreplaceable. IATTC director, Dr. Guillermo Compean and Instituto Nacional de Pesca Director General Miguel Cisneros are both owed our gratitude and highest respect for allowing this project to move forward through the issuance of permits by the Government of Mexico. As this visionary project is entirely new and rife with ideas unfamiliar outside the world of sport fishing, both agencies, and the directors, extended tremendous faith in a successful outcome with their credibility and reputations on the line. So thank you from Royal Star Sport Fishing to the IATTC and INP for selecting us to execute the capture, tag, and release portion of this project on M/V Royal Star. We are mindful of the significance this opportunity represents and grateful for the success we have produced to date.

That said we also must express our most sincere gratitude to all anglers who have joined this project to date and donated to the tremendous success financially through the purchase of tags, and physically through the capture of so many specimens for tag and release. Without anglers to generate the revenue necessary to conduct this study, suffice to say we would have all lost something tangible as this project has opened many eyes to the great potential in collaborations between the scientific and sport fishing communities. Whether all the tagging participants recognize it or not, they have played a pivotal role in evolving the image of San Diego Sport Fishing worldwide.

Finally we would like to thank the Sport Fishing Association of California, Shimano, and AFTCO who are the only members of the Southern California sport fishing community that made financial donations to the project used for the purchase of electronic tags. Without the significant generosity of these forward thinking entities, this project would be far behind the number of electronic tags deployed in the Revillagigedo reserve to date. Also we would like to thank Pelagic Gear for donating a variety of their fantastic products for use on this latest voyage. Before this voyage I have never worn Pelagic products. Following this voyage, that certainly put these products to the test, I will now be using the gloves and sun protection shirts that you will see in the many photos posted during upcoming weeks.

In closing I want to again offer my most sincere gratitude to everyone involved in this project that is obviously very important to me personally. Well before the Revillagigedo project I have had a genuine passion for such visionary opportunities as well as the knowledge and understanding of tuna's behavior, life history, and movements. To witness this idea come to fruition, and have the opportunity to participate as Captain (and admittedly, head cheerleader), has been an experience I cherish and don't take for granted. It is my sincerest hope that this project, and many more like it, will be a regular part of the Royal Star schedule for many years to come.

Look for tomorrow's final report with plenty more acknowledgements and fishing details to share.

Tim Ekstrom

So far we have been mighty pleased with the weather as we continue the northerly trek towards home. While enjoying the calm seas and offshore scenery, I have been reflecting on this voyage and the incredible success of Revillagigedo tagging project to date. To validate this perspective, first I believe it is time to share statistics that are not necessarily the whole measure of a successful trip, but are definitely the measure of successful fishing. That said I want to emphasize that the vast majority of the smaller fish, or fish under one hundred pounds this voyage, were in the 75 - 90# class. With fishing for large yellowfin tuna being so spectacular, we never did dedicate much effort towards distributing large numbers of tags in smaller, school size tuna. I would guess conservatively that perhaps fifty of the three hundred ninety nine tags deployed in yellowfin tuna this voyage were in fish under fifty pounds. Otherwise a total of 233 yellowfin tuna over one hundred pounds were tagged and released with twenty of those surpassing the two hundred pound mark. Of the 233, less the twenty that surpassed the two hundred pound mark, at least fifty were in the 175 - 195# class while a conservative 80% of the remainder were 130 - 175#. Of particular interest this voyage was significant number of fish in the 190 - 200# class or fish that had the classic 68X48 measurements that we have coined "on the fencers" because of their scale weights that are always between 195 and 205 pounds depending on how much weight they are carrying behind the "shoulders". Some make it and some don't but in the case of this voyage none of the 20 or 25 tuna we measured in this range were included in the count of two hundred pounders.

As I stated above just rattling off a bunch of numbers quickly becomes mundane and really does little to express or reflect the all important atmosphere on board that surrounds the catching. That is the true measure of success. Are the anglers and crewmen appreciating and enjoying the experience while they are battling big fish? For those readers unfamiliar with this type of fishing it is probably hard to believe that one couldn't have a good time in any of these settings I have described. Believe me, if order breaks down through a lack of crew experience, or anglers lose their cool from a lack of professional direction, it can be a disaster of tangled gear, flaring tempers, damaged pride, and broken hearts. Such was not the case this voyage, and really never is on Royal Star, but deserves mention regardless as our crewmen and anglers worked together to land a remarkable number of fish while having the time of their lives doing it. As I stated in a previous report, this was giant yellowfin tuna fishing paradise.

In any sport, the scenic element adds such tremendous value to the overall experience. The passage of time and the memories of what transpires are both significantly enriched by the environment in which one is surrounded. I can think of many examples that validate this perspective two of which are mountaineering and hunting. Suffice to say there are countless sports that people embrace not solely for the exercise but also the ability to access special, unique, and extreme settings. The Revillagigedo islands fall under this category. These tagging voyages to the Revillagigedo reserve provide access to perhaps the most amazing tuna fishing environment in the world today. Slugging it out with these huge fish with the spectacular backdrop of Socorro, Clarion, San Benedicto, or Roca Partida only half a mile or a mile away is a memory that never fades. Between the fish, the birds, the dolphins, and even the notorious sharks, the beauty of a vibrant, healthy ecosystem leaps out at anglers while they engage in the passion of their sport. The tagging element of these voyages only adds to the experience - take it from the twenty plus veteran long range anglers who have returned on these voyages in some cases three times. With the additional dynamics of the tagging process, the unlimited, legal fishing access to the Revillagigedo reserve, and the spectacular scenery of Mexico's Revillagigedo islands, these voyages make an impression on anglers that is unmatched by anything I have seen in my twenty two years of long range fishing. As I stated several days back, the tag and release element of these voyages is not a sacrifice. One is not making a concession when embarking on these voyages. I don't see these experienced long range veterans begrudgingly accept the release of these trophy yellowfin tuna. I see anglers motivated by the process and enthusiastic about their participation in such a visionary project. As I said, the ability to participate in this project is a privilege not a sacrifice. The statistics and enthusiasm following the now four hugely successful prior Revillagigedo tagging voyages leave no room for doubt - in my opinion of course.

If you made it through this report thanks for reading. I haven't had the opportunity to get too long winded this trip but now that travel time is upon us the wheels are turning. Look for tomorrow's report with more details and the all important acknowledgements as there are many individuals who deserve tremendous credit for making this project, and the incredible fishing experiences associated with it, a reality.

Our final morning was little more than a quick stop over at the famed "Lunker Hole" as conditions were poor and very similar to our visit eight days prior. Still jubilant, and reveling in the huge success of the prior two days of glory at Socorro, we departed San Benedicto in short order with zero regret and plenty satisfied breaking down our equipment and sprucing up Royal Star in preparation for our arrival in Cabo San Lucas Sunday morning. To make the occasion even better, we enjoyed a beautiful, calm ride up the line with the nagging offshore breeze finally abating leaving only a gentle rolling swell as a reminder of what recently was a much less than desirable sea state. So, with the three day ride up the line next on the docket, I will continue the daily reports as I still have plenty to share. A favorable forecast for at least the next day promises a decent ride so we will see if the good weather will continue to grace our passage home.

Ron Jew - 287, 209
Tim Shields - 269
Ed Janowski - 220, 215
Jack West - 225
Tom Cahillane and Dave Hall combined - 254
Chris Yamada - 202
Andy Cooperman - 271
Bill Grimsley - 215

As difficult as it is to imagine that the final day at Socorro could have bested the prior four days of absolute glory fishing, yesterday did. Yet another marvelous example of how these islands change from day to day are yesterday's results that included the ten trophy yellowfin tuna listed above in addition to thirty others in the 175 - 195# class. But for a relative few exceptions from the 67 yellowfin tagged yesterday, everything we hooked was big and came from a series of morning drifts and a classic evening ripper that was straight from the play book of old school Revillagigedo islands giant yellowfin tuna fishing. Try to imagine the final stop where fourteen of our sixteen anglers were simultaneously reefing on yellowfin in the 190 - 287# class under the lights in flat calm conditions in crystal clear, piercing blue water. The images produced, the sights and sounds as we all focused on the momentous task at hand were unbeatable in the arena of trophy yellowfin. Between the two different "Kamikazes" charging around the boat with their electric blue backs and gleaming yellow second dorsal fins high out of the water, the big dolphins setting up shop to chase hundreds of doomed flying fish that gathered around, the numerous giant yellowfin that appear so huge as they approach the surface reflecting the glow of our lights off their massive shimmering sides, and the show on deck as the crew worked miracle after miracle avoiding disasters that could potentially cost anglers their fish of a lifetime, the action epitomized why anglers are so impassioned with long range fishing. The fact that these occasions might happen alone is worth the price of admission. That is of course if you are a fisherman. Combined with all the above mentioned antics, was the process of scooping and man handling these monsters as the process of tagging and, as importantly, photographing the incredible, awe invoking beasts is crucial to the success of this project. I have to say that with everything going on it was as hot and heavy as I have seen in my twenty two years of long range fishing.

What a day. What a finish. What a trip. Honestly, I can not even begin to do this fishing justice through my efforts to describe in writing. The one thing I do know is that this group of anglers, who committed to a visionary idea and contributed to the future of the yellowfin tuna fishery by providing tags and specimens for tagging in the process, were rewarded one hundred fold for their efforts. Unlimited, zero competition access to the finest trophy yellowfin tuna fishery in the world to forward the scientific understanding of yellowfin tuna movements and behavior through tagging is not a sacrifice - it is a privilege that very few have the opportunity to know. Fortunately these anglers now do and rest assured they will carry the memories of this amazing voyage for a lifetime.

So, now we are finished though we will pay Isla San Benedicto a short visit tomorrow to see if we can't pick off one or two more jumbos before calling it a trip. Look for reports to continue as we head up the line as I will have time to formulate a few more thoughts and of course statistics to share. For now we are almost delirious with pride and appreciation for the outcome of this trip.

Tim