Hey out there, this is Larry from St. Louis, and once again I've been given the honor and privilege to keep you posted on daily events during the next couple of weeks. Before I left for home I counted up my fish tags (I've kept one from every previous trip) and this will be my 40th trip on the RP. I've fished with all but a very few of the passengers on this trip and I look forward to sharing old stories as well as new memories with them as well as the web readers. Many if not the majority of passengers are fellow retirees and I think the politically correct term to describe us would be "seasoned" anglers. It's amazing though, how we seem to shed years in an instant when the excitement of a hook up occurs. Hopefully there will many such instances this trip. For now, the reports from the fleet that is currently fishing are outstanding and at the risk of jinxing anything, I've never seen Roy and the crew any more optimistic about what lies ahead. The ride to the fishing grounds is as always, long and for the most part uneventful but there is much to do in the way of preparation and the guys at the galley tables have been as busy as Santa's elves in their efforts to tackle up. The weather however, is far better here than the North Pole! Thus far we have been blessed with sunshine and very pleasant seas. It's getting warmer all the time but already I'm comfortable in shorts and t-shirts, the standard uniform for long range fishing. Izorline has been extremely generous with their goodies giveaway and all got new t-shirts and other raffle prizes of fishing supplies and accessories. Higher test line is freely available for all during the course of the trip also. Yesterday evening we made a brief stop on a kelp paddy that was holding a few small bait fish on it. The main purpose of the stop was to set some flowers adrift in memoriam for Hank Hamada. Hank was a regular on this trip who lost a bout with cancer after last year's trip but will never be forgotten by any that knew him. Good food, good weather, good guys, and hopefully good fishing. What more could you ask for except.... what's given me my reputation as a reporter.. a good
POEM OF THE DAY:
Big tuna are awfully clever
Landing one's quite an endeavor
If your knot is not right
Or your drag is too tight
Your stout line like cheap twine they'll sever.
