By Dave Roti   Multi-day long range fishing trips are a whole ‘nother level. A realm wherein the first couple of days are

spent traveling, with anglers focused on connections (both the tackle prep and personal updates kind),
and with the captain and crew focused on fine tuning the plan based on real time reports & conditions.
For some on this LTH 7-day Shogun trip it was a new experience, such as Alaska commercial fisherman
Devon and his wife Holly who decided to experience the offerings of the Pacific coast’s southern waters.
For other seasoned anglers, it was a reunion of long term friendships and shared experiences. For all,
excitement was high with anticipation of large yellowfin tuna and yellowtail opportunities, with wahoo
& dorado also on the wish list.

LTH host Ron Lane (assisted by veteran angler Ying Lee)
started us off with a free raffle of swag gifts, among them
items from AFTCO, Costa, Gamakatsu Hooks, & Salty Crew.
This gear is always top notch on LTH trips, and includes a
nice mix of applicable tackle and apparel suitable to the trip.
We received a bonus en route when we stopped to dropper
loop fish at night on a promising yellowtail spot, they didn’t
cooperate but the lights attracted flying fish in large
number. We made a nice catch on them using the bait nets,
catching (183) to be stored and used later for kite fishing bait.

Captain Rene Monteagudo had decided on Alijos Rocks, and we began fishing on anchor Sunday
morning. It started with a steady bite on 20# to 50#+ yellowfin, occasionally stopping to move & reset or
to troll around the rocks. It was a very mixed grade of yellowfin, keeping us honest to fish a minimum of
50-60# test should the larger ones pass through. A number in the 70#+ class were caught, and a couple
larger ones to 125# were also caught. Our final YFT tally was (167). On the kelp paddy stops, we scored
some nice dorados (8) & yellowtail (15). Four wahoo were mixed in, being caught on all methods; fly
lining, troll, and kite.

Our ‘uphill’ trip home smoothed out on day two with the coastal Santa Ana conditions creating offshore
fog and calmer winds with a flatter sea than usual. World Series games, Salty Crew adventure videos,
and popular movies kept us well entertained on the trip. Galley Chefs Daniel and Frank kept us all very
well fed, topped off by an absolutely outstanding prime rib dinner on our last evening, with a 70 th
Birthday cake celebration for regular passenger John Stuemke. Bon Appetit / Best Wishes until next
time!