By Dave Dolan
Twenty four anglers boarded the sport boat Royal Star on the annual July four day Let’s Talk Hookup trip.
The trip started out with a raffle of gifts from the show’s sponsors. Everyone got a gift pack of Gamakatsu hooks, and prizes from Aftco, Shimano and Salty Crew. Then it was off to the fishing grounds.
Captain Tim Ekstrom made a 65 mile run to get us on the grounds before dark. There was a flurry of school size blue fin tuna caught for a nice start. But this was not quite what we were looking for.
The action started around 10 o’clock that evening. About 30 nice grade tuna were caught. We all learned a lesson that night. Get your sleep during the day because you will be awake most all night.
The next two nights produced epic fishing on the larger tuna. Most of the fish were in the 60-80 pound grade, with a few topping 100 pounds. The action was almost non-stop until 5 a.m. Top fish came in at 175 pounds just before sunrise. We came in only a few fish short of a boat limit for the trip.
The crew on this trip was very skilled and hard working. I was in a tangle with two others, we all three had fish on. The crew got us out of this mess and we all three landed our tuna. What really impressed me was the care of our catch. When a tuna is landed, a crew man makes a cut on the fish exposing the spine. Using a Japanese technique called Ike Jime, a wire is shoved down the back bone. The fish immediately lays flat and calm. The fish goes right into the RSW tank. And if using Fisherman’s Processing, the next time you see your fish it will be beautifully filleted and vacuum sealed. You don’t have to handle your fish at all until pick up.
This is an annual trip with Let’s Talk Hookup. You can book this, or any other trip aboard the Royal Star at 619-224-4764. This is a premier boat among the fleet at Fisherman’s Landing.
And to describe this trip, I will use the words of former San Diego Padre announcer Jerry Coleman…..
” You can hang a star on that one ! “
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