This Ship's log is a group of articles written by Patrick Roelle and covers a variety of topics related to fishing for albacore tuna, Chinook Salmon, and Dungeness Crab on the Pacific Ocean.
Giant Great White Shark
Ship's Log September 7th 2012
This was one of the most amazing tuna trips on record to date. Not a huge number of fish landed with 112 put onto the ice that day (plus a random mahi mahi), but one of the most memorable for Chris and I.
We were approximately 40 miles southwest of Charleston on a glassy warm sea. The water temperature was about 64 degrees and everywhere the eye could see there was birds, bait and scattered schools of feeding albacore. These were large fish with many over 30 pounds, and the overall 5 day trip averaged nearly 23 pounds per fish. I was working in the "hatch" at the stern of the boat with my feet and waist below deck and my chest and arms above in order to pull the fish close enough to reach out and gaff them, swing them aboard, bleed them and then prepare to do it again... Chris was on the wheel, watching out ahead and aiming for jumper schools while tossing anchovies out of the window in the front of the cabin.
Tuna Trip Interrupted by Giant Whales
Ship's Log September 28th 2014
We left the Charleston boat harbor at 2pm with 7 days worth of supplies. We had 5 tons of ice in the fish hold, 300 gallons of fuel, plenty of chum, and lots of great food.
The sea was calm and the sky was clear. I took a heading SW toward a good looking water temperature pocket approximately 60 miles from port. We made decent time and as we entered the fishing zone the water warmed up from 59 to 60 then quickly to 62 degrees. I saw what I was looking for which was a lot of bait and some great marks on the sonar which indicated tuna. It was nearly Midnight. We put out our stabilizers, shut the boat down, climbed down into our cozy bunks and went to sleep. We were adrift in a calm sea and both of us were looking forward to our first fishing day of the trip, planning to get up before sunrise, put the jigs out and start to load up on tuna.
Regarding the Purchase and Name Change of My New Commercial Fishing Vessel
Ship's Log October 20th 2018
When I went looking for my first commercial boat I did not care about the name. I just wanted to participate. Sully (Patrick Sullivan) was getting, um, really good and giving me reports. I wanted to go salmon trolling and wanted to be able to fish for albacore. Kristi and I found and bought the Manatee II, a 1945 wooden troller. It had great catch history, and seemed worthy enough so be it. I fished it really hard, caught a lot of salmon and albacore, and started to consider my next vessel.
Sure I considered a brand new one. To do what I wanted to do would cost me a million bucks. I had a specific name in mind for our new vessel. It would be named the James Lee, my middle name followed by my wife Kristi's middle name. I had a specific design in mind and a certain look that I wanted for it. Classic lines, deep wide body, and a high bow to deal with 30 knot summer winds. I could have made the new one happen, but did not want to enslave myself with too much debt. I planned to borrow 100%, because that’s what would have to happen to buy this new vessel. So I bailed on the idea of new. I would find a worthy wooden vessel, realistically affordable, and CHANGE the name to James Lee.
2019 Summer Albacore Tuna Trip 8
Ship's Log September 29-October 16 2019
Another Anniversary at Sea
I did the fish catch totals for the year to date. I was at 72,230 pounds for the season. Just over 36 tons. That’s a little more than last year’s total on my first season with the James Lee, but over 4 tons less than Reuben and I caught on my little ice boat the Manatee II back in 2016. I am dissatisfied. My goal for the year was originally 60 tons. That shrank down considerably after trips 1 and 2 gave only 2 tons for 20 days. Then the blown genset setback which created a week at the dock during prime time. 50 tons was the new goal. I’m thinking I can nail that if the weather allows it. Reports are still great in certain areas, and those areas were close to my home port. I’ve just got to stay focused and not get sucked into land with some sort of problem. It will all boil down to me. I just need to prove to myself that I got what it takes to be a single-handed tuna fisherman in a 54 foot vessel.
While throwing off the lines to run over and get bait and fuel, I set my mind with all the power and strength I could muster up. Just Do It. Drive that boat over there, and use the wind, the current, and the exact handling of the vessel so as NOT to cause embarrassment. Slow like a pro, fast like an ass. That is the line I heard Johnny from the Two Fishers use. I agree. So, if you are going to mash everything up at least do it really slow so there is limited damage. Keep your calm.
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