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.
2019 Summer Albacore Tuna Trip 6
Ship's Log September 18-22 2019
Off to Jail
Lots of questions about what happened in Ilwaco at the end of trip 5. I will protect all involved and simply say there was a somewhat aggressive parole violation.
We fished for 5 days and gottem pretty good. I was really hoping for those end of season days up north of the Columbia with lots of surface action. Normally this time of year the albacore are hot on the surface, boiling on baitfish with jumpers all around, heavy bird action, and a generally easy to find bunch of tuna schools as far as the eye can see. We all hope for that... But this year it just has not materialized that way.
2019 Summer Albacore Tuna Trip 7
Ship's Log September 24-26 2019
One Ton For The Cow
I had to figure out what to do. My deckhand Walker just got hauled off by the local Sheriff with assistance by the Ilwaco Coast Guard crew. After the inspection the authorities had left with me alone to consider my options. There is a bunch of fish in the hold, and that is the first thing on my mind. Maybe second. I'm outa here to walk up to the Salt. They have what I need at the moment.
While sipping on vodka and rubbing my forehead trying to plan my next move, a skipper from a very nice vessel with lots of history and respect sat next to me. I tossed him my situation. We cracked up about it pretty good, then I shared my plan to just bust out the rest of the season alone. He did not bat an eye. He told me how many trips and even years he had spent out there alone. We discussed all the guys we knew who were out there taking on the battle single handedly. There are a surprisingly lot of guys that do it. Commercial tuna fish alone. Simple concept in a smaller vessel, but I’m thinking the James Lee is 53 feet long by 18 feet wide. Holds 18 tons of brine frozen tuna. It’s a long distance from the steering wheel to the fish gettin spot. I had done a lot of alone salmon trolling trips on my first commercial vessel the Manatee II, and I had already spent a 3 day trip out there alone on the James Lee earlier this year. (See whatever previous trip that happened on)... Just before picking up Mark. On that part of the trip, I had exhausted myself. Seriously hit the wall. But now I am smarter and will pace myself. And I am in way way better shape after working this past bunch of weeks eating perfect awesome food and exercising REGULARLY, I might just go for it again! And I am inspired by one guy I know who is 68 years old and runs a similar size and shape vessel by himself. I'm only 51. Prime time baby!!
2020 Crab
Ship's Log December 26 2019
Disaster in the Harbor
I've been laying pretty low since tuna season. During the clean up and put away of the James Lee, I mentioned around the dock that I would like to back someone up in the wheelhouse. Or take out pots for people, or whatever might come up, as long as it did not mean a commitment to the entire season. There was an elk hunt and some other things planned that did not allow me to take on the responsibility of a full time captain.
I got my chance to help out a friend, and make a few bucks too. Today was the first day of action. We motored downriver on the Umpqua from Reedsport, and crossed out into the ocean for a trip a few hours down south to Charleston. I got a few good pics of the Brandy and Fred Whal Marine with a couple nice boats they have been working on, and a couple pics of the Coast Guard playing in the breakers next to us as we slid by.
2020 Salmon Trip 1
Ship's Log April 19-24 2020
Shakedown
I do not think this vessel has ever trolled salmon. The set up is for tuna, with a propeller that churns up a full 5 knots at idle in a calm sea, or in the harbor. At 1100 rpm James Lee will make 7kts at sea. Saves a lot on fuel, but forces one to come up with extra gear in order to slow down to the 2.7 knots average salmon trolling speed.
We did quite a few adjustments to the rigging to get set up for the salmon troll fishery, and a friend gave me an old set of trolling drogues (sea anchors) to slow me down. We also purchased some 32 inch stabilizers that have 55 pounds of lead attached to the head of a triangle shaped wood thingie that keeps the vessel a bit more level in choppy seas, and also slows you down a bit. Another manufacturer of sea anchor drogues sent me a pair to try but they were ultimately too small.
Here is how this trip played out...
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