Aug 27th-Sept 16th... 21 days

I head out with my dog Seanna. We are fishing for albacore tuna, trolling and catching one fish at a time. She has zero interest in the fish. Does not seem to recognize them in any way whatsoever, stepping over them to get from place to place with zero regard.

She is there for the treats. She can stand up straight as an arrow in the roughest seas as long as I got a piece of jerky, bacon, or sausage pepperoni stick in my hand. She is like Kung Fu Panda that way.

We roamed up to the border of Canada early in the trip, we got right up against it and when my partner Zeke on Sunset Charge went on up across the border into Canadian waters to finish filling up his hold, Seanna and I turned a bit south. More near shore in front of Westport Washington. Then on day 11 a weather event drove most people into harbor. My other fishing partner Calvin on the Julia C went in for a boat fix, and Seanna and I took the wind at our back and headed south for the 300 mile slide down to be near the border of California. I estimated at that time to have about 9 tons on the boat.

James Lee rides real nice with the sea at his back. Caught lots of fish on the way down! We had to turn around one day and mash against it for 10 miles, turn back with it 10, and back up again 10, and back down again 10 because the fish were biting that way, and I did not want to get too far south…Considered just drifting in the wind and giving up because the 25 to 30 knot steady hard wind and the big ass ocean breaking waves all around were intense. But the fish kept biting. And I was lazy early sleeping in and kinda hiding from it early anyways… So I felt pretty good…

The fish were piling up in the hold. The next day was nice enough to angle back in a bit from the 128 line…that’s way the heck out there! Its just where I ended up with the wind blowing.

On day 16 we hit a spot and got 295 fish. Nice ones!! But my friends 70 miles away got 600!!

So the following day I journeyed on to that area. It was 6 days since I had seen any boats at all. I wanted to join that fleet in there. Got there late in the evening, and saw my first boat in the binoculars, and the guys on the deck were going crazy pulling fish… I did not yet have very many, but still ended up with over 200 by nightfall. Processing them by cleaning each of their gills out real good and rinsing them off to put them into the fishhold kept me up late, dinner real late…Seanna keeps yelping when does she get hers etc etc…

Day 18 was a flat glassy morning on the ocean. I was a bit sore. My ass hurt. Getting up and getting socks on was difficult. But I got after it… 375 very large grade tuna today. Busy!!

I am now convinced that my goal to plug this 20 ton hold is going to become a reality. I will have participated in and finished the Iron Man Triathalon in my own little way. Brutal hard days after days of near exhaustion and pushing myself to the utmost limits. No trophy, but the payoff is large. And it’s kind of a shared thing… At the end of this event, there are about 40,000 half pound cans of tuna making about 120,000 real nice top grade sandwiches for a lot of people around the USA to enjoy… So the whole thing is not so “self oriented” at all!!

Day 20 finished us off with 178 more fish, which filled up the combing and right to the little lid on top. No hurry to get home, I stopped when it got dark and drifted in the calm sea.

The kids have spring break, so I got lucky with Wyatt who was willing and who wants a new electric assist mountain bike. He joined me on the James Lee dockside for 3 days to prepare for the trip. I was nervous after a full winter of fairly lethargic behavior. It takes time to settle into the boat and get the feel of its readiness. Out of the safety and security of land life and back into this groove of salty windy air, water, and unsteady motion. This is the first year I have not had a hand in winter crab season so it all can be a bit of a shock if the mind is not right. And the mind cannot be right if the boat is not right. And if everything on land is not tidy and loose ends left hanging. Gotta get virtually all orders into “Ship shape”... For a clear mind headed out to sea for a 5 day trip.

I got to that point late at night Wednesday March 23rd. Wyatt and I had a boatload of groceries, all our supply, and a strong willingness to participate. We went to spend the night in the boat for a first light bar crossing the next day. Wyatt is 14 and stubborn. Wont make a list. “I know! I know! I know!”... Ha! “Fine get yourself all ready”... we are outta here.

We get to the boat... “Dad your going to be mad.”

My initial thought were that he didn’t want to go, or some problem requiring his exit is looming... ”I forgot my boots.”

Cracking up in my head but holding a firm face I looked him in the eye and said, “You need to make a list like I said, and like I do, and quit telling me you know everything!!” We zipped back to the house with me complaining about the hour of lost sleep time to go get the boots.

Crossed the bar and steamed for 34 miles to the chosen spot. That first day was not without difficulty. Somehow that break in the gurdie happened which took some thought on how to work it out and keep all gear fishing. We ended the half day with 11 very nice big fish. After a good dinner and a bit of sleep we heard a Mayday call from a vessel very near us.

Wyatt was in the wheelhouse awake and I came in to join him. The call was rushed and not complete. Sounded very stressed captain who was taking on water. I do not have lights to see out about me at night. #1 on my list for the shipyard before tuna time. The vessel Spring Persuader with Johnny Alto as captain had installed a new searchlight recently and responded to the call for help. He had idea where he had seen the White Swan III last and went to investigate in the dark black night. He gave those 2 people the best chance for rescue. He found the wreckage debris, and the empty life raft. He spent hours searching and communicating with the Coast Guard, but found no sign of life. Very sad, and may that man and woman forever rest in peace. The next morning was a very dense fog which blocked any further vision from the air and sealed the fate of those two fishers...

Day 2 was fairly routine and we landed another 11 fish. On day 3 we got only 6. That is a long day!! We troll for about 13 hours a day… however many hours there are of barely light to barely light...

Day 4 I started to do some gear work while watching some big seine boats gather up mackerel. It was cool to watch them and to hear the cheers from their deck as they loaded the net... We were using my gear from the end of last years season. In the rush to get ready I just put the same stuff in the box and used it. Now, I freshened up all the leaders, got the lengths right, unified all of it in a pattern with only the lures getting the best action of the last couple days. Also I rigged up a wire to test all my electrical voltages around the boat and on the wires. Got things in order and began to improve our catch. The goal is 60 fish. We only have 31 and today and tomorrow to get to 60… The improvement got us to 14 for this day, and the fish were large! The buyer wants to wait til Tuesday to make purchase so we get an extra day and Wyatt gets to miss a day of school. He is not disappointed.

Monday morning we awoke with 42 on the counter. Can we make it to 60?? With Wyatt still crashed out I set the gear at the crack of dawn. Fish... Fish... Gotta wake Wyatt. Fish... Fish... We are gettin!! Late in the day when the wind turned around and became blustery I reached out to a friend. Hey Zeke!! Got a good trip going but can't seem to find 3 more. We are at 57. “Go ahead and call it Bud... You know it's over, just run on in you have had a good trip”

“mmmrrrbblleeeemumble... I don’t know, bet I can slide south a bit and pick up those 3.”

Then I called Kristi. She said come on in. I checked the tide. The bar crossing would be best about 11pm. I am pushing it. I accept it. Fine... “Wyatt let's pull the gear and pick a movie and run on it”... We crossed into the Umpqua River at 11pm.

On Tuesday Mark and Lisa Newell came to purchase the fish. Out of the ice came... 60!!

Lol!! We miss counted! Got our 60 fish after all. Happy!

Three went to the Harbor Lights Restaurant, 1 to the Big Fish Café, and sold a couple to individuals in Reedsport. We kept back a nice springer and one Ivory White Salmon. There were 4 of those in this bunch.

Now to get ice, get out, and get some more. Putting out feelers for anyone interested in purchasing one of these Spring Salmon. You will have to come to the boat to pick it up and pay me cash. $15 per pound whole fish price. Returning Sunday night and need to offload Monday morning...