Wed May 2nd -- 80 nm straight out from Bodega Bay (non-yak)

I just got back in from a day trip out of Bodega Bay that took me 80 nm offshore.  We left the dock at 4 am and made it out to the tuna grounds by 10 am.  The water temp out there wasn't really that warm yet (~55 deg F) so we didn't see any real signs of early tuna. 

Actually, I wasn't actually out fishing, rather I was collecting water and plankton samples for research.  I did see quite a few albatrosses, a few whales and a pod of Dahl's porpoises that played in our bow wake for a good half hour.  Anyway, it was long day and it was good to get back on the big blue again.  I did take some photos which if any are good I'll try and post tomorrow.  Right now however, I really have to get to bed.

Brian

Actually, I wasn't actually out fishing, rather I was collecting water and plankton samples for research.

Uh, yeah, Brian, I'm gonna have to call you on that 'double "actually"'.  I believe that indicates that you were in fact planning to ditch the water testing responsibilities if the bite was on, but you'll go ahead and take the money since it wasn't!!     I rest my case.

Sounds like a cool trip, and you'll be a stronger person for withstanding 12 hours of boat-travel!   

yeah the double "actually" is a product of poor editing when I was very tired from 16 hrs on a boat.   Even if the bite was on, I would have had a hard time smuggling a fishing rod on board.  Maybe a Ronco pocket fisherman in my back pack... hmm if I could catch an albacore on a pocket fisherman I think that would be some kind of record.
We're planning to redo the trip in Sept, if anyone knows of a decent tuna rod that breaks down to small enough to fit in a backpack let me know.

Anyway, I'm going to try and get some photos up today and maybe a propoise video.

Brian

Meatlines.......no rod necessary.

when is this!?  why I'm not invited...?  I wanna catch albacores!

80 nanometers isn't very far... sorry, I've been working in the disk drive industry for too long!

Here are the only Albies I saw during the trip...  that's albie as in "albatross"

The photo at the bottom is the back deck of the R/V Mussel Point.  It's a 42 ft SAFE Boat with twin jet drives.  The little white net in the back is the only thing I "fished" with.

Also here is a different photo (not during this cruise).

You have a cool job Brian 

You have a cool job Brian 

But not cool enough for you to hate me? 

You have a cool job Brian 

But not cool enough for you to hate me? 

....but you don't get to fish as much 

That's not the job's fault.... it's the wife finishing up her PhD and we have a baby now's fault.  She should be done with the PhD this month and then I'm planning to get out fishing more.