As many of you know, managing time is really difficult. In theory you cannot manage it for the second hand just keeps ticking and the hours and days just pass. This is how I felt attempting to prep for trip 10 fishing Saturday, September 21st aboard the Relentless. 

My company and sponsor of the reel that I raffle on my trips, CTX Mortgage is seeing mortgage rates at all time lows. With business reflecting a 38% increase in units over projections for the year it makes your charter master a bit crazy on the job. 

I also was scheduled to attend a seminar in Palm Dessert for three days that concluded Saturday the 21st, our fishing day. What was I going to do...? 

Here it goes, work your tail off after Trip 9's return the weekend before, work as hard as possible and then leave on Wednesday mid day for the dessert arriving in time to catch the opening of my conference. 

While driving call in your past trip report to the webmaster, TunaQ (thanks) and then depart Friday noon to head for the Landing. Humfff....That was my week, by the time I met TunaQ on Friday my brain was fried, but a quick Carne Asada Burrito at Super Sergio's on Convoy cured me well. We arrived at Fisherman's to see the Relentless back in her slip which only meant good things for that day's fisherman. They plugged the hold!!

We boarded and prepared. Hell, there was even bait in the wells already, and we were ready! I received the news and itinerary from skipper Joel Ralston and it was good, but far! 90+ miles we were going on this overnight excursion. As I gave the complete seminar Joel and crew motored the vessel past bait barge and into a heading to the West. Exhausted from my week I tried to keep my eyes open to answer questions from some newbies on board, but it didn't take long until the motion of the ocean and the hum of the boat's Detroits put Jamie downstairs for the night. 

I awoke at 5:15 AM to see good friend and fellow angler John Branum sliding out of his bunk. We both headed up to the galley for coffee and found Kelly prepping our breakfast of fresh blueberry pancakes, sausage patties and eggs to-order. Nice, she really goes all out on my trips. Not five minutes later, TunaQ joined us and we had the Volunteer trolling team ready. 

We were at 88 miles and the sun was just edging into a deep gray light. We set our feathers and went to refill our coffee. The Relentless as still at a 10.5 knot cruise so we knew we were still a ways from our intended destination. 

I looked around for a minute and saw most of the group assembled in the galley. We had three ladies and a few newbies just scratching their heads wondering why I gave them detailed instructions of what to do in case we got bit and got bit hard. 

As TunaQ, John and myself laughed, Joel threw back the throttles, ran down to the bait tank and started throwing chum. His comment to us "I never said to troll". . . . he laughed and we all ran for our bait sticks. 

It was still dark when the first rod bent indicating the school was building around the boat. As that first fish hit the deck a few minutes later I was standing there with my camera and saw the entire boat go WIDE OPEN. 

I stood there for a moment took in the view and ran for my Seekers. I pinned a chovie on the 20 and cast it off the starboard stern and wham.... I was on! I looked around and saw Jan Trieschman standing there in disbelief ... "Here" I said, and handed her a nice albacore ... her hands were reversed and she was a bit confused, but a minute later we had her straight and I was back at my arsenal grabbing a new rod to pin bait. 

The fish were just starting to hit the deck and they were nice ones, bigger than we had seen most of the year. A few 25 lb fish were coming in and they were getting bigger as the bite continued. Dan Ross and his fiancé Leslie were side by side and Joel was casting bait, getting bit and handing fish to the ladies. They were all loving the event and glowed with the excitement of the moment. I even saw the ladies, though surrounded by crew, helping each other throughout the bite. Good work girls.... 

This was crazy. Everyone was bendo and no matter what the crew was always there. After landing my second bait fish I figured it was time to step up to the 40 lb. string and use the Kicker 15 Chromie.... I immediately got bit on the drop and hammered the drag on my two speed Shimano. Ouch! That's got to hurt, it hurt me....Hooking and handing, Joel in his victory war paint and I worked the deck. 

I made sure that I was constantly hooked up just in case I needed to hand off. I has forced to the corner several times and every time I got there I would see a new angler battling one of these nice 25-35 lb longfins. There's TunaQ, John, Dana, George, Linda, Jim, Jason.....Gosh it was like a nightmare episode of Romper Room. Between fish people just laughed and gestured their excitement. Many proclaimed thanks to the crew of the Relentless for going they extra distance on the way day for this bit. Its no secret, but Joel and crew will do what it take to get the job done. There will be time later to wash the red from the decks later, now their attentions were on keeping everyone focused, and out of trouble.

The funny thing about this WFO bite was that Kelly our cook was out gaffing fish... We all forgot about breakfast and by the time we realized it it was going to be brunch. TunaQ hit his limit of five NICE albies and manned the camera for a while. 

I love this part and it allows me to be the host and angler. We got the 15 minute warning as the decks turned red and the bags filled with a great grade of fish. John and I threw one more sardine and we were slammed on the corner once again. during this fight I was handed my behind by a fish that must have been 30+ and full of vinegar. After a few of these in an hour and then you get a ripper it can just put the hurt on you. 

Joel called the two minute bell and no more bait was to hit the water. It was now 8:40 AM and he had just gotten to one day limits for the entire vessel. 

Elated, the anglers spoke of the events while I helped the crew in tagging fish and Kelly ran to clean up so she could tend to those hungry fisherman headed to the galley. After an incredible breakfast, a nap is what I needed, so I retired to my stateroom still wet and bloody from the mornings events and crashed as we kicked it for the barn. 

I awoke a few hours later to find only a few awake, Robert, Bob, Doug and Jason were sipping beer and I don't know what else, but they were in an intense game of the name game..... and loving it. It was truly hysterical to watch. 

A cigar on the bridge and a bit of small talk led us into an afternoon lunch of Chicken Burritos as we crept up on the Coronados brought us to the raffle announcements with Kicker Jigs being awarded to Doug Moore and Jim Brock, and Jumping Jimmy (J.E.S.) Sportswear going to Linda Feyer, Leslie Hood and Rex Loughran. 

Seeker blanks were then awarded to John Branum who is attempting to win a complete set and TunaQ (working on HIS complete set!) took the Graphiter ....The CTX sponsored Penn 500L was won by Allcoaster Jason Cruz of Anaheim and the Jackpot was won by first timer Bob Singleton from Peoria, AZ  Great job anglers!! 

Thanks to the many that make this all happen, Seeker Rods, Kicker Jigs, BC Distributing, CTX and the entire crew of the Relentless. 

The fishing events of this trip were as good as it gets....The crew of the Relentless as usual was in perfect stride to handle the events. Always there with a gaff, help in a tangle or just a word to help...Thank you all! 

Next trip, the last for this season, on Oct 11th is sold out, and we will be fishing a 2 3/4 day excursion...maybe we'll find the biggies again....! 

In closing I want to make one comment, my name is Jamie. I don't know why but here are some of the names I am refereed to as we're on my trips: Jesse, Jeff, and on this trip JB! What's up?! My jacket even has my name on it.....No harm, I just wanted to mention it! 

Take care all, 
Jamie Spencer / J. E. S. Sportfishing