Ship’s Log July 13th-23rd 2019
Big Trouble
Travis and I did routine projects on the boat during the little break. I kept calling out to the guys at sea and getting reports of similar slow fishing scores. At this point (Mid July) most of the boats were prepped and either standing by or trickling out to sea for the hunt. I was very eager to get back out.
So, on 7/13/19 at 4pm Travis, Seanna, and I headed out of Winchester Bay with fresh supplies and a new attitude. I put my heading to the 46W and the 128N. Right about 200 miles to go… On day 2 we got a big zero fish score and kept going..Day 3 we got 7 fish. I was reflecting about the struggle in my log book. Questioning EVERYTHING including the purchase of the boat in general. Mid July and no fish nearby?? SCARY!! Away from my family is one thing when the gettin is good, but away from my family and going bust is another feeling entirely. My sons are 12 and 14. My dream is to have them with me here, so I am WITH my family. We will see about that. I cannot force it on them, and end up blowing them off the boat for good. So, I am all brain twisted in fear and worry and whatnot. We finished this day 4 with 3 (three!!) fish, but were on a spot with a big fleet and many reported good scores here so tomorrow will be IT!!
Well, it was very rough and difficult. This pic I took on day 5 of the Sunset Charge shows the weather. Irritating. We got 12 fish.
Day 6 July 18 my buddy Calvin on the Julia C called me to a spot and we got 35 that day. Earlier in the day I was going crazy because I felt something was wrong. I was being OUTFISHED by some other guys and that was even more un acceptable than not getting um at all. Travis and I changed out all the 300# leaders to 220#. It kinda helped and we got 35 fish that day.
Next day 10 fish. AARRGGGGHHH!!
Day 8 gave up 36 fish. Day 9 gave us 11 fish.
Now I’m whacking my head in the side a bit and thinking that my rudder ground wire must be dis-connected. A smart guy would just ground the top post thru the lazarette. I am not that guy. I squeezed into a too small wetsuit. I was motivated. Travis said put soap on the flippers. I just ignored him and ended up ripping the heel off one of them. Duct tape duct tape duct tape all fine. I waddled out to the stern and hopped overboard. BRRRRRRR! Holy shit cold cold cold, I just hung onto the jackpole basket and waited to acclimate. Finally I stuck my face in and saw thru the mask clear as anything the rudder wire hanging loose. This is an important thing!
So I climbed out, stripped that rubber off and called the shipyard.
“I’m coming in hot. I need a boat lift to re-secue my rudder ground.”
Rick says “Why not just ground from the top post in the Lazarette?”
“Well… uh… serious?… Oh SHIT… Hang on”
I went and looked and found that to be an easy thing. STEWPID. I called him back with the nevermind and sorry and thanks.
I ground the rudder and immediately got sults. Travis and I were excited. We had it all figured out!! We were reflecting on that, and pulling fish when the sound of a shotgun went off and the gurdies stopped running, and things were a bit more quiet. PROBLEM!!
I went and saw that the genset motor had thrown a rod, blowing a 5 inch chunk of the block out into the side of the fuel tank (the shotgun noise). Puked out all the oil in a big puke oil mess all over the port side of the engine room.
On July 23rd at 8pm our trip #2 came to an end with 156 fish for 1933 pounds. We hauled ass back to port and were very quiet.