From all indications, the fish had been moving south and we decided to go to the Wilmington. We arrived around 2:40 p.m. and started fishing in pea soup fog. The fog started about 10 miles inshore of the canyon tip and continued all night and almost all the way home the next morning. Lots of boats were tearing around speeding over 20 knots in that mess. Crazy.

No fish on the troll and we set up for the night on top of a nice pile of bait around 6 p.m. Within 5 minutes, we had a short runoff that was likely a sword. About 20 minutes after that, we had a nice runoff and landed a big Longfin Albacore. About an hour later, a double runoff, we lost one, and landed the other. A nice Yellowfin.

During the night, we had 3 more swords mess with our baits. All small fish. Then a big one hit and took off. We played this sword for about 30 minutes but it managed to slice the line with its bill.

We had plenty of bait around us all night. Squid, tinker macks, and other small fish were in large quantities.

Shortly after midnight, we had a strong runoff. This was a big fish whatever it was. Our party insisted it was a reallybig sword but the mates and I weren't so sure. Just about everyone on the boat got to tug on this one and after about an hour. it started to come to the boat. It turned out to be a HUGE Manta Ray. Once of those black and white gentle creatures that they swim with in aquariums. This thing had to be 10' from wing tip to wing tip. We finally cut it lose.

The3re were no more runoffs after that.

After daylight, we went back to the 100 fathom tip of the Wilmington and picked up two more Longfins.

Except for the fog, the sea conditions were next to flat the whole trip. Water temps were about 75 and the water was very clear.