The boat got away early this morning for the first 8 day trip of the season and everyone was in high spirits.  It may be a day or two before we get the first fish report - in the meantime, check out this story sent in by one of our wonderful regulars, Galen Steward about his brother Sam Cornell.......

 

Hi Lori, > Here's a great story from our trip I'm not sure you've heard:

On the second fishing morning Sam got a good bite on his 100lb sardine rig and very quickly was in danger of getting spooled. The crew got the heavy backup outfit ready just about the time Sam's fish took off past our port bow, and pretty soon his ATD30 and Calstar 770xxh rod were swimming as well. The Royal Polaris was anchored off our port bow and we watched as the AA backup outfit's orange styrofoam float moved closer and closer to their bow and anchor rope. > Jordan and Justin yelled to "Go tell Kiyo!" Initially Brian was unable to raise Roy on the radio, so he had to just about blow our eardrums out with two loud blasts from the AA air horn to alert them. As Ray and the crew worked to pull our anchor Sam's fish had already crossed over the Royal's anchor line. Luckily, Darryl was able to gaff our back up line and hold it above their bow, and pretty soon he was pulling on the fish with Sam's rod and reel while Justin was pulling on it with ours. We got our anchor pulled and as we approached the Royal's starboard bow one of their passengers, our good friend Sal Vallone yelled, "If I had known it was Sam's fish I would have cut his line!" Darryl threw Sam's outfit back in, this time safely on "our side" of their anchor rope, and shortly we got his rod and reel back safely on the AA. With Brian idling forward on top of the fish Ray and the whole crew were finally able to bring a very wild and mean "teenage" 180lb YFT onboard. Sam was a happy camper, and as we all congratulated him and the crew for a job well done, someone discovered that the AA backup outfit float had somehow been horribly defaced - see attached photo! It makes for a great story - one that will be told for years to come - and Sam was last seen standing on the deck wondering to himself, "How am I going to be able to tip two great crews on two different boats at the same time?!" > > Thanks for everything Lori, Sam and I had a blast. > As usual, Brian and the entire crew of the American Angler did a great job throughout the trip. > Galen😎 > >

Sam with his keepsake