Our run to the Sharking grounds Tuesday was not quite as nice as the weatherman had predicted and we arrived with a fast drift and big chop.  Water was quite cool (61.9) but chatter on the radio had all areas with the same problem.  Set up on the drift but nothing but big Bluefish all day long.  Based on the boats reporting on channel "68" the total catch for the day was a single Blue Shark,  a 61 lb. Mako, and a 47 inch Bluefin.

Unfortunately, our Sharking day was cut short by an unbelievable circumstance.  Here we are 35 miles out to sea on the same drift all day, no other boat within miles.  Only boats visible are way on the horizon. Among them is a sailboat.  A bit later we can see the sailboat is sailing our way.  As more time passes we see this Sailboat is heading straight at us.  When he was about a mile out I tell the guys a quick story about the last time a sailboat was heading straight at us in the inlet and kept changing his mind should he go left or right.  When within a half a mile we start signalling, whistles, etc. to try to get this guys attention.  All kind of things now start running through the mind,  someone fell over and the boat is empty, terrorists, greenpeace.  At about 200 yards Gus says, "I think you should start the engines. I THINK you should start the engines. I THINK you should start the engines!"

Well, I started the engines and had to literally take evasive action to avoid getting hit.  Like I said, we were the only boat for miles. I really still don't get it.  Either the guy running the sailboat was drunk, totally wreckless, or a complete idiot.  Anyway,  we ended up losing 2 of our 3 rigs out to the sailboat (only the shortline survived).  Not to mention our chum slick was broken and disrupted.  So ended our trip.

On the way back in we were treated to the airiel acrobatics of many porpoises and bottle nosed dophins.  We also "hung" around with a 40ft. whale.