East Cape - The spring crash of 2016

East Cape weather could not be more perfect. For several weeks we have been enjoying warm sunny weather. Very comfortable, not too hot, not too cold. Sea temps have been 76-77 degrees and the water is clear and blue. Live bait has been abundant and the stage is set for a great fishing season.

The bite, I have figured out, is like the stock market. Some days it is up and others it is down. When the market is down analysts and brokers advise to stay the course. History tells us in the long term it always goes up. At the moment we are experiencing what I call the "Spring crash of 2016".

Fishing is as tough as it has been in many years. Why? Some reasons I have heard from others is it is the moon phase, or the current is too strong, others say the water is too warm or that commercial fishing has taken its toll and is causing impact. I say it is none of the above and just fishing. When they want to bite they will and much of the time it will be in conditions contrary to when theories predict they should.

The fish are here. We can see them in our fish finders and once in a while coax one into biting. Like when the market is down, not all stocks are. Now, we are paying our dues and doing our best to scratch them out. Like the market, I'm certain this down time will be short lived and forgotten. In the meantime everyday sighting the parade of sea life has not been a bad consolation prize. Porpoise, whales, mantas, turtles and more has kept it entertaining.

That's a wrap!


Polo on the wire


Love a first marlin smile


Doug Herrick is getting worked


Diego on the release


New bling for my baby


Vaquera back in the game.

On another note. Operating a sportfishing business can be challenging. Last year we were very fortunate and didn't have any major equipment failures. This year, like the fishing, we are paying our dues. Second trip of the year Jen Wren blew a transmission. We were lucky to find a replacement quickly and the boat was only down for a couple of days. The week before last we had another misfortune when Vaquera snapped a prop shaft and we lost one of her propellers. This repair was a bigger challenge but we were able to find a new set of matched props, have a new prop shaft built and get her back in operation.

With boats my theory is not wondering if it is going to break. It is just a matter of when it is going to break. We are as methodical and vigilant with our maintenance as we can be but breakdowns just come with the territory.

Mark Rayor
Teamjenwren.com