June 20, 2008
Left the dock at 9:30, another typical beautiful, flat calm day in Madeira. By 10:00 we had raised a fish that again dropped our pitch baits….why, we don’t know!! Another bite came about 10 minutes later, probably the same fish, we figured, and he didn’t hang around to let us get the pitch bait in. 10 minutes later, we raised a double!!!! Hooked the first one, about 500+ and kept trying to bait the 2nd one with the pitch bait, while the first one was ripping line. I got the bite, but again, he dropped it…..twice the same thing happened. This time a Spanish mackerel was used…..we really need to figure out why the pitches aren’t working. By the way, same lure that Cory jumped in to save yesterday, caught this one for David!!!!

June 21, 2008
Flatest day yet…not a breath of wind, and like a bathtub! Pretty slow day for the fleet, but at 4:30, we had a small fish hit a long rigger and not get hooked….next thing we know, our little 20 lb. dink rod goes off….the one we keep out there for a stray Mahi, and up jumps a 300 lb. blue….oh boy…..20 minutes later we released her in great shape….everyone was thrilled, especially me, that she wasn’t an 800 lb. monster…I would still be there!
We went into Funchal to see the fireworks. Ate at Quinto Palmeira, who are old friends of the Campbells. On the way back, we were unable to get back to the boat due to a huge festival that was in progress in Calheta. Finally, after much discussion, the police let us pass the roadblocks with our rental car and get home….1:30 in the AM! Past all of our bedtimes.

June 22, 2008
Some sea out of the west….no fish today…one small dorado that will be dinner! The guys want a maintenance day tomorrow…change oils, wax, etc…..we’ll fish Tuesday.

June 23, 208
A maintenance day…guys changed oil, cleaned, etc. Ellen, David, Lois, and I took a car and went to Porto Muniz for lunch and toured the North side of the island.