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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Katy Penland" data-source="post: 208371" data-attributes="member: 1268">Oh, man, Edward, what a wonderful day you guys had!  I could just imagine being out there with you.  Thanks for such a great report and especially for all the history and other details about the islands.  Those photos of the harbor and lava flow, and the view of "North Island" were terrific for setting the stage.  Gawd, I miss the ocean!!!Could you elaborate a little bit about how you dispensed your chum?  I about fell out of my chair when I read "100 kg"!!!  Holy moly.  We never used more than 2  5-gallon buckets of chopped fish, but then you dispensed yours differently, too.  You mentioned a "gauze bag" that you dragged behind the boat "for miles."  Do you mind if I ask you what did you use for the bag, and how much fish did you put in it?  Was it like a burlap bag?  And how often did you have to replace what was in it if it was being dragged behind the boat?  I.e., did it come apart ,or did the fish bits get pulverized and just oozed out through the material?And what's the "golden rule of pelagics" about not stopping the boat?  Never heard that one.  We didn't lay out a chum slick until the boat *was* stopped (in an area of underwater upwelling, usually over a seamount or at the edge of the Continental Shelf, depending on where we were).  Stopping the boat has two advantages:  (1) the birds don't have to chase us, saving them energy, and (2) you can frequently hear them calling, as well as whales blowing and pinnipeds barking.  Speaking of which, did you see any marine mammals that day?Congratulations on a very successful inaugural trip, and I hope you decide to do more.  Especially if you tell us about them afterward!  <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />Thanks again for taking us along for the ride, Edward.  Wish I'd been there.</blockquote>

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