Last week I spent 6 days longline fishing for sablefish off the Washington coast. We fished approx. 45 miles west of Cape Flattery and a bit south. The weather was fair a bit lumpy nw 10-20 the first day but settling to a agreeable 5-15 pretty much the rest of the trip. As usual there were good numbers of Black-footed Albatross around throughout easily over 100 birds. On the 1 st day as we went to pick up our first line there was an all dark Short-tailed Albatross by our bad and flag. I thought it was a good sign. Later that day a Laysan Albatross joined in. A few days later a second Short-tailed showed up this one not all dark but with some white on the chest and neck. A second Laysan showed up near the end of our trip. Small numbers of Fulmar hung about and a few Shearwaters , Sooty and Pink-footed. Also 3
Long-tailed Jaegers. Small flocks of Red-necked Phalaropes in the straits on the run in. Not a lot of diversity but hanging around Albatross is always interesting.
Ken Lane
Acme Wa

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