Hello,
Today we travelled southeast in very deep water heading for a seamount we call the “176.” It is called that because 176 fathoms is the shallowest the seamount comes up to, rising out of a depth of 1500-1800 fathoms. It lies 50 miles northeast of Isla Guadalupe and can be very productive for seabirds.
On our way there we saw laysan albatross, south polar skua and hundreds of least storm petrels. After arriving at the seamount we laid out a 4-mile slick with fish oil and beef fat, then turned around and travelled back up the slick. There were several storm petrels and a laysan albatross.
We went southwest towards Isla Guadalupe, looking for Cooks petrels. After a dry spell, we started to see storm petrels and a few black-vented shearwaters. Then we started seeing Cooks petrels for a total of 13 for the afternoon.
All in all, it was a great day with calm winds and not too much swell.
Headed east after dinner and looking forward to tomorrow,
Capt Art
