"Today was better than yesterday," wrote second skipper Bruce Smith aboard the Shogun July 7. "Last night, the bait making went as planned and we loaded up on perfect size green mackerel. Our morning started off when we looked at some other spots, and worked our way north. Once Norm located some yellows, he put the anchor down and we didn't have to move the rest of the day. (It was) nothing wide open, but a steady pick on the 15 to 25-pound yellowtail. Occasionally they would boil or move close enough to the boat to get a surface iron to them, which they would pounce on with a vengeance (see photo.) Our weather was hot and steamy with sun burns all around."

Shogun returned from the six-day Willies Charter with 13 anglers on July 9.