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Subject:

Special Overnight Pelagic Trip To and Beyond the Baltimore Canyon

From:

"Paul A. Guris"

Reply-To:

Date:

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:07:30 -0400

See Life Paulagics is running a special overnight trip to the deep  
Maryland pelagic waters in and beyond the Baltimore Canyon, expecting  
to cross into the deep 1000 fathom (6000 feet) waters beyond the  
Continental Shelf.  In addition to deep sea birding, there is an  
opportunity to fish, particularly in the wee hours of morning.


This trip will leave around 8:00 PM on Thursday, Aug. 21 and return on  
Friday, Aug. 22 around 6:00 PM.  Sleeping accommodations will be  
benches and floor space, with bench space handed out on a first  
sign-up, first pick.  The boat will be the large and fast Thelma Dale  
V, 110' long, wide, and fast with its brand new set of engines.  The  
cost is $375 per head, an excellent price with what the price of  
diesel has done in the past year.  We need 18 people to make it a "go".

Note that this trip will be limited to 20 persons plus leaders.  We  
are careful to keep the number down so people can sleep comfortably.


We have run this trip for the past 4 years, 3 times on the smaller  
Lewestown Lady going out to the Wilmington Canyon and last year aboard  
the bigger Thelma Dale V.  Our typical itinerary works like this:

- Leave the dock early evening.

- Sleep while we cruise out to deep offshore waters.

- Set up a major chum slick in the dark.  At this point, those people  
who are interested can try their hands at tuna fishing.  The boat will  
supply tackle, gear, and bait.  NOTE: These fish can be big.  We have  
caught tuna up to 86 pounds on these trips.  Two years ago I lost  
something that I fought for nearly 10 minutes, without getting a  
chance to turn the reel once.

- Start birding the slick at first light.  This has been a good time  
to find Leach's Storm-Petrel.

- Once the light is good, reel in any lines and motor up our slick to  
see if there are any other good birds hanging farther back.

- Cruise around deep waters, eventually coming back in through the  
canyon, and turn for home.


Birding has been pretty good over the years.  We even had some great  
birds in 2007 when the water was freakishly cold in our area.  Some of  
the better birds we've found included WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL (2 on  
the 2006 trip), BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL (one in 2007), LEACH'S  
STORM-PETREL (several times, incl. 8 in 2007), SOUTH POLAR SKUA  
(several times), LONG-TAILED JAEGER (most years), BRIDLED TERN (most  
years), ARCTIC TERN (several times), and SABINE'S GULL (breeding  
plumaged bird in 2006).  More common species we'll probably see  
include Cory's, Greater, and Audubon's Shearwater, Wilson's  
Storm-Petrel, and Red-necked Phalarope.  Cetaceans have included such  
as rarities as SPERM WHALE (a family group one year), CUVIER'S  
BEAKED-WHALE (twice), and PANTROPICAL SPOTTED DOLPHIN (once).


If you have any questions or wish to make a reservation, please contact us.


-PAG

Paul A. Guris
See Life Paulagics
P.O. Box 161
Green Lane, PA  18054
www.paulagics.com
215-234-6805