"We experienced some of the hottest YT fishing of the season this morning," wrote Qualifier 105 skipper Joe Crisci September 2. "Pretty much everyone was bit all the time for 3 or 4 hours straight. Everyone will definitely be sleeping well tonight and there are going to be a few sore arms and backs for the rest of the trip. After loading up on a nice grade of YT we headed offshore in search of a kelp patty. Though the kelps were few and far between we did manage to scratch up a handful of nice Dorado. We also had a few handfuls of 15 to 20-pound YFT on blind jig strikes. One of the standout moments of the day was Kim Rosenberg landing a 22-pound YFT on 20-pound test. Quite a feat for a second time long-ranger. With our RSW well quickly filling we are headed to Guadalupe to try to add some nice YFT to our catch."

Joe docked at Pt. Loma Sportfishing September 5 and weighed the catch from his five-day trip, the 976 TUNA open, with 26 passengers.

The biggest fish was a trolled wahoo, a 73-pound skinny that bit on a home-made jig called a "wahoo slayer." It had a chrome head and plastic and mylar skirting. The angler was David Klein of Chico, who got the big wahoo on 80-pound Ande line, a Penn 30 SW reel and a Baby Boomer rod.

Larry Rosenberg of Las Vegas won first place for a 39.5-pound yellowtail on a sardine and a 3/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He said he used 30-pound P-Line, a Torium 20 reel and a Seeker six-foot Black Steel rod.

Chris Lamax of Simi Valley was second for a 32.6-pound yellowfin tuna, and Dave Zoll of Lakeside won third place for a 31.2-pound yellowfin.