"We tried for two days at 160 miles down," said chartermaster Jan Ishii of his Vagabond four-day trip with 26 anglers, "and then we went out to 100 miles or so and we found some yellowfin and some bigger bluefin out there. We ended up with near-limits of albacore."

Skipper Mike Lackey said, "We found one paddy with 14 to 35-pound yellowtail on it."

Clark Santo of Cerritos won first place for a 40.4-pound bluefin tuna.

"He tired me for the rest of the trip," he said. "I was on him for at least 30 minutes."

Santo got his winner with a sardine on a 2/0 Mutu hook tied to 30-pound Maxima line. He used a Daiwa Sealine 30 reel and a Calstar 665 rod. He posed with his bluefin and an albacore that was nearly as large.

Chartermaster Jan won second place for a 36.4-pound bluefin, and Bill Vande Wetering of Laguna Niguel got third place for a 35.6-pound bluefin