Long Range Fish Report

"Today we had good action on yellowtail down the beach," wrote Excel skipper Justin Fleck August 31. "Everyone was able to get their fair share on the 15 to 25-pounders. They were biting fly-line baits and sardines on the dropper loop but the hot ticket was a Salas 6x Jr. (jig) in a scrambled eggs pattern or blue and white."

At Fisherman's Landing September 3, Fleck weighed the fish on certified scales. Trevor Kredell of Seal Beach won first place, after a backbreaker fight with a 68-pound yellowfin tuna.

"I was using a long rod," said Trevor. "I fought him for over an hour."

He said he fished a sardine on a 3/0 Mustad hook, tied to 30-pound Big Game line. He fished with an old Daiwa 350 reel and a Seeker 6480 glass rod.

Joel Silverton of Las Vegas won second place for a 63.4-pounder, and Scott Schell of Santa Barbara was hot on his heels, taking third with a 63.2-pound yellowfin tuna.

The San Benitos islands provided near-limits of yellowtail for Excel's anglers.