By Paul Sweeney

"We don't have anything under 100 pounds," American Angler owner-skipper Sam Patella said November 16, 2010 after returning from an 11-day Angler's Choice charter to the lower banks. "We've got four over 250 and twenty cows total. It was a scratch bite, but just look at these beautiful fish--we were getting these every day."

"Everybody had the right tackle," he added, "so we didn't have lose any fish at all."

Art Preston of Los Angeles won first place with a 253-pound yellowfin he claimed as his best bait-caught fish ever. Art fished a squid on a 2005 Eagle Claw circle hook, 130-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon, a Tiagra reel modified by Cal Sheets, and a Seeker 2x4 rod custom built by Fisherman's Supplies in Lawndale.

"I got three over 200 on this trip," he said. "That's a milestone for me."


Bob White of Oceanside won second place with a 216-pound tuna, his best fish ever.

"Actually all these fish here are my best ever," he said pointing at his catch near the certified scales at Point Loma Sportfishing.

Bob fished a sardine on a 6/0 Owner circle hook, 130-pound line, a "big" Accurate reel, and the boat's rod.

Corona native Jason Blankenship won third for a 212-pound yellowfin. Jason flylined a sardine on a 6/0 Owner Super Mutu hook, 100-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon, 100-pound Jerry Brown Hollow Spectra, an Okuma Makaira 20 reel, and a Seeker 2x4 rod he custom-wrapped himself.

"I got two over 200," he said, "and I handed off a 260 to Dan Okada!"

American Angler regular Doug Rodricks of Mammoth Lakes also had a good trip.

"I got my best ever," he said while offloading fish, "a 260, but a 155-pounder really kicked my butt. It was early morning, and I just wasn't ready for it. I had no energy."

"Kite fishing was great," Doug added, "and fly-lining squid, too. That's what the big ones bit."



XL Starts Off Strong

"We started off strong here on the lower banks," Excel skipper Justin Fleck reported November 16, "with good fishing on mixed grade tuna and excellent fishing on dorado. The morning started out with a hit on big tuna from 140-185 pounds. Around 0730 though, they seemed to lose interest, and it was impossible to hook one. After looking around for a while, the Royal Polaris called us in on a kelp that had an unbelievable amount of dorado. After crossing off Mahi from our list, we were drifting along and cleaning the boat when a nice school of 60 to 110-pound tuna rushed the boat and started eating everything in the water. At this time we only had about an hour of daylight left, but the guys made good use of it, sticking with the heavy gear. They bit right up until dark, but man, I wish we had just one more hour!

"As of 1000 this morning we have seven fish over 125 pounds on board with a couple of real heartbreaks. Bill Cashman unbuttoned one well over 300 pounds just a few feet from the boat. Steve Ruiter and Tim Cutt both landed a cow taping out around the 220-pound mark. I think for today we are just going to be patient and sit here as long as we have fish around the boat.

"On a side note, Ken Bell would like to thank Eric's Tackle in Ventura for his generosity with the give aways. Team Hoo gave away eight Avet Reels this year. Thanks guys..."