Frank LoPreste docked his Royal Polaris at Fisherman’s Landing August 13 after the seven-day Blackwater trip with chartermaster Don Kuroye.

“We fished for a day at Alijos Rocks,” Don told dock reporter Bill Roecker, “where we caught some good yellowfin tuna and wahoo. Then we went to the 23 Spot for yellowtail and the 13 Spot for more and some big bottom fish.”

Skipper Frank weighed fish on the scales at the top of the dock.

“We had good variety,” he remarked, “with yellowfin wahoo, dorado, yellowtail and bluefin tuna. I like that.”

Dr. Ken Carnes of Apex, North Carolina had the best one weighed there, an 87-pound tuna that took a sardine on a 3/0 Owner Gorilla hook on 40-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon and 60-pound Line One spectra. He said he fished with a Talica 12 reel and a custom Calstar 700 H rod. The fish fought 50 minutes.

Jimmy Lew had the best wahoo, a 61-pounder that was stout from head to tail. It fought so hard, “I thought I was getting old,” said Jimmy, who hooked the beast on a Salas 6X Jr. in the new Pink Lady color.

James Chen of Palos Verdes Estates won first place for a 104.5-pound yellowfin. Sanford Morita of Anaheim won second place for a 99-pounder, and matt Bingham of Livermore won third place for a 95.5-pound yellowfin tuna.



Barnett Family Charter

Qualifier 105 also visited The Rocks on a seven-day trip, under the guidance of skipper Joe Crisci. Chuck Barnett was chartermaster on his 18th annual charter.

“We had beautiful fishing at Alijos Rocks,” said skipper Joe. “We fished at Benitos for an afternoon, and also got fish on kelps.”

Dan Alcaraz of Hacienda Heights won first place for a kite-caught 123-pound yellowfin tuna. He said it bit a double sardine rig, and he fished with a boat outfit.

“He worked me to the bitter end,” remarked Dan.

Chartermaster Chuck Barnett won second place for a 107.8-pound tuna.

One of the hottest sticks on the trip was T. J. Ponder a nine-year-old 4th grader from Encinitas, who has been featured in more fishing stories than many semi-pro anglers. TJ won third place for his kite-caught 107-pound tuna and also got a 48-pound wahoo on a Raider jig. He plays soccer and goes to El Camino Creek School.

Former office worker Nancy Halpern caught a 94-pound tuna, her best.



West Coast Marketing Trip

Skipper Jeff DeBuys brought Independence home to Pt. Loma Sportfishing after a five-day trip with a nice mixed catch of tuna and yellowtail. Rick Ozaki was chartermaster.

“We fed Whitey pretty good at Guadalupe,” he remarked. “We had good yellowtail fishing at Benitos, and we spent two days fishing offshore. You can say that fishing is now in gear.”

William Michicoff of Whittier won first place for a 38.8-pound bluefin tuna. He said he bagged it with a squid and a one-ounce slip sinker. The squish was pinned to a 2/0 Mustad 91450 hook, on 40-pound Seaguar premier fluorocarbon and 40-pound Big Game line with 65-pound Power Pro spectra backing on an Avet JX reel and a Calstar 700 M rod. The fight lasted half an hour.

Dale Lethcoe of Sunland won second place for a 35.6-pound yellowtail. Onik Alajajyan, son of Harry, an owner at Avet Reels, won third place for a 26-pound yellowtail.



Braid Trip Smacks Bluefin

Aaron Remy docked Art Taylor’s Searcher at Fisherman’s Landing August 13 after a four-day trip with 16 anglers and chartermaster Dennis Braid. His anglers caught yellowtail and also got into the bluefin bite some 140 miles south.

Bill Parker of Chula Vista won first place for a 23.8-pound yellow that bit on sardine and a 3/0 Mustad 91450 hook. He said he used Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon, 65-pound spectra, a TLD 20 reel and a Seeker 6460 rod.

Jeremy Bart of San Clemente tied for second place with a 23.6-pound yellowtail, and Tim Farmer of Bakersfield tied for second and won third place with fish of 23.6 and 23.2 pounds.



H&H Outdoor Marketing Trip

Andy Cates brought Red Rooster III home from a five-day Seaguar/Newell/Yo-Zuri trip with chartermaster Richard Hightower and 24 anglers aboard. They included John DeVries and Gerry Benedicto of Seaguar, out for a holiday of fishing with their West Coast rep Hightower. WON saltwater editor Brandon Hayward was also along. The group found a good catch of yellowtail and bluefin tuna, along with four super-sized white seabass produced during a visit to the Cedros/Benitos zone.

Ron Lloyd of Pacific Grove won first place for his 41.5-pound white seabass. He said it bit a squid, made in the daylight at the islands. The squish was pinned to a 3/0 ringed Super Mutu hook on 50-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon and 80-pound Power Pro spectra. Ron used a Trinidad 20 reel and a seven-foot rod.

Charles Lair of Moreno Valley got a 36-pound yellowtail to win second place. Carl Schielzeth of Westminster won third place for a 35.1-pound yellowtail. Rich Holland of Aliso Viejo stood in the lineup with his honorable mention white seabass of 44.8 pounds.



Excel Report

The Excel entered the Tuna grounds this morning. This is how skipper Justin Fleck described it: "The first 75 came on real quick, mixed Bluefin and Yellowfin and now it has slowed we have one, two fish all the time. The fish are up to 40 lbs. with a lot at of 15 to 20 pounders to go around. There is definitely a lot of Tuna around."



Intrepid Report

“Another fun filled day offshore. The weather and the fishing have definitely been on our side here lately and will hopefully continue. This has been hands down the best Tuna fishing we have seen this year. Our very light charter group (16 fisherman) put the wood to the Bluefin with fish biting past dinner and well in to the dark. Several fish caught this evening were in the 35 to 40 pound range. We will be staying here for the night and hope for a nice early one tomorrow.”



Shogun Report

“It was a pretty slow day here at the 'lupe August 12. We arrived by 08:00 and proceeded to try spot after spot with only a handful of fish to show for our efforts. The weather here is beautiful, hopefully tomorrow things will turn around for us. Every day is different.”