By Bill Roecker

The Loftus & Martin open charter aboard the Qualifier 105 returned to Pt. Loma Sportfishing at dawn January 20. Joe Crisci was skipper on the 16-day excursion, which produced three cow tuna and numerous fish on the cusp of the 200-pound marker, as well as a good take of wahoo.

The best tuna was caught by Tom Kelleher of Corona del Mar, a 241.6-pound tusker that chowed on a double sardine kite rig and the boat’s loaner gear.

“It took an hour and 15 minutes,” said Tom. “I saw it hit, then the balloon marker came off. He took me from the stern corner up to the bow on the other side. He’s my second-best fish ever. I could tell my gear was maxed.”

Second skipper Cal Link said Tom’s boat rig had two 9/0 Eagle Claw circle hooks on 100-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Big Game Spectra, an Accurate 50 reel and a Calstar 6465 XH rod.

Chris Green of Riverside won second place for a 215.2-pounder he got with a mackerel on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook. He said he used 100-pound Maxima line and 100-pound Spectra on a Penn 50 reel and a Calstar 6465 XH rod.

“He kicked my behind,” said Chris. “He’s my biggest fish.”

Jackie Fitzpatrick of Pacific Grove won third place for her first cow, a 211.6-pound yellowfin she bagged with the double sardine rig on the same boat outfit used by Kelleher to get the jackpot winner. She also got a tuna that weighed 194 pounds, and the trip’s best wahoo, a 70-pounder that won an award.

“He jumped out of the water and onto the bait,” Jackie said of the bigger tuna. “Then he took off right away. I’m saving up to do this again next year.”

Qualifier 105 will be in port for her annual boat work over the next few weeks, said skipper Joe Crisci.