Skipper Mike Ramirez returned 28 anglers to Fisherman's Landing December 20 after a ten-day trip aboard Excel. The open charter brought home six yellowfin over 200 pounds.

"There wasn't much to catch on the way down," said Captain Ramirez. "So we just went straight to the lower banks. We had a lot of life on 60 to 100 pound fish with the bigger ones mixed in here and there. We stayed for five days with nice weather.

"On the way back, we fished outside Geronimo for three hours and caught a lot of reds."

Bob Neal of Huntington Beach took first place in the jackpot for a 292.8-pound tuna that bit a sardine. Bob used a 9/0 hook off the boat, 130-pound leader, 100-pound Big Game line, a Penn International 50 SW reel and a Calstar 760 H rod.

"I was pinned to the rail," exclaimed Bob. "He was a lot meaner than my big fish on this trip last year. He broke my rod belt. It took me two and a half hours to bring him in.

"Mike was great, I couldn't have done it without him."

A 233.4-pound yellowfin was good for second place; caught by angler Jason Smith of Mesa, AZ.

"I fly-lined a makerel," remarked Jason, "and he took 750 yards of line on his first run. I had 29-pounds of drag too. It was a two hour fight."

Jason used a 9/0 Eagle Claw 2004 ringed hook, 100-pound Seaguar Fluorocarbon, Blackwater Hollow Core Spectra, a Shimano Tiagra 30 LRS reel and a Calstar 6460 rod.

Jerry Pederson of Riverside was third for a 216.2-pound tuna. Jerry fished a sardine on an 8/0 Eagle Claw hook, 100-pound straight-tied Big Game line, a Penn International 30 W reel and a Seeker 6365 XXH rod.

"This crew is great from top to bottom," Jerry said. "I had a couple of 170-pounders last year. This one is my best ever."

Honorable Mention went to Dean Ferguson of Scio, OR, who landed a 253.8-pounder on the kite. The Oregon State fan was on his first long range trip.

"I sat on the kite for a couple hours with a squid as bait," Dean said. "So we brought that in and switched it to two sardines. Within minutes, I was hooked up. I fought for two hours.

"Captain Mike's a great guy, the crew was excellent. I think I gained ten pounds though, they fed us too much!"

Rocco Salvia had a 202.8-pound tuna and Dave Rock caught a 202.6-pounder.