Brian Kiyohara brought American Angler home from a ten-day Accurate reels trip to southern Baja's offshore banks January 16. The trip scored nine tuna over 200 pounds and a good catch of smaller fish. Accurate rep Gary Teraoka of Torrance was the chartermaster, and provided reels and rods for anglers who wanted to try them.

"We had super weather the whole time," said skipper Kiyohara. "It was a nice trip."

Joe Gigliotti of Cota de Caza won first place for the trip's best tuna, a 268-pounder that took his sardine pinned to a 7/0 ringed Super Mutu hook.

"He bit about 100 feet from the bow," said Joe, "and he took a third of my spool. He came up to the surface off the stern, then he torpedoed the boat and we gaffed him while he was still pretty hot.

Joe said he used a 130-pound Momoi wind-on leader by JAK, 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Tiagra 50 reel and a Shimano Talus seven-foot rod.

Doug Rodricks of Mammoth Lakes, a guide for Sierra Drifters Guide Service, won second place for a 234-pound tuna. He also had a 225-pounder. Doug fished a mackerel bait for the big one, on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook tied to 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One Spectra. He used an Avet 50 W reel and a 655 XXH Calstar rod.

"It took an hour and ten minutes," said Doug. "He's my best fish ever. He was very active."

Jackie Larkin of El Cajon won third place for a 222.5-pound yellowfin. He dropped in with a sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook on 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra on an Avet 50 SDS reel and a custom Calstar 7465 H rod by M&M. The fish fought for 45 minutes, "?Ķup and down the side a couple of times," said Jackie.

Ted Windham of Mission Viejo got a 222-pounder with a mackerel on a 7/0 Eagle Claw hook. He used 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 50 with a Baker conversion and blueprinting by Cal Sheets.

"It took 18 minutes," said Windham. "He bit up the side and came up on the starboard stern corner."

Rodin Morales of San Diego took a 218-pounder with a mackerel on a 7/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He said he used a leader of 130-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon, tied to 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Tiagra 50 LRS reel on a Calstar 6460 XXH rod built by Noah's Tackle.

Chartermaster Gary Teraoka also reps for Izorline. He's from Torrance, and got a 211-pound tuna with a mackerel on a 9/0 Eagle Claw 2004 hook. He fished with 130-pound fluorocarbon, 130-pound mono and 130-pound Spectra, all from Izorline, with a surgeon's knot for a connection. He fished an Accurate 50 reel and a custom Calstar 760 H rod from Yo's Tackle.

"The rod was new for Christmas for me from my wife," said Gary. "This open-party group took instruction really well. After the first day they fished together like a charter group"

Jeff Bott of Snohomish, WA bagged a 207-pounder on a mackerel and an 8/0 Eagle Claw hook. He said he fished with 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 50 VSW reel and a Seeker 6463 XXXH rod to do the job in 45 minutes.

Wes Cogan of Ken's Custom Reels in Oceanside got a 202.5-pounder on a sardine and a 5/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He fished a 130-pound leader of Blackwater fluorocarbon tied to 130-poundSpectra on a loaned Accurate 50 reel and a Calstar 7465 XH rod.

"I got him in 35 minutes," said Wes. "It was an awesome trip."

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