"Bait fishing went well last night, wrote Red Rooster III skipper Andy Cates December 5, "and then spent the day on the lower banks below Mag Bay. Finally, our luck changed and we found what we were looking for. I wish we had more time but we have a full day tomorrow to catch more trophies. The 12 tuna were caught today with the smallest one 170 pounds and eight fish over 200 pounds biggest fish caught by Carl Newton, a whopping 297-pounder.

"The lower banks are showing sign for the later 10-day trips; for those of you that are interested in big fish we have a 10-day trip that leaves Dec 11 to the 22. If you have the time, this might be a chance at big fish."

Cate's 16-day trip with 22 anglers ended up with 13 tuna over 200 pounds, weighed on certified scales at H&M Landing December 10. Chartermaster "Big Tuna Bill" Ghiselin of Rod & Reel Radio won the trolling jackpot for a 34.8-pound wahoo.

Musician Carl Newton of North Hollywood won first place for his 297-pound tuna. Carl said he got that fish, the biggest caught this season, on a mackerel pinned to an 8/0 Charley Brown circle hook. He used 130-pound Maxima line, 130-pound Izorline Spectra backing on a Tiagra 50 reel and a Calstar 765 XXH rod by Cosmo's. It was the best fish of his lifetime, and he wasn't at all upset by its proximity to 300 pounds. He also got a 204-pound tuna.

Larry Brooks of San Bernadino won second place for a 273.4-pounder. He got it with a mackerel on a 7/0 Eagle Claw hook, tied to 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Spectra on a Penn 50 W reel and a six-foot Kencor rod.

Mike Darakjian of San Clemente took third place for a 270-pound yellowfin he bagged in only 25 minutes. He fished a mackerel on a 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He fished with 130-pound Maxima line and 130-pound Power Pro Spectra on a Tiagra 50 reel and a Calstar 6455 XH rod.

"It's my personal best," said Mike. "It was squirrelly, and the last fish of the trip."

Art Green, Newport CPA, was close behind the winners with a 264.4-pound tuna. He used a double sardine rig under the kite, with 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Spectra on a Tiagra 50 reel and a Seeker Black Steel 6463 XXXH rod.

Mike Faulkner of Oceanside bagged a 238.5-pounder. Mike used a double sardine rig on the boat's kite rig and fought the beast for an hour and a half.

Roger Nichols of La Costa got two cows at 237 and 210 pounds.

John Avedissian of Glendale caught a 230-pound tuna with a double sardine setup on the boat's kite outfit.

Tim Ivy of San Diego got a 229.7-pound fish on a mackerel and an Eagle Claw 9/0 hook. He used 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Spectra on a Tiagra 50 reel and a Calstar 755 XH rod.

Gerhard Ihde of Malibu came up with a 213.8-pounder after a half-hour fight. He said it bit a mackerel on a 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hook, tied to 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Jerry Brown Spectra, on a Penn 50 W reel and a Calstar 7455 XXH rod. Archie Irons caught a 204-pound yellowfin tuna, and Greg Brooks got a 201-pounder.