"We had difficult weather," said Independence skipper Jeff DeBuys January 4. He was weighing the tuna from a nine-day adventure with 31 anglers to the southern banks.

"But even with the bad weather, we managed a couple of bunches of big fish, and while we lost a couple to pulled hooks, we had no tackle failures. The guys performed flawlessly."

James Garrison of Temecula won first place for a giant yellowfin tuna of 292 pounds. "He fought hard," said James. "I used a crimped hook."

Garrison said he baited a mackerel on a 6/0 Hayabusa hook tied to 100-pound Big Game and 130-pound Spectra on a Penn 50 SW reel and a Calstar 655 XXH rod.

Walt Bogue of Chico was second, for a 285-pounder. Walt fished with his wife Sandi, who was proud of her 130-pounder and the fact she was the only woman on the boat.

Walt fished a sardine on a 6/0 Hayabusa hook tied to 130-pound Soft Steel Ultra line and 130-pound Spectra backing on a Daiwa 50 reel and am unknown six and a half-foot rod.

Mike Bruer of Temecula won third place for a 278.7-pound tuna, and he also got a 238.8-pounder. He baited a sardine on a Hayabusa 6/0 circle hook tied to 130-pound Soft Steel Ultra and 130-pound Jerry Brown Spectra backing on an Accurate 50 W reel and a 660 XXH rod.

Phillip Anderson of Pasadena, 15, took a 278.6-pounder on the kite with a sardine on an 8/0 Super Mutu ringed hook, 100-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Spectra backing on an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 760 H rod.

Phillip goes to Arcadia High School, where he plays baseball.

Jeff Lucas of Bonsall caught a 271-pound tuna with a mackerel on a 6/0 Hayabusa hook, 130-pound Soft Steel Ultra line and 130-pound Spectra on an Okuma 50 reel and an unknown six-foot rod.

"He didn't circle; he came up close to the bow when we gaffed him," said Anderman. "He fought for an hour. He's my best fish ever."

Ed Otero of Palm Springs took a brace of yellowfin at 254 and 235 pounds. He fished a sardine on a 7/0 ringed Super Mutu, tied to 100-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra on a Penn 30 reel and a Calstar 6465 XH rod.

David Anderman of LA caught a 248-pound tuna with a mackerel on a 6/0 Hayabusa hook, 100-pound Big Game line, 130-pound Jerry Brown Spectra backing on a Tiagra 30 W reel and a Calstar 655 XXH rod by Yo's.

Dustin Watson of Poway took an hour and a half to land a 246-pounder. He said he fished with a sardine on a 6/0 Hayabusa hook, 130-ppound Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a Seeker 6463 XXXH rod.

"He fought good," said Dustin. He tried to free himself on the bulbous bow."

Greg Anderson (Phillip's father) of Pasadena got a 226-pound tuna with a sardine on a 6/0 ringed Super Mutu, 100-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Izor Spectra on an Avet Pro 50 reel and a Calstar 760 H rod.

Randall Loomis of San Diego snared a 217-pounder with a sardine on an 8/0 Eagle Claw hook, 130-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Izor Spectra on a Tiagra 50 reel and a 760 H rod.

Brian Longmore of Poway bagged a 205-pounder with a sardine on a 6/0 ringed Super Mutu and the boat's rig: an Avet 50 reel and a Seeker 6463 XXXH rod.

Angel Mejia of Long Beach copped a 205-pound tuna with a sardine on a 6/0 Hayabusa hook, 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Jerry Brown Line One Spectra backing on an LRS 50 W reel and a seeker 6463 XXXH rod.

The trip returned to Point Loma Sportfishing with 14 tuna over 200 pounds.