Royal Star docked at Fisherman's Landing May 8 under Brian Sims' hand. She unloaded 19 anglers after the eight-day trip, most of them firefighters. Three firemen won the jackpot spots.

"I'm encouraged by what we're seeing down there," said Sims. "It looks right, and the weather's coming down every day."

There were small yellowtail and tuna at Alijos, said Sims, but the conditions looked right for bigger fish to move in soon.

Eric Rheinhardt of San Marcos got a 37.6-pound yellowtail for first place. He said it bit a blue and white Salas 6X Jr. jig with a touch of green. He used 50-pound Big Game line on a Newell 535 reel with a 5.5 gear ratio and a GRUSA seven-foot rod to take his prize in ten minutes.

Zac Valade of Ramona was second. His 37.4-pound yellowtail bit on a blue and chrome 6X Jr.

Don McKinney of Santee bagged the trip's best bluefin, a 36-pounder, for third place. He said it bit on a sardine.