Owner-skipper Mark Pisano docked the Independence at six a.m. June 30. He'd just finished a three-day kid's trip with chartermaster Rick Ozaki of West coast marketing, and called it a "father-son trip." Another sponsor was Avet reels.

Nine-year-old Jerry Heitzman of Salinas won the jackpot for a 37-pound albacore, one of the four largest so fat this season. Jerry goes to Prunedale Elementary School, where he plays baseball, basketball and soccer. His dad said Jerry got his longfin on a sardine and a 1/0 Flyliner hook. He used 20-pound Ande line, and Avet MX reel and a Calstar rod tied by Big Bob Rods to bring the fish to gaff in 15 minutes.