Justin Fleck will be the new full-time skipper aboard the Excel, said Betty Stein, office manager for the boat. Justin has been second skipper on the rig for several years, and has run many trips of all lengths as relief skipper for Shawn Steward.

Steward will be moving on, and wants to stay close to home and his growing family. He will be operating the fast 53-footer Aloha Spirit out of Captain Hook's Sportfishing in Channel Islands Harbor. More on Steward's new rig will appear here in the next few days.

The Fleck family is a long-time seafaring group. Justin and his brother Chef Jason will remain with Excel, and Joe Crisci will step up as second skipper. Crisci has many years of experience on both long range and commercial tuna fishing vessels.

The Excel crew will remain aboard the 124 by 32-foot luxury sportfisher owned by pioneer long ranger Bill Poole. Engineer Mike Ramirez has enrolled in skipper's school and will add another license to the crew when he finishes.