Glenn Kerr charter-mastered his annual three-day trip with 30 passengers aboard the Red Rooster III with skipper John Grabowski. Kerr owns Glenn's Alignment & Brake Service in Costa Mesa. The trip ended at H&M Landing July 21with a good mixed catch of yellowfin tuna and albacore.

"They were biting the jig a little on this trip," said Glenn. "I was surprised to see they liked the Salas Christy #1 in blue and white. That got bit by both yellowfin and albacore."

"We stayed offshore and found a good influx of yellowfin tuna in the 14 to 30-pound class," said Grabowski. "Some of these are bigger fish, and I'd advise against using 25-pound line. Use 40-pound fluorocarbon leader instead of light line to get a bite."

Bill Whitney of Yorba Linda won first place for a 42.6-pound albie that bit his sardine on a 3/0 Flyliner hook. He said he used 30-pound Izorline on a TLD 20 reel and a Seeker six and a half-foot glass rod.

Jeff Bracey of Newport Beach won second for a 39.6-pounder, and Ben Howayeck of Tucson got third for a 35.1-pound longfin. David "Wahoo Dad" Choate, pro-staffer for Accurate and Seeker, won the trolling jackpot (a Red Rooster III jacket) for the best fish on the troll: a 41.5-pound albacore he bagged on a cedar plug.

"The X-Raps are our number trolling for private boats this year," says Doug Kern, co-owner of Fisherman's landing Tackle Store.