A five-day Sport Chalet charter with 24 anglers returned aboard American Angler to Pt. Loma Sportfishing July 24. Skipper Patella was optimistic about seeing an improved albacore bite.

"Stand by," he said, "the albies may float soon."

Leland Blankenship of Watsonville won first place for a 35.6-pound albacore. He said he bagged it with a sardine on a 2/0 Mustad hook tied to 30-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader and 30-pound P-Line. He used a Daiwa Sealine 40 reel and a Seeker 6460 Black Steel rod.

Regular angler Tom Szczeblowski of Yorba Linda won second place for a 34.6-pound yellowtail he got in the shallows of Cedros Island on 30-pound line. Mike Caballero of El Monte won third place for a 34.8-pound yellow. He fished with his dad Art, another boat regular.