Sonia Forbes of Temple City threw out her first bait at Guadalupe Island and hooked up. She must have hit that 105.6-pound yellowfin smack on the bean, because she had an instant hookup that led to a 45-minute battle that ended with the jackpot winner gaffed aboard the American Angler.

"He was strong but gentle," said Sonia at Pt. Loma Sportfishing October 3. "He took me around the bow once, and came up midship. He's my best fish."

Sonia and 23 other anglers were skippered by Sam Patella on the six-day Ken's Custom Reels trip. She said she pinned her lucky sardine on a 2/0 Mutu hook tied to 50-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon leader and 8-pound Soft Steel Ultra line backed with 80-pound Spectra. She used an Avet LX reel and a Calstar 7465 XL rod.

"We are very happy we chose this destination," wrote Sam October 30, "because we had another nice day of fishing. To be honest, it takes a lot of patience at the rail, but if you spend the time, you can put a catch together. This fish is all mixed up - anywhere from 20lbs up to over 100lbs and you just don't know what you are going to catch when you get a bite. I love my job..."

Mark Rubens of Carlsbad won second place for a 103-pounder, and Wes Cogan of Ken's Custom Reels won third place for a 98.5-pound Guadalupe Island yellowfin tuna.