Andy Cates docked Red Rooster III March 1 at H&M Landing, after a 16-day trip with a flyback option. Chartermaster Mike Riley, an Izor rep, made the trip and the presentation of the big fish trophy after the weigh-in. Fishing was pretty darn good, said anglers, but most of the tuna were under 200 pounds. There were six cows in the catch.

Bradley Wood of Mendocino, who fishes some commercially in Hawaii, won the jackpot for a 231.8-pound tuna he got on a flying fish under the kite.

Brad used a 10/0 Mustad 7691 hook, 130-pound Izorline Spectra on am Accurate 80 reel and a Super Seeker 6364 XXXH rod.

"I've caught 200-pounders before on the hand line in Kona," he said to Bill Roecker at the scales, "but this is my best one, a solid 230-plus. I got him in 40 minutes.

"I saw him take the flyer after he made three big misses," continued Wood, "right at dark. He made two big runs, and when I was fightinghim up on the bow he got wrapped on the anchor line. Thanks to Joe D'Aquisto the second skipper, we got him unwrapped, and he came up there on the bow after dark.

"We had a great crew, and I really enjoyed the trip. For sure, I'm coming back again."

Jin Sung Chang of Korea won second place for a 224.6-pounder. He also had a 209-pound tuna. He said he got the big one after an hour and a half fight, on a sardine and a 5/0 Super Mutu hook, 130-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon leader, 130-pound Izor Spectra, a Penn 50 reel and a Calstar 760 H rod.

Won Koo Lee of Downey won third place for a 211.5-pound yellowfin. He bagged that fish with a sardine on a 5/0 Mutu hook, 130-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon leader, 130-pound Izor Spectra, a Penn 50 reel and a Calstar 655 XXH rod. His fight lasted two hours.

John Keeler of Santa Monica took a 207.2-pounder in a half-hour, with a sardine on a 5/0 Super Mutu hook on 130-pound Blackwater, 130-pound Izor Spectra, an Avet 50 reel and a Super Seeker 6463 XXXH rod.

Spiro Sotripoulos caught a 200/9-pound tuna, but wasn't available for comment.