Frank LoPreste's Royal Polaris docked April 21 after an 18-day trip with 20 anglers that visited the Hurricane Bank and Clarion Island's offshore waters. The boat docked at Fisherman's landing after checking in with customs following the fly down, fly back venture.

Near-limits of tuna were common among the anglers. Some said they quit fishing for wahoo because the fish were so thick. There were 15 tuna over 200 pounds in the catch.

"We had excellent fishing at the Hurricane Bank," said Frank to dock reporter Bill Roecker, "and we had very good fishing at Clarion for tuna up to about 160 pounds."

Three anglers had two cows apiece. Steve Franco of Pacifica got three: a 242, a 225 and a 212-pounder. He won second place.

"I'd like to thank crewman Dharyl Shelbourne," said Steve, "for helping me to get my biggest and toughest tuna yet. He took me around the anchor line."

Steve said he baited a double sardine rig on the kite, with 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hooks. He used 130-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon leader and 130-pound Line One Spectra on an Accurate 50 W reel and an unknown rod. The fight on the big fish lasted 45 minutes.

Mike Gauger of Seaforth also had a brace of cows, at 218 and 203 pounds. He posed for a shot with one of his fish.

"I lost all my line two times in the skiff," he remarked. "We chased him off the bank, and then he came right back. We had great wahoo fishing and the group was fantastic."

Gauger fished sardines on 2/0 ringed Super Mutu hooks. He got his prize with 60-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon and 80-pound Blackwater Spectra on a Penn 12 T by Cal Sheets and a Calstar 700 M rod after an hour-long fight.

Frank Fink of Los Barriles also bagged a brace, and won first place. He wasn't at the dock, but his friend Brad Snyder of Puerto Vallarta said his tuna weighed 217 and 201 pounds.

Del Yarian of Alpine took an hour and a half to boat a 241-pounder. It bit a flying fish under the kite, like most of the cows. He said he used a 12/0 Mustad 7691 hook, 130-pound Line One Spectra, a Penn 70 reel and a Calstar 655 TSS rod.

"My best fish before was a 233," said Yarian. "He went around the anchor about 20 times, but thanks to Roy Rose, I got him in."

Dave Edgar won third place for his 215-pounder. He also had one that weighed 212.

"The big one came in hot at the bow," said Edgar, who posed with skipper Frank LoPreste. He added that he used a flyer on a 14/0 Super Mutu hook, with 130-poundSpectra, a Tiagra 50 reel and a Seeker 6463 XXXH rod to do the job in 45 minutes.

Bill McCarty, a Santa Barbara electrician, got a 206-pound yellowfin on a flying fish and the kite. He hung the flyer on a 20/0 Mustad circle hook and used 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Sheets-treated Penn 80- reel and a Calstar 46H rod by Yo's.

Eddie Goulette of Santa Barbara took a 222-pounder.

"My first cow," he said. "It was indescribable. The deckhands told me by their actions that it was a big fish. It came up on the port bow."

Eddie used a fly8ing fish under the kite on a 20/0 Mustad hook tied to 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 80 reel by Cal Sheets and a Calstar 655 XH rod.

Chris Petersen of Castaic got a 205-pounder in just 10 minutes, after it bit his flyer on the kite. He used the 20/0 Mustad circle hook, 130-pound Line One Spectra, an Accurate 50 W reel and a Calstar 655 XXH rod.

Brad Snyder of Puerto Vallarta snared a 217-pound tuna with a flyer under the kite. He said he used a 20/0 Mustad hook, 130-pound Line One Spectra, a Tiagra 50 W reel and a Calstar 7670 M rod. The fight went 20 minutes.

Army Sgt. John Halcrow of Bismark, ND just missed a cow with his 195-pound yellowfin. He wanted to thank Frank LoPreste and Yo's for helping to make it possible for him to take the trip after serving two tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Bill Roecker asked Roy Rose what he saw coming back up the line to San Diego after the trip into the Revillagigedos.

"Not much," said Rose. "A lot of green cold water, from 58 to 62 degrees."