Excel returned May 4 under Captain Justin Fleck's hand, after the annual Ralph Mikkelsen Big Fish 17-day trip with 25 anglers. Fleck docked at Fisherman's Landing and his anglers sorted out their catch to take home or leave with the processors or a charity. There were two tuna over 300 pounds and two over 200 in the catch.

The biggest fish was a 339-pound giant that bit a sardine fished by JoAnn Ciciliano of Las Vegas. It wasn't eligible because it was skiff-chased and caught with help.

"He took the bait off the starboard side," said JoAnn, "and he spooled the reel in less than five minutes. He was tail-wrapped."

JoAnn used a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook on 130-pound Berkley fluorocarbon and 130-pound Line One Spectra. She said she fished with a Penn 50 W reel by Cal Sheets, and she didn't know what rod was used. She stood in with the jackpot winners in the honorable mention spot.

James Hassen was the jackpot winner for his 328.8-pounder.

"My best fish ever," he said. "It was easy; he wasn't a tough fighter. I got him in 45 minutes. My best before was 245 pounds."

James baited a sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook tied to 130-pound Izorline fluorocarbon and 130-pound Izorline Spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a Yo's Calstar 760 H rod.

Long-standing all-tackle world record holder for yellowfin tuna Kurt Wiesenhutter of Cour d' Alene, ID won second place for a 241-pound tuna he beat in 45 minutes.

"I thought it was a shark," remarked Kurt. "I almost handed the fish off."

Wiesenhutter's winner came to the boat with an 8/0 Eagle Claw hook in its mouth, tied to 130-pound Izorline fluorocarbon and 130-pound Izorline Spectra backjing on a Sheets-modified Penn 50 W reel and a Calstar 655 XXH rod.

Mike Holliday won third place for a 204-pound tuna.

"He's my best fish," he said, "and my first one over 200 pounds."

Mike said he used a sardine on an Eagle Claw 9/0 hook straight-tied to 80-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Izorline Spectra backing on a Sheets-treated Penn 50 W reel and a Sabre 655 XXH rod.

The trip visited Hurricane Bank and the Buffer Zone off Clarion Island, and sampled some yellowtail fishing on the way home.