Frank LoPreste docked his Royal Polaris at Fisherman's Landing November 11 after the annual Davis-Stanton Charter, a 13-day trip with 21 anglers that fished on the Hurricane Bank.

"The best sardine and skipjack fishing I've seen at the bank in 20 years," commented Frank to dock reporter Bill Roecker. There were 35 cows, tuna over 200 pounds, in his catch.

Two young men won the first two spots in the jackpot. Both have been fishing on the RP for some time. They posed with Frank after the jackpot award.

Zachary Schenk of Watsonville won first place for a 263-pound yellowfin. He also had a 218-pounder. He is 15 and goes to Natural Bridges High. He said he fished a Salas PL 68 in glow color to take his prizewinner, on 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One Spectra, on a Penn 50 W reel and a Calstar 765 H rod. The fight lasted an hour and a half.

Matt Brown, a robotics worker from Charlotte, NC (a former southern Californian who will be returning soon) won second place for a 260-pounder, and third for a 255.6-pounder. Matt has fished on the RP since he was 15, often with his dad, as he was on this trip. Even more remarkable, Matt had five tuna over 200 pounds. The others weighed 223, 221 and 206 pounds. He got his big one after an hour and a half fight.

Bob Wolfson of Dana Point got a pair weighing 265 and 241 pounds, on squid under the kite. He used 130-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 50 W reel and a "no-name" rod.

Vince Biondo of Del Mar brought home a 250-pound cow. It bit on a flying fish under the kite, and he beat it in 35 minutes. He said he used a 20/0 Mustad circle hook, with 130-pound Momoi line and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 70 VSW reel and a Calstar 6465 XXH rod.

Chartermaster Mike Stanton of San Luis Opisbo landed four cows. They weighed 249 and 224 pounds, bookended by a brace weighing 207.

"An unbelievable trip," said Stanton. He said he fished sardines on 5/0 ringed Super Mutu hooks on 100-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 30 reel modified by Cal Sheets and a Calstar 7460 XH rod.

John Angel of Fremont had a 228 and a 208 tuna. He got them with sardines on 6/0 ringed Super Mutus on 100-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon and 130-pound Line One, with an Accurate 50 W reel and a Seeker Black Steel 6465 XXH rod.

Ken Yuen of San Jose bagged a 228-pounder on a sardine and a 6/0 ringed Super Mutu tied to 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One on a Tiagra 30 reel and a Calstar 655 XH rod.

Accurate rep Pete Heimbach of La Mesa took a 207-pound tuna with a sardine on a 6/0 ringed Super Mutu on 130-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon and 130-pound Blackwater Spectra. He used an Accurate 50 W reel and a Calstar 770 H rod.

"Big Daddy" Don Burnside of San Diego cranked up a 212-pounder after it bit a flying fish under the kite. He used a 20/0 Mustad circle hook, 130-pound Momoi line and 130-pound Line One fluorocarbon on an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 7465 H rod.