Captain Bruce Smith docked Shogun at Fisherman's Landing June 23 following a Big Fish Happen five-day trip. Unfavorable offshore weather and picky tuna sent them to the inside, where they had exceptional yellowtail fishing.

The boat's best fish, a 48.2-pound yellowtail caught on a kelp paddy, was not eligible for the jackpot.

"I haven't seen a yellowtail on a kelp like that in 15 years!" Smith said. "We'd sure like to see more of those."

Glenn Chen of Homer, Alaska, caught the big yellowtail on a 3/0 Owner hook, 30-pound Izorline, a Daiwa 50 SH reel and a custom-wrapped eight-foot rod.

"That's the first time in 30 years that I didn't enter the jackpot," Chen said.

Duane Sawyer of Lemon Grove won first place with a 32.3-pound yellowtail. Duane used a 1/0 ringed Owner hook, 50-pound line, an Avet Raptor reel and a six-foot rod. "Direct Tackle set up my gear for this trip," he said.

Jeff Hauser of Corona and Chris Dunn of Phoenix, AZ tied for second and third with 31.6-pound yellowtail.

"We had our best fishing at Benitos," Dunn said. "Rather than fight the weather offshore, Bruce decided to fish Geronimo Island and Sac Reef. We loaded up on rockfish and big lingcod.

"The water was really cold along the beach," he added.