On the first day of the Master Angler Billfish Tournament hosted by the Balboa Angling Club at least one boat navigated its way to a marlin nugget, as Rob Webster of the Magellan and his crew released a total of 3 marlin, according to BAC member Jimmy Decker. That's an amazing number considering that previously that number was close to the total --or more -- for all the sportfishermen on the West Coast this season.

That number was also equalled by three other MABT boats -- one fish at a time -- as the Reel Time , Provider, 50/50 all had one marlin released.

Decker, a Penn/Berkley pro-staffer and noted light line angler, said that tuna fishing ranged from fair to off the hook for the tournament boats. He competed in the first day of the two-day event in his 24-foot Everglades.

"We started out off Ensenada, ran across the 425 to the Hidden Bank where the fleet was concentrated and heard Rob got a jig bite 15 miles inside of there," said Decker. "That's where all six fish were caught."

The MABT is an all-release marlin event and gives points based on the time the fish was caught and on how light of line. With three fish Magellan is definitely in the lead.

"The tournament also gives an award to the biggest tuna on the lightest line," noted Decker. "We had 41 boats entered but only 35 fished today. Quite a few boats had 3 to 5 bluefin, albacore or yellowfin, and some said they had limits of tuna."