Sam Patella docked his American Angler at Pt. Loma Sportfishing December 18 after an 11-day Tiburon trip with Skip Stenbro as chartermaster and 20 anglers aboard. Fishing was good in the Buffer Zone. "We had two good days," said Patella, "and one day when it was slow we made a move and found some smaller biting fish."

Bryan Kistler of Escondido won first place for his 226-pound tuna. "My third cow," he told dock reporter Bill Roecker, "and my best baitfish. Those fish down there are very strong. He fought for 50 minutes." Kistler said he baited a sardine on a 6/0 Gamakatsu hook tied to 100-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon (a topshot by Basil) and 130-pound Line One spectra. He fished with a Tiagra 30 W reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod wrapped by M&M.

Geoff Dsena of Palos Verdes won second place for a 201-pounder. It ate a sardine on a 5/0 ringed Owner Super Mutu hook on 100-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon and 130-pound Line One spectra. He used an Accurate ATD 30 reel and a Super Seeker 2 x 4 rod by The Rusty Hook.

Dan Spiegel of Santa Monica won third place for a 193-pound yellowfin tuna, a fish he bagged with a sardine and 100-pound line.