John Grabowski docked Red Rooster III at H&M Landing February 3 after the 15-day Bluefin Jim & Pelagic charter with 19 anglers. Sonny Jones chartermastered the Pelagic side of the trip, which produced 18 tuna over 200 pounds. One of those was just a meal away from 300 pounds. About 100 wahoo were also caught, mostly while tuna fishing. "They bit from three AM until dark just about every day," remarked Sonny. "At night we used heavy gear."

The star of the trip was second-time long ranger Scott Harper of Camarillo, who caught the winner, a 293.6-pounder, on a double squid bait on Mustad 20/0 circle hooks under the kite with the boat's kite rig. That rig uses 130-pound Izorline, an Accurate ATD 80 reel (they call it "The Tractor" aboard), and a Seeker 6463 XXXH rod. "My best fish before this trip was a 160-pounder," Scott told dock reporter Bill Roecker. "I got him in 15 minutes on that rig. It was a pleasure to fish with the legend John Grabowski." Scott also caught two other cows, at 270 and 252 pounds. With that pair he used another outfit: a salami mackerel on a 9/0 Mustad 7691 hook, 130-pound pink Yo-Zuri fluorocarbon, 130-pound Line One spectra, a Penn 50 reel and a Calstar 6455 XXXH rod.

Bill House of Rogersville AL won second place for a 274-pound tuna, and he also had fish of 230 and 217 pounds. He fished mackerel on 10/0 Mustad 7691 hooks tied to 130-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon, 130-pound Line One spectra, an Avet 50 reel and a Super Seeker 6463 XXXH rod. He got the big one in 50 minutes.

Jack Thrush of Millbrae won third place for his 254.9-pound yellowfin, and also had tuna of 211 and 202 pounds. He said he got the big one in 40 minutes, and fished sardines on a 5/0 ringed Owner Super Mutu hook tied to 130-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon and 130-pound Line One spectra. He used an Accurate ATD 50 reel and a Calstar 770 XXXH rod.

Sonny Jones of Santa Ana bagged a nice 240-pound tuna after taking a skiff ride to catch the fish, which came up tail-snagged and dead after a mile and a half chase. Sonny pinned a mackerel on a 10/0 Mustad 7691 hook tied to 130-pound Momoi and 130-pound Line One spectra backing on a Tiagra 50 W reel and a Calstar Baby Boomer rod.

Hector Lopez of San Diego caught a 229-pound tuna with a salami on the kite. The big bait was on a 10/0 7691 hook, 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izorline spectra on a Penn 50 reel treated by Cal Sheets and a Calstar 770 XH rod.

Mike Berkman of LA bagged a 215 in 15 minutes. He baited a salami on a 10/0 7691 hook, and used 130-pound Izorline, 130-pound Line One spectra, a Talica 50 reel and a Super Seeker 1 X 3 rod.

David Malmberg of Leucadia picked off a 212-pounder with a mackerel on a 10/0 7691 hook and 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One spectra. He used an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 7455 XXH rod.

Ray Broders of Pt. Townsend, WA pulled in a 211 and a 209-pounder. He fished with sardines on ringed 5/0 Owner Super Mutu hooks. He used 100-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon, 130-pound Line One spectra, a Cal Sheets-treated Penn 50 reel and a rod he described as "...a generic six-footer."

Bill Campbell of Placentia spent a sweaty half-hour getting his 206.6-pound tuna on a sardine pinned to a 5/0 Owner Gorilla hook. He fished with 130-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon, 130-pound Line One spectra on an Accurate ATD 30 reel and a Super Seeker 2 X 4 rod.

Paul Lepore of Dana Point whacked a 204-pound tuna with a salami on a 10/0 7691 hook. "It was a 30-second fish," he said. He used 130-pound Yo-Zuri fluorocarbon, 130-pound Line One spectra on an Accurate 50 (Paul's an Accurate pro-staffer) and a Calstar 770 XXXH rod wrapped by Fisherman's Supply of Lawndale.

Robbie Thill of Anaheim rounded up the cow catchers with a 202-pound yellowfin, the last one weighed. He said it bit a sardine on a 5/0 ringed Super Mutu hook on 100-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon and 100-pound Power Pro spectra. He fished with a Penn VSX 30 reel and a Super Seeker 1 X 3 rod. "My best fish before this one was a 30-pound albacore," he said.

The trolling jackpot was won by Bob Michener of Oxnard, for a 56.4-pound wahoo.