Mike Ramirez skippered Excel on her latest trip of 15 days, and docked the big boat at Fisherman's Landing May 25 with a dozen cows, or tuna over 200 pounds aboard. Mike remarked that the weather was pleasant and enjoyable the whole time. The catch was very good, with plenty of tuna and wahoo. Many of the tuna were in the 150 to 198-pound range. The best yellowfin was taken by Excel regular "Big Al" Scow of Rancho Palos Verdes."It was a standard tuna fight," said Al. "He came to the gaff in about 20 minutes." Big Al got his 236-pounder with a double sardine rig under the kite, on a Mustad 39963 circle hook. He used 130-pound Line One spectra on a Penn 70 VSW reel and a Calstar 770 XXH rod. Like all good chartermasters, Big Al donated his winnings back to the crew, as did Curt Wiesenhutter.

Former all-tackle record holder Curt Wiesenhutter of Coeur d'Alene ID won second place for a 234-pounder, but he also had one at 206. Curt got his with sardines on 8/0 Mustad Demon 4X hooks, 130-pound fluorocarbon, 130-pound Line One spectra on a Penn 70 VSW reel by Cal Sheets, and a Calstar 7455 XXH rod.

Bob Kelley of Cerritos won third place for a 214-pounder he subdued in 45 minutes. It took a double sardine rig under the kite. Bob used Mustad 39963 hooks, 130-pound Line One spectra on a Penn 80 reel by Sheets, and a Calstar 665 XXH rod.

Al Merrick of Carpinteria whacked a trio of cows at 213, 209 and 208 pounds. He said he fished sardines on 6/0 Owner Super Mutu hooks tied to 130-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon and Line One 130-pound spectra on an Avet 30 W reel and a Calstar 770 XXH rod. "I got two of 'em at night," said Merrick, "between 11 p.m. and one a.m."

Sam Raiter of San Francisco spent an hour getting acquainted with a 208.6-pounder. He said it bit a sardine under the kite on an 8/0 Super Mutu hook, 130-pound Line One spectra, an Accurate ATD 50 reel and a Seeker Black Steel 6463 XXXH rod.

Donna Manuszak of Madera also enjoyed an hour-long tussle with her 205-pound yellowfin. It was her first cow, she said, a fish she'd been after for 14 years. The cow took her around the boat once during the scrap, after it ate her sardine on a Mustad 39963 hook. She used 130-pound Line One spectra on an Accurate ATD 50 reel and a Melton five and a half-foot rod. Donna needed some help to stand her fish, so she posed with Marco Rodrigues of Five Star Fish Processing.

George "Sid" Silliman of Upland also got a cow, but he wasn't present at the scales. Excel is off on her last trip of the big fish season for the next couple of weeks, and will return June 9.