Long-time long ranger Tom Jackson is a trustee for Cerritos College in Norwalk. He's been waiting for quite a spell to beat his 244-pound personal best tuna. This year's June Heat trip provided him the opportunity, as he fished with skipper Andy Cates on the last trip of the year for big tuna. Cates docked the boat at H&M Landing June 10 and hung Jackson's big tuna, cranking the scales up to 360.2 pounds.

The event put a big grin on Jackson's face, and prompted him to relate the final event of the trip's last day: "I had a salami on a 25-minute soak. About 0650 I got bit. The mackerel was on an Eagle Claw P-195 9/0 J hook, 130-pound Izorline fluorocarbon and 130-pound Izorline spectra. I fished with a Cal Sheets-treated Penn 50 VSW reel and a Cal Star 760 XH rod custom-wrapped by Performance Tackle. The fish came to color and was gaffed about 0730."

Bill Roecker hasn't had time to go through all the year's catches, but it appears Jackson's tuna may well be Fish of the Year. There were 14 cows, tuna over 200 pounds, and the one over 300.

Laurens Rhinelander of San Diego won second place for his 279.8-pounder. He said it took a mackerel on a Mustad 9/0 7691 hook, 130-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon and 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 770 XXH rod by Ken Bush. He also won the trolling jackpot for a 57-pound wahoo.

Darren Lowrey of Upland won third place for his 247.8-pound tuna and posed for a lineup shot with the other winners. His tuna bit a sardine on a 7/0 ringed Owner Super Mutu hook on 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izorline spectra. He fished with an Accurate ATD 50 W reel and a Super Seeker 6463 XXXH rod to get the fish in 40 minutes.

Bill Walsh of Chino Hills got a 228-pounder with a double sardine rig on Mustad 10/0 hooks under the kite. He also got a 204-pounder. He fished with 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izorline spectra on an Accurate 80 reel and a Super Seeker 6463 XXXXH rod.

Mike Berkman of Valencia bagged a brace at 223 and 208 pounds. He fished sardines on Mustad Demon 5/0 hooks tied to 80-pound Yo-Zuri and 80-pound Line One spectra. He said he used a new Accurate Super Six reel and a Phenix seven-foot rod.

Bob Michener of Oxnard bagged a 221-pounder. He said it took a white, glow-painted ABC jig on 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Accurate spectra. He used an Accurate 50 W reel and a Calstar 770 XH rod.

A squid under the kite worked for Spiros Sotiropolous of San Francisco, producing a 210-pound tuna. He said he used Mustad 10/0 7691 hooks and 130-poound Izorline spectra on a Tiagra 80 reel and a Calstar 6455 XXXH rod. Dennis Bidigare found a matched set weighing 203 and 202 pounds.

Thad Peach of Stanley, NC got one at 201.8 and one at 200.6 pounds. Both bit on a PL-68 jig in glow color.

Bob Rubalcava of Pt. Loma pulled in a 201.6-pound yellowfin. It bit a sardine on a 7/0 Eagle Claw hook on 130-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon and 130-pound Line One spectra. He used an Accurate ATD 50 reel and a Calstar 770 XH rod to finish his tuna in 30 minutes.