Jeff DuBuys docked Independence May 27, after a five-day trip to the albacore grounds and the Benitos Islands. Rough weather and only a few biting albacore prompted an early move to the islands, where there was some good yellowtail fishing at times.

"We scratched out about 50 a day," said Jeff. "There was no current, which made it tougher. We also stopped at San Martin Island on the way back and got some rockfish and ling cod. No halibut, though."

The trip's jackpot winner had what is likely the biggest yellowtail to come from the Benitos, a 65-pound mossback caught by Denny Walker of Phoenix, who posed with second skipper Kyle "Rooster" Karcher.

Walker flylined a sardine on a 3/0 Mustad hook, 30-pound Izorline and a rental outfit with a Penn 500 reel and a Seeker seven-foot glass rod.

"I had to fight him for a long time," said Walker, "a long 15 or 20 minutes. He almost had me over the side, at one point."