Mike Ramirez docked Excel at Fisherman's Landing January 5 following the annual Fisherman's Warehouse trip of 10 days, this year with 33 anglers and chartermaster Rick Iwatsubo. The group fished the inner waters off southern Baja for plenty of yellowtail, some dorado and small tuna and a variety of bottomfish. Tuna were scarce, said Mike, but one big yellowfin found a bait on the 300-Pound Bank. The Ridge has cooled to 67 degrees, he said.

That big one weighed in at 235 pounds before it was gilled and gutted for the RSW tank. It was caught by Jim Settle, pictured above of Nipomo on a mackerel and a 7/0 Eagle Claw hook tied to 130-pound Yo-Zuri fluorocarbon, part of one of the boat's heavy loaner outfits.

The rest of it made use of 130-pound Line One spectra on an Department of Fish & Game RegulationsAccurate 50 W reel and a Seeker rod, which the crew thought was a 6463 XXXH model. "It happened on a long soak," said Settle, "that started before daylight. I got bit hard and then the line went slack. I wound in and it came tight again and then went slack again. I cranked some more and he was there, and then he made a long run and went down. He didn't move down there and we thought maybe it was a shark. An hour later I got him up. He's my best fish by 210 pounds!"

Settle posed with the other jackpot winners and the prizes they won, including a Seeker rod, Makira reel and a spool of 65-pound Tuff Line spectra. Jerry Fukui of LA won second place for a 36.8-pound yellowtail.

Jay Orbon of Morgan Hill won third place for a 34.4-pound yellow.

Excel departs January 6 on a 16-day Team Hoo trip with Mark Dorton as chartermaster.