Owner-skipper Mark Pisano took Independence on a five-day trip to the Benitos-Cedros area. He returned his anglers with a catch of yellowtail to Point Loma Sportfishing June 16, where the jackpot winners were weighed on the certified scales.

"We tried Guadalupe Island," said second skipper "Rooster" Karcher, "but it was calm there, with no current. We went across to the straits for a couple of decent days on good grade yellowtail. It was rough coming back up."

Gerard Charest of Escondido won first place, for a 48.5-pound yellowtail. He said he bagged it with a sardine on a 3/0 Mustad 94150 hook, tied to 30-pound clear Ande line. He used a Torium 20 reel and a Calstar 6470 rod.

"I got him in five minutes," he said. He's my best yellowtail."

Mike Bratton of San Diego was the chartermaster for the San Diego Marlin Club trip, and won second place for a 48-pound yellow he got with a heavy Tady blue and white jig, with 40-pound Izorline, and Avet LX reel and a Seeker 6470 rod. He also got a 44.7-pound halibut on 25-pound line, and brought it into the lineup shot.

Frank Woolrich of Lakeside was third, for a 41.6-pound yellowtail.