When substitute Excel skipper Sam Patella talked to office manager Betty Stein by sat phone, he said he had a halibut on board that looked to weigh 50 pounds. Betty thought he'd said 60 pounds, which caused some stir, since that would be a new world record. At the dock, however, the big flattie, one of six "barn doors," came in at just under 40 pounds, well short of any records.

Sam docked the big rig at Fisherman's landing August 4, and his 31 anglers had a good catch for their five days at sea on the Fisherman's Warehouse trip, including five white seabass and a dozen dorado. A 50-pound yellowtail topped the take.

On his first fishing trip, Ramin Behmand of Walnut Creek nabbed that big ???tail, with a sardine on a 4/0 Eagle Claw hook and 40-pound line. He said he used a TLD 30 reel and a seven-foot Loomis rod.

"It was a 15-minute fight," said Ramin. "He fought hard; he wore me out."

Dave Easton of Pt. Loma won second place for a 40-pound yellowtail. Ron Joboian of Selma won third place for the 39-pound halibut that caused the stir.

Father-daughter combo Calvin and Caitlyn Cobb posed with their big yellowtail. Caitlyn is 11, and goes to Grover heights school in Arroyo Grande. She caught a 38-pounder, and he dad Calvin took a 46-pound mossback.