Skipper Danny Nichols docked Intrepid after the five-day Hi's Tackle charter September 1. He tied up the rig at Point Loma Sportfishing and weighed the jackpot contenders, a mix of yellowtail and albacore.

"We fished albacore the first day, and it was good," said Nichols. "Then we went on down to Cedros Island and had some decent yellowtail fishing. The yellows are good-sized, but I think the albies may be a little larger. The weather was great."

The skipper was right. Gary Arnold of Las Cruces, NM won first place for a 37-pound albacore.

"He fought good," said Arnold. "He gave me a 15-minute fight."

Arnold baited a sardine on a 4/0 ringed Super Mutu hook and 30-pound Izorline XXX monofilament. He said he used a Shimano Speedmaster reel and a six-foot rod from Cabella's.

Greg Surgener of Bakersfield was second, for a 34.2-pound longfin, and Matt Bruce of Mission Viejo won third place, for a 34-pound albacore.

Billy Casper Jr. of San Diego was one of the 21 anglers aboard. "The boat is really stable," he said. "I couldn't believe how well it sat in the water, even when we weren't under way."