"It was real good fishing on sardines at Alijos Rocks," noted Royal Polaris skipper Frank LoPreste at the scales at Fisherman's landing September 12. He had just finished up the seven-day Aljin, Kellog and Ross op charter.

On September 8, he wrote, "Weather continues to be slightly overcast, with a breeze today of 12 to 15 knots. Fishing today was absolutely sensational, outstanding, epic, and most of all much fun. We boated 13 Wahoo, 108 Yellowfin tuna, 3 Dorado, and 1 Yellowtail. Most of the Yellowfin today were in the 50 to 70-pound category, with the largest fish around 90 pounds. Many fish were lost to the Sharks. At one point today we had to leave the area for awhile and then return after the Sharks had dispersed a bit. Most fish were caught on fly-lined sardines, with a few caught on the iron."

Jim Barilla of Santa Barbara won first place for a 74.8-pound yellowfin tuna. He said he bagged it after a 30-minute fight ("I got my cardio that day," he remarked), with a sardine on a 4/0 Super Mutu hook, 50-pound Izorline on an Accurate 665 reel and a Seeker American five and a half-foot rod.

Anthony Rossi of Lawndale was second for a 74.6-pounder, and Brian Leaman of Lakeside got third place for a 70-pound Alijos yellowfin tuna.