Royal Star arrived at Fisherman ???s Landing with a very good catch of cows on December 3. Summing up his last day of fishing on November 30, skipper Tim Ekstrom wrote: "At daylight we were actually fifteen miles from where it happened, maintaining the ever important spread between boats that enables us to collectively cover such tremendous amounts of area. One (radio) call just after daylight and we were flying towards the zone that ended up being at its best for only about five or six hours. Had we not received the call, or not had access to the information, it likely would have been a very different day.

"It wasn't though. We made the move, got right in the game, and began what was to become an epic day of action on giant yellowfin with five big bruisers over two twenty five, and about 25 others from 140 to 195 pounds. Throw in a handful of other "smaller" seventy to one twenties and it made for a fitting, Ekstrom-trademark, ninth inning spectacular finish to our trip. Probably as good as the action itself was the fantastic change of pace as our entire day consisted of two prolonged drifts that enabled every angler to spend all the time he/she wished at the rail fishing as opposed to the "run and gun" style fishing we had been practicing the previous two days. The ability to settle in, watch the dramatic spectacle of huge yellowfin plowing through baits all around the boat, and enjoy the whole picture free of the sometimes frantic pace of offshore tuna fishing is a coveted opportunity. Not that we don't enjoy or appreciate wide-open action. A good mix of both styles on any voyage is simply ideal.

"That said, we had our fill of drift style action yesterday that again proved the statement I made a couple of days prior about the law of averages applying to every mortal out here. I'd love to tell you that we found the secret method, or had an extra edge to oust our competitors, or were the best because of some secret technology we possess, but I can't. Yes we put ourselves in the right place at the right time. Yes we managed our bait supply to take full advantage of such an opportunity if and when it came along. Yes the local knowledge we have acquired from fishing this area extensively during the past five seasons was a huge factor in the equation. But, a disproportionate share of good luck is what made the biggest difference between our incredible score and an average score today. Not that we didn't earn it. We, or more appropriately I, have taken some lumps down here during the past couple of voyages so perhaps today's success was more about justice than luck. I'll let you all decide. Either way we will take it."

There were ten tuna over 200 pounds. His best-ever tuna, a 280-pounder, won first place for Bruce Kelly of Lemon Grove. He said he got it with a sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw ringed hook. He used Sato crimps (as did everyone on the boat who got a big fish, according to maker-distributor Gary Sato) on 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Power Pro Spectra backing on a Penn 50 SW reel and a Seeker 6463 XXXH rod.

Jim Kirkpatrick of Tempe got as 259-pounder for second place. It bit a sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook. He used 130-pouund pink Yo-Zuri line and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 50 reel and a Calstar 6460 XH rod.

Todd Burkdoll of Visalia won third place for a 244.9-pounder. He bagged that fish with a sardine on a 7/0 Eagle Claw hook, tied to 100-pound Triple Fish line and 130-pound Line One Spectra, on an Avet 50 SDS reel and a Calstar 760 H rod. The fish fought for an hour.

"He wanted to stay alive, " said Burkdoll. "He fought like he wanted to kick my butt."

Frank Matsuhara of Gardena got a 251-pounder with a sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook. He used 130-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader and 130-pound Line One Spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 760 H rod.

Kurt Schaefer, scientist at the Inter American Tropical Tuna Commission, said he and his helper tagged and released about 100 fish, including 35 tuna from 10 to 100 pounds that were tagged with geo-locating archival tags. Schaefer got his personal best tuna on the trip as well, a 251-pounder. He said he used a sardine, a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook, 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Blackwater Spectra on a Tiagra 50 reel and a Shimano six and a half-foot rod.

Skip Howard of Visalia took a 221-pound tuna with a sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook, 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One Spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 6455 XH rod.

Doug MacBlane of Redwood City caught a 210-pounder with a sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook tied to 130-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader and 130-pound Line One Spectra. He used a Daiwa SLT 50 W reel and a Calstar 760 H rod.

"It took and hour and a half," said MacBlane. "I tried my best."