"It was good fishing on quality fish," Owner-Skipper Sam Patella said after he returned American Angler to Point Loma Sportfishing December 4 after traveling to the Southern Banks. "You should be booking trips now."

Twenty-six anglers aboard the Bob's Sporting Goods charter finished with six tuna over 200-pounds; including a 294-pound "community fish." John Liu of Los Angeles hooked the big bruiser, quickly handed off to Liwei Liao, who fought for the majority of the fight before giving it to Jay Maeda who finished it. All three represented Bob's Sporting Goods on the trip.

The trio used an Owner offshore hook, 130-pound Blackwater Fluorocarbon, an Accurate 50 reel, and a Calstar 6460 XX H rod.

Jim Hall of Poway, who caught a 212-pounder on the last day fishing, witnessed most of the 294-pound yellowfin's fight. "It was just a devil-fish," said Jim. "Once it got dark, it got real squirrelly.

"We had some good sticks on this trip, a lot of good anglers."

Russ Kimura of Sacramento took first place in the jackpot with a 260-pound tuna that bit a fly-lined sardine on a 4/0 owner hook, 80-pound Izorline, a Penn 50 International reel, and a Calstar rod custom-wrapped by Yo's in Gardena.

"The trip was great," said Russ. "And the fishing was just awesome."

John Wilson placed second with a 232-pound tuna but was not present for the jackpot photo. Joe Rubio stood in for him.

Ed Quinten of Carlsbad took third with a 215-pound yellowfin.

Jim Beck of Huntington Beach had a 211-pounder that "pulled pretty good."