Andy Cates bought Red Rooster III home to H&M Landing December 9 after the 17-day Rod & Reel Radio charter with 17 anglers. Like the other two boats that arrived just before the Rooster, Cates had opportunity to fish both inside and outside, but chose to stay off southern Baja for his anglers.

"They wanted trophies, they said," remarked Cates. "And it looked like the 300-pounders might be inside."

On December 5, Cates wrote, "Our last day here and this morning is showing better sign with a 206 and 216 and a few 100 plus pound fish to go with. We are hoping for a big day here to finish off with. Yesterday we had action on smaller fish in the morning and then later a handful of fish in the high hundreds up to 199 and a whopper of 337 caught by Bud Mauerhaun. Bud has had a great trip with a 273, 270 and now this 337 after a long skiff ride. Not bad for 81 years old. Congratulations Bud."

The trip ended with 20 tuna over 2000 pounds, including a pair over 300 pounds.

"I'm 83 years old," Bud Mauerhan, "and this 339.6-pounder is my best fish ever. The best one before this was 256 pounds. I had to go in the skiff for a two-hour ride."

The ride paid off with the big first-place tuna and two others that weighed 269 and 251 pounds. He said he used mackerel for bait on 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hooks. He fished with 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 50 W reel and a Seeker 6460 XXH rod wrapped by Smitty G.

Archie Irions of Escondido won second place for the other super cow, a 318.9-pounder. He also got a 219.5-pounder on a dart, a Mega Bait jig, with an Accurate 12 reel.

But Irions' big fish bit on a sardine pinned to a 5/0 Super Mutu ringed hook. He said he used 100-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon leader, 100-pound Momoi line, and 130-pound Line One Spectra on an Accurate 30 topless reel and a Seeker five and a half-foot Black Steel rod.

"It took an hour and a half, " said Archie. "He's my best fish ever. He bit 40 feet under the boat, and ran out 450 yards. He came up on the stern corner and they put four gaffs in him."

Bill Walsh of Chino Hills used 45 minutes to bring in a 278-pounder, the fish that won third place. He also got a 207-pound tuna. The big one bit on a sardine and a 6/0 VMC hook. Walsh used 130-pound fluorocarbon, and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 50 VSW reel and a Baja Boomer rod.

Gerhard Ihde of Malibu took a 276.5 and a 201-pounder. He said he fished a sardine on a 5/0 ringed Super Mutu hook tied to 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra on a Penn 50 W reel and a Calstar 760 H rod.

Michael Zakar of San Diego took a 267-pound tuna with a sardine on a 7/0 ringed Super Mutu hook with 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra on a Penn 80 reel and a Calstar 6460 XH rod.

Mike Yamamoto of Hemet caught tuna of 218 and 205 pounds. He fished sardines on 5/0 ringed Super Mutu hooks, and used 100-pound Jin Kai line and 130-pound Spectra on a Penn 50 W reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod. The big fish came to the boat in 45 minutes, he said.

Bill Mauerhan (Bud's son) of Fairfield bagged a 226-pounder with a sardine on a 5/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He used 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Spectra on a Tiagra 50 W reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod.

Steve Branscombe of Westminster caught a 217-pounder with a sardine on a 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hook, 130-pound blue Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra. He used an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 765 H rod.

John Keeler of Santa Monica made off with a brace that went 225 and 213 pounds. He fished sardines on 9/0 Eagle Claw hooks. He said he used 130-pound P-Line and 130-pound Spectra on an Avet 50 W reel and a Super Seeker 6463 XXXXH rod.

Larry Martin of Dayton, NV caught a 215-pounder with a mackerel on a 4/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He said he used 130-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon leader and 130-pound Line One Spectra on an Accurate 50 W reel and a Seeker 6460 XXH rod.

Gary Branscombe of Garden Grove needed only a half-hour to bag a 213-pounder with a sardine on a 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He used 130-pound blue Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a Seeker 6463 XXXXH rod.

Jim Kokesh of El Granada copped a 213-pounder in 45 minutes, after it bit on a mackerel and a 9/0 Super Mutu hook. He used 130-pound Blackwater fluorovarbon and 130-pound Lin e One Spectra on a Penn 80 reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod.

Ben Kita of LA got a 210-pounder on a sardine and a 4/0 ringed Super Mutu hook tied to 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra on a Penn 70 VSW reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod.