Bruce Smith docked Shogun December 21 after the Will Fish Tackle Open Charter, a 13-day trip with 25 anglers. There was a crowd waiting at Fisherman's Landing, and a crowd of cow tuna coming off the boat: 24 tuna over 200 pounds, said Smith.

"He fought hard, at a distance," said Yost. "I had to adjust my drag to stop the fish. He went from the stern to the bow and back again. I started out with a plate harness and went to the rail."

Joe Lentini of Cool won first place, for a 279-pounder. He got it with a sardine under the kite, on a 4/o Mutu hook, 100-pound P-Line and 130-pound Jerry Brown Line One Spectra backing on a Tiagra 50 reel and a Calstar 760 H rod. He also caught a 211-pound tuna.

Pat Bryan of Hermosa Beach, CA won second place for a 278-pounder, and also had one at 209 pounds. The big one bit on a mackerel, he said, on a 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hook, 100-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Spectra backing on a TLD 50 reel and a Calstar 6460 XXH rod.

John Nosko of Apple Valley won third place for a 268-pound tuna that bit on a sardine and a 7/0 Super Mutu. He fished 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Spectra on an Accurate 50 reel and a Calstar 760 H rod.

Gus Angelidis of Roseville bagged a 284-pounder with a sardine under the kite. He baited a 6/0 Super Mutu and used 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Spectra on a Penn 70 VSW reel and a Seeker 6463 XXXH rod. He said the fish fought for an hour and 15 minutes. He also got a 203-pounder.

Another ineligible 282-pound yellowfin was caught after a two-hour fight, by parole officer Britt Yost of Nevada City. He said he fished a sardine on a 7/0 ringed Suoper Mutu hook, tied to 130-pound P-Line and 130-pound Line One Spectra backing on an Accurate 50 reel and a Calstar 760 H rod.

Bruce Dodd of Huntington Beach caught a 257-pound tuna. He pinned a sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook and fished with 130-pound Soft Steel line and 130-pound Spectra backing on an Avet 52 reel and a Seeker 6463 XXH rod.

Doug Holland caught a 255-pound tuna.

Mel North of Buena Park bagged a 238-pounder with a mackerel on a 7/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He fished with 130-pound Soft Steel line and 130-pound Spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 60 U rod. He also caught a 213-pounder.

John Englehartdt caught a 223-pounder.

Alfons Von Derr Stemmen of Rosemont used the boat's rig to take a 220-pounder. The rig uses 130-pound Izorline, 130-pound Spectra, a Penn 50 and a Seeker 6463 XXXH rod.

Skip Christensen of Placentia took his first cow, a 220-pounder, in two hours with a sardine on a 7/0 Super Mutu hook. He fished 130-pound Big Game line, 130-pound Spectra backing, a Penn 50 T reel by Cal Sheets and Quantum five and a half-foot rod.

Peter Moose of Fresno got a 212-pounder with a mackerel on the kite, using the boat's rig.

David Brewer had a 211-pound tuna.

Scott Mckelvey of Craig, AK found a 210-pounder with a mackerel on a 7/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He fished with 130-pound Izorline, 130-pound Spectra, a Tiagra 50 reel and a Seeler 6463 XXXH rod. He also got a 203-pound tuna.

Chris Clements of Bakersfield got a 200, a 203 and a 210-pound tuna. He said he fished sardines on a 7/0 Super Mutu hook, on the kite.

Kirk Agnitsch bagged a 209-pounder.

Richard Mosier of Bakersfield kite-fished to take a 200 and a 203-pounder. He said he fished sardines on 7/0 Super Mutu hooks, on 130-pound Izorline, 130-pound Spectra backing, and Avet SDS reel and a Seeker 6463 XXXH rod.