Kyle "Rooster" Karcher brought Independence home from a five-day trip July 10 with 30 satisfied anglers and a mixed catch. Owner Paul Strasser came along as second skipper.

"We spent three days on the albacore grounds," said Rooster, "where the water was 66 degrees, and we spent a day at Cedros where it slipped down to 61."

Stephen Nevarov of Needles won first place for a 42.4-pound albacore, which tied the one taken by Paul Hess on the Polaris Supreme earlier the same day. He said it bit a sardine on a 1/0 Gorilla hook, 30-pound Big Game line on a Penn Baja Special reel and a seven-foot Orange County Custom rod.

Vern Roberts of Naturita, CO won second place for a 40.6-pounder, and Mike Rubio of Phoenix, AZ won third place for a 37.6-pound albacore.