John Grabowski brought Red Rooster III home July 18 after taking 24 anglers on a five-day Newell charter.

"We started out fishing for albacore," said skipper John. "Then we slipped down 30 miles below the fleet and found a few that would bite. We ended up that day with 39 mixed tuna, and headed south for Cedros. We fished there for two days, and then came back up and tried the kelps, where we also got some very good yellowtail fishing."

Raymond Gallegas of Long Beach won first place for a 40.1-pound albie.

"I was first out with a bait on the slide," he said, "and this fish bit hard. I knew he was big after I fought him for about 15 minutes."

Gallegas said he used a sardine on a 3/0 Mustad hook tied to 330-pound Big Game line on a Torium 20 reel and a Fenwick seven-foot rod, and beat the fish in 20 minutes..

Richard Nocis of Solvang won second place for his 38.4-pound yellowtail,, and Steve Beasley of Wildomar took third place for a 37.5-pound albacore.