Roy Rose docked Royal Polaris at Fisherman's Landing December 23, just in time for Christmas. His 16-day Izorline trip with chartermaster Howard Hada of Cerritos appeared to be the third-best ever, with the counting still going on as fish came out of the last RSW hold. When it was over Roy's anglers had 68 cows from the Hurricane Bank.

"The afternoons were best for cow fishing," said Roy. They bit from about 2:30 until dark. They bit on the kite, sardines, chunks, whatever. In the morning they'd bite around dawn, and then disappear."

"That's it, and we have a few fish that are close (195-199) that we will weigh once we get in. So there could be more, only time will tell."

There were some additions and weight changes at the dock. In the end, Stan Bonillas of Newport Beach won first place for a tuna that weighed 284 pounds on the boat.

"He bit early in the morning," said Stan, "on my new Calstar GF 770 H rod, and he fought me for an hour and 45 minutes. He went under the boat three times, and around it a lot. He went wherever he wanted. He's my best fish."

Stan said he put out a skipjack on a 20/0 Mustad circle hook. He used 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 80 converted by both Baker and Sheets.

"Big Daddy" Don Burnside of San Diego won second place for a 249-pounder. It bit on a sardine pinned to an 8/0 ringed Super Mutu on 130-pound Momoi leader tied to 100-pound Line One Spectra on an Avet 50 TRX reel and a Calstar 7465 H rod.

"It took an hour," remarked Don. "He was beating me up all over the boat."

Neal Campbell of Fallbrook won third place for a 244-pounder he bagged in 38 minutes. He said it bit a mackerel on a 7/0 ringed Super Mutu hook tied to 130-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon leader and 130-pound Izorline, with 130-pound Line One Spectra backing on a Penn 50 reel modified by Sheets and Baker. Neal had a total of eight cows. Bill Roecker thought that might be another all-time best, at least since 1990.

On December 19, the RP's Internet log said, "Things are about the same aboard the Royal Polaris. Weather continues to be a damper on our move north. The crew continued to do some early spring cleaning aboard the vessel. We have a total for 200-pounders caught this trip (accounting shown here was made after a re-count at the dock):

- Neal Campbell 244, 225, 215, 225, 202, 206, 215, 213
- Maury Newton 203, 208, 226, 205, 211, 202
- Nick Truscott 208, 204, 206, 216, 201, 202
- Bruce Coblentz 226, 213, 202, 231, 273
- Ron Puhl 249, 221, 210, 204, 208, 207
- Don Burnside 212, 202, 221, 249
- Steve Williams 204, 208, 247, 231
- George Outhwaite 208, 218, 204, 203
- Stan Bonillas 212, 210, 263, 284
- Hank Hamada 228, 221, 220, 205
- Keith Patterson 210, 265, 203
- Robert Ramirez 220, 210, 200
- Ron Nakamura 225, 218, 224
- Ken Kouchi 223, 204
- Kent Fukumoto 210, 202
- Nick Puhl 220, 202, 218
- Howard Hada 208

After talking to as many anglers as he could find in the crowd around the scales December 23, Bill Roecker had the following tackle information:

Maury Newton of Orange had six cows. He said he fished with sardines on 3/0 Gorilla hooks. He used 100-pound fluorocarbon leader and 100-pound Line One Spectra on a new Accurate B-2 30 reel and a Calstar 765 H rod.

Bruce Coblentz of Corvallis, OR rounded up a quintet of cows to 273 pounds. He said he fished sardines on 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hooks. He used 130-pound Yo-Zuri leader, 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One Spectra backing on an Avet T-Rex reel and a Calstar 6460 XXH rod.

Keith Patterson of Santa Fe Springs found a 265-pounder along with four other cows. He related that he got them with sardines on 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hooks. He used 100-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izorline Spectra on a Penn 30 W reel and a Seeker 6460 XH rod.

Bob Ramirez of Costa Mesa rounded up four cows, he said. He fished sardines on 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hooks. He used 130-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 30 reel modified by Baker and Sheets, and the new Calstar 770 H rod.

"I really like that new rod," said Bob. "I like the way it loads up. It's the ultimate rail rod."

Royal Polaris will be in port until the day after Christmas, when she departs on a five-day trip.