"They acted like they were glad to see us," said Independence skipper Jeff DeBuys after tying his boat to the dock at Pt. Loma Sportfishing May 31. He was just back from an eight-day trip with 33 anglers, who had limits of yellowfin tuna from Alijos Rocks and yellowtail from Alijos and Benitos. They also had great bassing at Benitos, said the skipper.

"The tuna and the yellows both bit extremely well," continued the Captain. "We had outstanding conditions, with the water at the Rocks about 66 to 67 degrees. The first day was fantastic, and we didn't get to the Rocks until 11 in the morning. The corner was wide open!

"The next day was very good, maybe not quite as hot. We fished there one more day,, and made a lot of releases. We kept no yellows under 20 pounds. Then we checked out the islands, where we got the bass and a few trophy yellowtail.

"The next day we saw sign of albacore at 230 miles. We got a three or four from 15 to 27 pounds, after a blind jig strike on a black and purple feather. At 160 miles we picked up a couple of bluefin, 17-pounders. We got stopped by a blind strike on a cedar plug, and one fish bit on bait.

"Water conditions look good everywhere," noted DeBuys. "When we got up the coast, we had a stop for 21 halibut! I'd have to rate this trip a ten-plus."

Chartermaster Dick Shaffer (owner of Purfield's Tackle, the trip's organizer) said, "The skip jig bite was incredible! That first afternoon all you had to do was hold the rod high and wind fast.

"I got tuna on the Salas 7X and the Tady 45," he added. "I kept changing jigs because the hooks kept getting destroyed!"

The trip's best fish was ineligible, a handoff, caught by Adan Bonelli of CT, a 64.7-pounder.

Bob Hunt of Oceanside won first place for a 56.8-pound tuna that took his sardine on a 4/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He said he fished with 40-pound Ande line on a Pro Gear 545 reel and a Calstar 700 H rod.

Dave Hensley of Ontario won second place for a 56.2-pounder. Ken Morris of San Diego won third place for a 55-pound tuna.

Chris Wyse, who will go to work on the Apollo soon, got a lifetime-best 50.8-pound yellowtail on a huge flylined scad mackerel. All the big yellows came on giant scad, said DeBuys. Tony Rezzato of Culver City joined the jackpot lineup with a stout 32-pound halibut.