Frank LoPreste backed his Royal Polaris into her slip at Fisherman's Landing July 12 after an excellent eight-day trip to Alijos Rocks and the offshore fishing grounds. He had 31 anglers aboard the RingedHooks.com trip with Guy Macdonald, company owner aboard as chartermaster.

"We caught some albacore the first afternoon," remembered MacDonald as he spoke with dock reporter Bill Roecker. "We ended up with limits of tuna and yellowtail.

"We had a good day at Alijos Rocks fishing for yellowfin. We went in to The Ridge and found plenty of yellowtail at the 23 Spot, and then we went up to the offshore tuna area. We got 85 bluefin tuna at one stop!

"Fishing at The Rocks was best," continued MacDonald, "with 30-pound line and ringed hooks, of course. When we fished the bluefin the kite worked pretty well with dual sardines. It gets the baits away from the boat."

Roger Phelps of Ojai won first place in the jackpot for a 58-pound yellowfin he got with a sardine on a 4/0 ringed Mutu hooks. He said he fished with 40-pound Izorline and 65-pound Spectra on an Avet LX reel and a Sabre GFX 500 rod.

"He ran out half my spool right away," said Roger, "with 15 pounds of drag. Then, 25 minutes later, he came up on the port bow."

Angel Cruz of San Diego won second place for a 55.8-pounder. David Martin of San Bernadino won third place for a 54-pound tuna.

Jim Howard of Idlewyld Park, OR won the Rollo Jackpot for a 37-pound yellowtail,, and stood in with the winners.

Betsey Biondo of Del Mar wasn't in the jackpot, nor was her hubby Vince, but Betsey came up with a 41-pound yellowtail that bit a sardine on 40-pound line.