American Angler docked at Pt. Loma Sportfishing September 17 after a five-day trip with skipper Sam Patella. Sam made his first trip in months, after a bit of back surgery.

"I'm just happy to be back and catching fish again," he said to dock reporter Bill Roecker at the scales.

Patella's 25 anglers had a nice catch of yellowtail, tuna, dorado and some incidental species. They fished at Guadalupe Island and on the beach for tuna and yellowtail, and Sam said they had a wide-open bite on dorado in open water.

Anthony Bantiles of Torrance won first place for a 70.5-pound yellowfin he said he got with a sardine on a 2/0 Gamakatsu hook and 40-pound Yo-Zuri leader tied to 65-pound Izorline Spectra. He used an Avet LX reel and a Calstar 765 XL rod.

Larry Markworth of Ventura won second place for a 67.5-pounder, and Chris Cruger of San Diego took third place for a 65.5-pound Guadalupe Island yellowfin tuna.