Independence arrived at Pt. Loma Sportfishing January 3 under Jeff DuBuys' hand, after an eight-day trip with 30 anglers to the southern banks.

"We had some weather," said Jeff, "a little chop on the banks. We found some 40-pound school tuna down there but they didn't bite very well. The water was 69 to 71 degrees. The other boats located the big ones the day after we left, when the weather turned nice."

Dave Smith of Alta Loma won first place for a 47.3-pound tuna, "The biggest one I ever got." Dave said he caught it with a sardine on a 4/0 ringed Super Mutu hook, with 60-pound Big Game line on a Penn 15 KG reel and a Seeker 6465 XH rod.

Thomas Horanyi of Northridge was second, for a 45.4-pounder, and his dad Gabor Horanyi, also of Northridge, was third, for a 45-pound tuna. Ed Coleman of Bakersfield tied Gabor with another 45-pounder in a tie for third.