The seventh annual Coastside Fishing Club Charter on the Qualifier 105 returned to Pt. Loma Sportfishing April 25 after a 15-day trip with 17 anglers. Chartermaster Chris Hall of Modesto showed his anglers how to do it by catching the biggest tuna. The anglers told dock reporter Bill Roecker they had experienced shark problems in the Buffer Zone, but managed to get most of their big tuna aboard at the Hurricane Bank.

"The water was 77 degrees," said skipper Crisci, "and the current was a little light and switchy, going from southwest all the way around to southeast each day, so there were plenty of anchor jobs. When it got to southeast the bite shut off.

"There was no wind and little swell. The weather was almost too good. When the balloons wouldn't work right, just go straight up. But we ended up with nine cows."

Chartermaster Chris Hall won first place for his 247.8-pound yellowfin. He said he used a sardine on a ringed 4/0 Super Mutu hook tied to 80-pound Big Game line and 100-pound Big Game Spectra. He fished with an Accurate ATD 30 reel and a seven-foot G. Loomis rod.

"It took two hours, and we had to get out the backup," he said. He bit right off the side of the boat, not 50 feet away. I just threw it out, got picked up immediately. He stayed on top at first and ran right toward the high spot.

"They got the backup ready, but he stopped. Then he went down and I finished the fight on the back. He came up in the port stern corner."

Gene McKenna of Sunnyvale won second place for a 222-pounder. He said it ate a sardine on a 5/0 Mutu hook on 100-pound P-Line and 130-pound Line One Spectra. He fished with an Avet 30 reel and a Calstar 760 H rod, custom wrapped by John Hom.

"The best fish of my life," remarked Gene.

Jack Thrush of Milbray won third place for his tail-wrapped 216.2-pound tuna. He brought it to gaff in an hour, after it bit on a double sardine rig under the kite. He used the boat's rig, with 7/0 Eagle Claw hooks on 130-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Big Game Spectra. The boat rig uses an Accurate ATD 50 reel and a Calstar 760 XXH rod.

Thrush said he also got a 130-pound tuna on a heavy Sumo jig in blue and chrome, with 60-pound line and an Accurate BX2 600 reel.

Hal Smith of Pt. Richmond bagged a brace of ineligible cows with light gear. He said he had to ask for some help with his 228 and 220-pound tuna. He said he used the same outfit on both fish and took an hour and a half with the bigger one. He baited sardines on 4/0 Eagle Claw hooks on 80-pound Izorline and 80-pound Line One Spectra. He used an Avet 4/0 reel and a Calstar 6460 XXH rod.

Qualifier 105 will depart again Tuesday April 27 on the annual Accurate trip with chartermaster Jack Nilsen, who will provide free loaner gear, the latest Accurate reels and rods to go with them, for all aboard. There is still a spot or two open on the trip.