Mike Keating brought his Spirit of Adventure home to H&M Landing June 14 with 18 passengers and over 200 bluefin, the best catch so far for the young season.

"I'm very optimistic about what we saw," said Keating to dock reporter Bill Roecker. "Conditions are very good, much better than what I saw down there last year. The water is pristine, and full of bait. Better yet, the fish act right!"

Jerry Weimers of San Diego won first place for a 53-pound bluefin that ate his sardine on a 1/0 ringed Super Mutu hook from Owner. He said he used 30-pound P-Line and 60-pound Spectra on a Newell 338 reel and a Calstar 700 M rod.

Mike Sholmire of Seal Beach won third place (second place did not wish to be identified) for a 52.8-pound bluefin. The best bluefin to bite a jig so far this season came to Ed Nelson of Alpine, who got a 49-pounder on a Salas CP 105 iron jig in purple and black.