Sam Patella skippered the American Angler with his partner Brian Kiyohara on an eight-day trip that returned June 7 with near-limits of yellowtail and a very good catch of yellowfin tuna. The tuna came from Alijos Rocks, and chartermaster Brad LeMoine got the biggest one, a 103-pounder that got honorable mention, since he wasn't entered in the jackpot.

Rafael Perez of Granada Hills won first place, for a 91.5-pound tuna that took a sardine on a 4/0 Gamakatsu hook, 60-pound Maxima line a TLD 30 reel and a six and a half-foot Calstar rod tied by Fishin' Fools.

"It was a fantastic trip," said Perez, "with a wonderful crew."

Richard Johnson of Point Loma won second place for a 66-pound mossback yellowtail that glommed his blue and white Salas 6X Jr. jig on 40-pound Big Game line. He fished with a Saltist 30 T reel and a Seeker 670 rod.

"He bit at 250 feet," said Richard. "It was pretty deep for that jig. He fought for about 15 minutes; he kept diving, trying to get back down to the rocks." Bill Randall of Foothill Ranch was third, for a 58.6-pound tuna. Chartermaster LeMoine stood in with the lineup and his big tuna.

"It was great at Alijos," said skipper Kiyohara. "We had good timing. The islands have excellent sign of yellowtail; it looks prosperous for summer trips. The water was 66 degrees at the Rocks. We had two sponsors on this trip: Gamakatsu and Berkeley. We're departing again this afternoon on another eight-day trip."