Bluefin are notoriously shy biters, and often take a bait at a hundred yards or more from the boat. That's what happened to the jackpot winner in the bluefin area at mid-June.

Roy Rose docked Royal Polaris at Fisherman's Landing June 17 after a five-day trip with 37 anglers, who had a mixed catch of yellowtail, bluefin tuna and rockfish.

John Grech of Pasadena won first place for a 39.4-pound bluefin. The fish bit a sardine on a 3/0 Owner Super Mutu hook. Grech used 30-pound line of unknown origin on a Daiwa Sealine 20 reel and a six and a half-foot Calstar rod. "He took it way out there," said Grech, who added that it was a hard fight for 20 minutes.

Jack Aumentado of Rowland Heights won second place for a 38.8-pounder, and Dylan Wilkins of Bainbridge Island, WA won third place for a 38-pound bluefin tuna.

Dylan's fish wasn't available for pictures, so Grech's daughter Katie took that spot in the lineup shot.