American Angler arrived at Pt. Loma Sportfishing June 26 under skipper Sam Patella's hand. The trip was the annual five-day "Shaker Tour," with chartermaster Barry Gambarana of Las Vegas and 26 more anglers aboard.

Rob Smith of West Hills won the first spot in the jackpot for a 64.4-pound bluefin tuna. He said it took a sardine on a 2/0 Owner Flyliner hook and 30-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon. He used 60-pound Izorline spectra backing on an Avet Raptor SX reel and a Calstar 800 MH rod.

"He almost spooled me," said Smith, "and he fought for 30 minutes, and took me around the boat twice. My thumb paid the price."

David Choate of Torrance, pro staffer for Accurate and other companies, won second place for a 55.8-pound tuna. He told dock reporter Bill Roecker that he got his fish on a new fluorocarbon-type material called Seaguar FX, in 30-pound strength. Darrin Isham of Temecula won third place for a 52.2-pound bluefin.

The young men were on the trip, and they posed with 30 to 35-pound bluefin. They were: Adam Gamabrana (son of the chartermaster) 14, Andrew Purtell of Yorba Linda, 17, and Adam Papai of Yorba Linda, 14. Papai will go to El Dorado High this fall and expects to try out for the football team as a running back.