Art Taylor brought his Searcher home to Fisherman's Landing October 1 after a good trip of seven days with 23 passengers. "We had phenomenal fishing all the way around," said Art. "We left 'em all biting when we had enough. We released at least 100 yellowtail and 100 dorado."

A chunk bait was the undoing of the trip's best fish, a 47.6-pound yellowtail, the biggest to come from the 23 Spot in years. The angler who bagged that one was Terry Wade of Sand Diego, who hung his piece of fish meat on a 7/0 Mustad Demon circle hook tied to 50-pound Izorline. He used a Tiagra 30 reel and a Calstar 700 M rod. "He rocked me and broke off my 12-ounce sinker," said Wade. "He gave me 15 minute's worth after I got him out of there."

Michael Otahal of Seal Beach won second place for his 35.4-pound yellow. Ron Bryan of San Clemente tied with Marshall Randall of Arroyo Grande for third place, as both men had 30.8-pound yellowtail.