Roy Rose docked Royal Polaris at Fisherman's landing October 11 after an 11-day Shimano trip with chartermaster Bill Osborne and 30 other anglers aboard. "It was a good trip," said Osborne, "we fished every single day." Skipper Rose agreed, "We had good fishing."

Anglers said the boat ventured as far south as The Flathead or Toussaint Bank, where the water remains at 85 degrees, unhealthful for sardine baits. It was much cooler, around 75 degrees up on The Ridge, where most of the catch was made, and at Alijos Rocks, where the big tuna that took the jackpot spots were caught.

Numerous exotics were in the catch, including the barred pargo like the one shown by Ben Arellano of Bonita, and Sierra Mackerel, like the one caught by Dave McAdams of La Mesa. There were also some (tentatively identified) burro grunts.

Ron Kono, in the main photo of Thermal won first place for his 109.7-pound yellowfin tuna from Alijos Rocks. He said he used a sardine on a 2/0 Owner ringed Mutu hook and 40-pound pink Yo-Zuri fluorocarbon leader on 50-pound Line One spectra. He fished with an Accurate BX2-500 reel and a Calstar 800 M rod.

Ron Mailoux of San Diego won second place for a 107.6-pound tuna, and Ben Arellano of Bonita won third place for his 96.3-pound Alijos Rocks yellowfin tuna.