Justin Fleck docked the Excel at Fisherman's Landing January 20 after a 15-day trip with 26 anglers to the Buffer Zone and Hurricane Bank. The big rig's holds were stuffed with large tuna and an excellent catch (about half-limits) of wahoo, one of the best catches so far this year. "We fished the Hurricane and The Zone," he said. "We got three and a half days on the bank and a day and a half at the Buffer Zone. We ended up with seven cows. It was a great trip, and we were full, so we came home a day early."

Eric Woyce of San Francisco won first place for his 212-pound yellowfin. He said it bit a sardine on an Owner 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hook and 100-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon. He used 130-pound Line One spectra on an Avet 30 W reel and a Calstar 6455 XXXH rod. "It was a textbook fight of 45 minutes," Woyce remarked. "The crew was really a big help."

On his first trip, James Falotico of Islip, NY won second place for a 208-pound tuna. It bit a sardine on 7/0 Quick Rig hook tied to 100-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon, 130-pound Line One spectra, an Avet 30 W reel and a Super Seeker 1 X 3 rod.

Ted Prager, Jr. took third jackpot for a 206-pounder. He bagged it with a sardine on a 7/0 Eagle Claw hook on 130-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon, 130-pound Line One spectra, a Penn 50 reel and a new Super Seeker Rail Boss rod.

Steve Olson of Newbury Park had two cows, at 219 and 209 pounds. He fished sardine on 6/0 Eagle Claw hooks tied to 130-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon, 100-pound Line One spectra, a Penn 50 SW reel by Cal Sheets and a Calstar 765 XH rod. The big fish fought for an hour and a half.

Dean Jefferis of Redondo Beach helped himself to a 204-pounder after it sucked in his sardine on an 8/0 Eagle Claw hook. He said he used 130-pound pink Yo-Zuri fluorocarbon, 130-pound Line One spectra, a Penn 50 VSW reel And a Calstar 7455 XXH rod wrapped by Bob Sands.

Jake Hensley got a 205-pounder, one more cow that came home to the Excel.