Justin Fleck docked the Excel at Fisherman's Landing April 30 after the 17-day Ralph Mikkelsen Big Fish Trip with 25 anglers aboard. They fished at Hurricane Bank and the Buffer Zone off Clarion Island. The all-time leader with six super cows to his name, Ralph "The Long Ranger" added a 217-pounder to his score as chartermaster. "The fishery looks very healthy down there," said skipper Justin to dock reporter Bill Roecker, noting the water temperature varied from 73 to 77 degrees as it warms again. "This was a great time to be fishing." His anglers cut off over 100 tuna on their way to collecting 21 cows. Call it limit fishing on wahoo and tuna.

The big fish came to long-time long ranger Andy Marcum, photo #1 of Oceanside, after it put up a 45-minute fight. It weighed 278.6 pounds, and Andy said he got it with a mackerel on a 12/0 Mustad Demon hook on 125-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Line One spectra. He fished with a Penn VS 70 reel and a Calstar 755 XXH rod wrapped by Peabod. He also got a 212-pounder. "I saw a little roll and a splash," said Andy, "and then he made a short run and I knew it was a heavy fish. He went around three times and came up on the port bow."

Chris Forester of Valencia was right behind Andy with a 274-pounder, which won second place. It was a three-minute fish," he said. He also had tuna of 227, 211, 211 and 210 pounds for a total of five cows, a memorable catch. Chris fished sardines on 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hooks tied to 100-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Line One spectra on a Penn 30 reel treated by Cal Sheets and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod.

Mike Holliday of Placitas, NM won third place for a 262-pounder, his best fish ever. It bit a mackerel on a 12/0 Mustad circle hook on 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 7465 XH rod. The fight went 45 minutes, he said.

John Montgomery caught a 253-pound tuna.

Raj Nal of West Covina popped a brace of cows at 242 and 227 pounds. He fished salami mackerel on a 20/0 Eagle Claw hook, with 130-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon and 130-pound Line One spectra on an Accurate 50 reel and a Phenix seven-foot rod.

Charlie Middleton bagged one at 238 pounds. It took a sardine on an 8/0 Gamakatsu hook tied to 100-pound Maxima line and 130-pound Power Pro spectra on a Tiagra 50 reel and a five and a half-foot Ugly Stick.

Robert Orth of Moreno Valley decked a 230-pounder that sucked up his sardine on an 8/0 Eagle Claw hook and fought him for an hour. He said he sank his bait with a six-ounce sinker at four a.m. He used 130-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon and Soft Steel Ultra 100-pound line with 130-pound Power Pro spectra on a Penn 50 W reel and a Calstar 760 H rod.

Dolores Wiesenhutter, photo #2 of Cour d' Alene, ID took a 222-pounder with a chunk bait on a 7/0 Gamakatsu hook. She used 130-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon and 130-pound Line One spectra on an Avet reel and a 655 XXH rod, and decked the tuna in an hour.

Al Scow of Rancho Palos Verdes caught a 221-pound tuna with a sardine on an 8/0 Mustad circle hook tied to 130-pound Yo-Zuri pink fluorocarbon and 125-pound Soft Steel Ultra line tied to 130-pound Line One spectra, on a Penn 50 VSW reel and a Baja Boomer rod. Paul Berinson caught a 220-pounder.

Chartermaster Ralph Mikkelsen of Northridge brought home a 217-pound yellowfin. He said he got it with a sardine on a 7/0 Mustad Demon hook under the kite. He fished with 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izorline spectra on an Avet 80 reel and a Calstar 6455 XXXH rod.

Joanne Ciciliano's, photo #2 217-pounder beat her hubby's 211. Hers came on a mackerel under the kite with one of the boat's rigs that had a Penn 50 reel and a Super Seeker 6463 XXXH rod, she said.

Tom Ciciliano of Las Vegas got his 211 with a chunk on a 20/0 ringed Super Mutu hook on 130-pound Yo-Zuri, 130-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Line One spectra on a Penn 50 W reel and a Super Seeker 6460 XXH rod. "It took an hour," he said. "He was reluctant to come to the surface."

Larry Hengsteler caught a 215-pounder, and Peter Gamarano came away with a 210-pound tuna.

Excel will be in for a week or two, and then has two more long trips to end the big fish season.