Excel skipper Justin Fleck docked the big rig at Fisherman's Landing June 9 after the boat's last long trip of 2011-12.

"The best fishing on big tuna I've ever had under the lights," he told dock reporter Bill Roecker. "The cows were free-swimming right through! We also had great wahoo fishing on The Bank, for near-limits. On the way home we tried The Ridge, which was excellent, and found tuna outside."

A dozen cows were decked. Mike Carlson of Portland, OR won first place for his 249.7-pounder.

"My best before was a 194-pounder," he remarked. "This one fought for 45 minutes." He said it bit on a sardine and an 8/0 ringed Eagle Claw hook. He used 130-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon and 130-pound Line One spectra on an Avet 50 reel treated by Larry Cofeen and a Super Seeker 6463 XXXH rod.

Dan Alcaraz of Hacienda Heights won second place for a 218-pound tuna, and also got one at 200 pounds even. He said he fished sardines on 6/0 Mustad Demon hooks, 130-pound Soft Steel line, 130-pound Line One spectra on a Cal Sheets-treated Penn 50 reel and a Calstar 765 XXXH rod.

David Choate of Torrance and Bob Wolfson of Dana Pt. tied for third with tuna of 214 pounds. They used 7/0 ringed hooks (Choate a Mustad Demon and Wolfson an
Owner Super Mutu) and 130-pound
Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon. Choate used 130-pound Tuff Line spectra and Wolfson used 130-pound Line One. Choate fished with an Okuma 20 reel and Bob used a Penn 50 SW by Cofe.

Steve Castro caught a 219.6-pound yellowfin.

Fred Falls wasn't in the jackpot. He got a 214.5-pound tuna.

Rudy Vantine of Santa Barbara bagged a 205-pounder. He said it took a sardine on a 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hook, with 1230-pound Soft Steel line and 130-pound Line One spectra on an Accurate ATD 50 W reel and a Calstar 770 XH rod.

Steve Alexander of Truckee, NV got a 203-pounder on a sardine and an 8/0 ringed Owner Super Mutu hook tied to 130-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon and 130-pound

Kerry Iwanaga took home a tuna that weighed 201 pounds.

Chartermaster Kim Hasselbalch of Brush Prairie bagged a 201-pound yellowfin after the tuna bit a sardine on a 7/0 Mustad Demon 4X hook. He used 130-pound Blackwater and 130-pound Line One spectra on an Accurate ATD 30 reel and a Calstar 770 XXH rod.