Bill Poole's Excel docked at Fisherman's Landing February 27 after a Braid Products 17-day trip. Anglers aboard had eight tuna over 200-pounds.

"Our last 24 hours were not quite as slow as the past couple of days," wrote skipper Shawn Steward February 19. "We had a fair pick on the wahoo during the day and a few tuna before and after dinner. We ended our morning with 16 yellowfin from 100 to 232 pounds and a couple others in the 199 to 202 category. The sharks let us fish until about 2330 before they just took over and ate everything. We are very fortunate to get the shot at these big ones that we got last night and we hope to put together another good day tomorrow."

John Franke of West Hills took first place with his 237.5-pound tuna. He fished a 7/0 Mustad circle hook with 130-pound fluorocarbon, 200-pound Line One Jerry Brown Spectra, a Calstar 6455XXH, a Shimano 50/80 Beast Master.

"Right after dinner," said Franke, "I was the first one out there, put a chunk in, and it was on. It's my personal best, just to get one was an accomplishment. The wahoo bit good, the tuna were tough. You had to put your time in."

Tony Montez of Moreno Valley was second with his 215-pound yellowfin and Tom Howe of Las Vegas was third with his 213-pound tuna.

Mike Simmons of San Diego caught a 202-pound yellowfin on the fourth night fishing chunk. Simmons added, "We stayed at Hurricane Back for eight days, tough tuna fishing at night but great wahoo fishing during the day. My dad got ten wahoo as I fished the kite for two days. The current wasn't working in our favor, but the weather was fine."

"We had a great group of passengers," said Excel Skipper Shawn Steward, "especially when fishing was so tough. We couldn't find any current to work with."