Jeff DeBuys docked Independence at Pt. Loma Sportfishing August 11 after a good seven-day trip with near-limits of tuna for 26 anglers. The trip was sponsored by the Tahoe Tuna Club. "The Tuna Club got'er done," said DeBuys. "We saw a lot of seiners, big ones from down by Matzatlan. We had great weather."

Tom Pierson of South Lake Tahoe won first place for a 49.8-pound yellowfin he got with a sardine on a 1/0 91450 Mustad hook and 25-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon. He told dock reporter Bill Roecker he used 60-pound Izorline spectra on an Avet SX reel and a Super Seeker seven-foot rod custom-wrapped by his son.

Jason Lisenko of San Diego was second, for a 47-pound bluefin tuna. Dr. Peter Lorman of Rolling Hills Estates won third place for a 43.4-pound yellowfin, but let his processor have the fish before the jackpot shot was taken, so he posed with a small rockfish instead.

A conversation at the scales with scientist Ed Everett of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission indicated those seiners might not be in the area much longer. "There's a new quota on tuna now," said Everett. "When they reach 5,000 tons they're done. Last week they had 3,053 tons. I believe all the pen boats (supplying live tuna for pen-raising) are all in."