"Today was a great first day," wrote Independence skipper Jeff DeBuys September 16, "as we started off with a school of BIG bluefin tuna which was the first stop of the trip. We had many casualties, but when the smoke cleared we landed 10 of these beauties, 90 to 130 pounds and lots of heartaches. After that a school of those 35 to 50-pound yellowfin got on us and we landed 55 of those along with a few smaller ones. The weather is just perfect, and we are planning to give this go for tomorrow."