Owner-skipper Paul Strasser and skipper Jesus Companioni docked Independence at Pt. Loma Sportfishing October 7 after an eight-day trip with 31 anglers and chartermaster Danny Ilustre of San Pedro, who works on the Pursuit.

"We saw 85-degree water down below," said Strasser to dock reporter Bill Roecker, "and we caught two sailfish less than 300 miles south. They both bit on Salas 7X surface jigs, and we got 'em to the boat and released 'em. We got the jigs back. "We saw three orcas nearby," he continued. "We had good fishing on small yellowfin one night until two a.m."

Bud Edwards of Palmdale won first place for a 40-pound yellowfin. He said it took a sardine on a 3/0 Owner Super Mutu hook. He fished with 40-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon and 40-pound Line One spectra on an Avet LX reel and a Seeker Black Steel 6470 H rod.

Gustavo Guiterrez of Inglewood won second place for a 39.4-pound tuna, and Ernie Aguilar of Whittier won third place for his 38.6-pound yellowfin tuna.