Independence arrived at Pt. Loma Sportfishing under skipper Jeff DeBuys' hand November 2. She had been on a ten-day Tunaholics trip with 28 anglers including chartermaster Dennis Evans, and there were ten yellowfin over 200 pounds in the plentiful mixed catch.

"We went after big fish," said DeBuys to dock reporter Bill Roecker. "Mission accomplished. We had about 25 tuna over 100 pounds, and found good yellowtail fishing on high spots. We had a great day on wahoo, and went through the trolling rotation twice. Bombs were good producers."

Norman Chibana pictured above won first place for his husky 255-pound yellowfin. He said he got it with one of the boat's kite outfits, after it took him around the rig twice. The boat rod sported 130-pound Izorline spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a Super Seeker 6463 XXXH rod.

Eric Canales of Wilmington won second place for a 252.6-pounder. It bit a sardine on a 9/0 ringed Owner Super Mutu hook tied to 100-pound Izorline and 130-pound spectra on an Accurate ATD 12 reel and a Super Seeker 2 X 4 rod.

Don Ames of Redondo Beach won third place for a 249.8-pound tuna. He said he bagged it with a squid under the kite on a boat rod. "It bit right around dark," he said, "and took me around the boat six times during an hour and 20-minute fight."

Bob Lowes of Lake Forest bagged a brace at 234 and 249 pounds. He used the kite with a double sardine rig on 8/0 Hayabusa hooks for one fish and a 3/0 ringed Owner Super Mutu hook on the other tuna. He fished that one with 80-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon and 130-pound Line One spectra on an Avet 30 EX reel and a six and a half-foot OC rod.

Glen Moore of Northridge found a 246-pounder on the boat's kite rig.

Jerry Price of Whittier nabbed a 226-pounder with a sardine on a 5/0 Mustad hook, 130-pound fluorocarbon and 130-pound Izorline spectra on an Avet 30 W reel and a Seeker 6465 XXH rod.

Scott McReynolds of Woodland Hills caught a 228-pound yellowfin on a squid with the boat's kite outfit.

Paul Markovitz of Fresno took 45 minutes coaxing his 212-pounder to the boat. It was his best fish ever, and came on a sardine pinned to a 6/0 ringed Owner Super Mutu hook. He fished with 130-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon, 130-pound Izorline spectra, an Accurate ATD 50 reel and a six and a half-foot Calstar rod wrapped by M&M.

"I'm giddy with joy," said Angie Shanahan, Photo #1 of Austin, TX about her 203.6-pound tuna, a lifetime achievement. She got it with a double sardine rig under the kite with the boat's outfit.

Owner Mark Pisano was at the dock to take the boat out on her next foray into deep southern waters after cow tuna, wahoo, dorado and other fall gamefish.