Owner-skipper Mark Pisano docked his Independence at Pt. Loma Sportfishing June 1 after a five-day trip to the Benitos Islands and offshore waters. Yellowtail in the XL size were biting at the islands, as were the "normal," 15 to 20-pounders.

"The offshore fishing was very slow, both on the way down and back" said Mark. "But the yellowtail fishing at the islands was the best quality I've seen there. The fish were taking sardines and the yoyo iron. Not many tried the surface jigs."

Bud Edwards of Palmdale was the jackpot winner for a 54.2-pound mossback yellow he bagged with a sardine on a 3/0 ringed Super Mutu hook on 40-pound blue Izorline. He said he used a Seeker 6470 Black Steel rod.

"Man, he took me around the boat twice, and across the stern in a hurry! I couldn't have caught it without help from Dan the deckhand."

Steve Virtue of Ventura won second place for a 40.6-pound yellowtail, and Lee Blaisdell of Murietta was third, for a 36-pound yellowtail.

Chartermasters Brian Milliken and Ric Levy were aboard. They've been buddies since grade school. Milliken's 14-year-old son Brandon made his first long range trip, and other anglers said he fished very hard and well from the get-go, so he posed in the jackpot lineup with a 30-pound class yellow. Brandon said he goes to Auburndale Middle School in Corona, where he plays soccer, baseball and basketball.