"All methods were good," said Independence skipper Jeff DeBuys to dock reporter Bill Roecker December 8, "but the majority of the biggest fish came on skipjack baits. They bit at all hours, but afternoons were the best. It was glorious fishing! The three days on, before and after the full moon put out the most fish. I went to the bank (Hurricane Bank) and made a withdrawal."

After his 15-day trip with 25 anglers, DeBuys weighed his catch at the Pt. Loma Sportfishing dock, and discovered even more cows, tuna over 200 pounds, than he'd anticipated: 48, to be exact. It was impossible to track each one as quickly as they were going up and down on the scales, but here's the best record available:

Felix Alejandro, pictured above of Alphretta won first place for the best of his three cows, a 250, 234 and 203 pounds. That big one took a chunk bait on a 1/0 Mustad 7691 hook, he said, tied to 130-pound Momoi line, 130-pound Line One spectra, an Avet 50 reel and a Seeker Black Steel 6463 XXXH rod.

Colin Wing scored second place for a 237-pounder. He couldn't be located at the scales for data. Dave Rocchi of Cypress won third place for his 234.6-pounder, but also had a 212. He's a regular long ranger and got the big one on a chunk and a 5/0 Hayabusa hook. He said he used 130-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon, 130-pound Line One spectra, an Avet 50 reel and a Super Seeker 6463 XXXXH rod custom made by J. Lo (Joe Lominico).

Joseph Solomon of Brooklyn, NY got four cows at 227, 223, 215 and 200 pounds. He fished skipjack on 10/0 Mustad 7691 hooks, with 130-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon, 130-pound Line One spectra, a Penn 50 reel and a Super Seeker 3 X 5 rod.

Bob Buckland of Simi Valley also got four cows, weighing 209, 206, 200 and 200 pounds. Bob fished sardines on 5/0 Hayabusa hooks. He used 130-pound Seaguar Premier fluoro, 130-pound Line One spectra, an Avet 80 three-speed reel and a Seeker 6463 XXXXH rod.

Sal Proetto of Lake Forest also found quadruplets of 217, 214, 201 and 200 pounds. Sam Raiter of Milbrae took a quad: 210, 204, 204 and 201 pounds. Mike Banda bagged a triple: 212, 204 and 200 pounds. Gary Sturney got a 227 and a 203-pound tuna. Bob Dosek of Chino found two at 224 and 209 pounds. They bit on 6/0 Super Mutu hooks, 130-pound Seaguar Premier Fluoro, 130-pound Line One spectra an Accurate ATD 50 reel and a Super Seeker 2 X 4 rod wrapped by Pat Doyle. Dale Lethcoe of LA picked off two at 207 and 213 pounds.

Dan Hoover of Irvine bagged a brace at 206 and 207 pounds. He said they came on chunks and 12/0 Owner Offshore hooks. He fished with 130-pound Soft Steel line, 130-pound Line One spectra, an Avet 50 reel and a Seeker 6463 XXXH rod.

Charlie Eng of SaveOn Tackle took two at 203 and 200 pounds. Dave Ferreia of San Diego nailed a 223-pounder. Jason Hong had one at 216 pounds. Jim Poore of Logan IA pitched a sardine on a 6/0 Mustad Demon hook to find a 216-pounder. He also had a p[air of 200-pounders, and used 130-pound Fluoro, 130-pound spectra, an Avet 50 reel and a Seeker 6460 XXH rod.

Fernando Rocha of Whittier got a 210-pound tuna with a sardine on an 8/0 Eagle Claw hook tied to 130-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon, 130-pound Line One spectra, and Avet 50 reel and a Phenix seven-foot XXXXH rod.

John Watson of Burlinton nabbed a 204-pounder on the kite with a double sardine rig with 6/0 super Mutu hooks on one of the boat's kite rigs.

Fred Lee of Rancho Palos Verdes fought and beat a 204-pound yellowfin after it bit his sardine on a 6/0 ringed Owner Super Mutu hook on 100-pound Blackwater Fluoro, 100-pound Line One spectra, an Accurate ATD 50 reel and a Super Seeker 2 X 4 rod by Armbreaker.

Glen Colby caught a 203-pounder. Nalie Kim of Toronto, Canada caught a 203-pounder. Al Brandenburg of San Clemente got a 202-pounder on a chunk and a 9/0 ringed Super Mutu hook tied to 130-pound Yo-Zuri Fluoro, 130-pound Line One spectra, an Avet 30 W reel and a Calstar 6465 XXH rod.