Ray Lopez skippered American Angler on an 11-day trip that also visited The Buffer Zone, returning to Pt. Loma Sportfishing January 6, shortly after the pad was cleared from the previous boat, the Intrepid. The trip produced five tuna over 200 pounds, including Chris Sato's 310-pounder. That one came on the kite and wasn't eligible by boat rule for the jackpot, so Chris stood in the lineup shot on the right, in the honorable mention position. Zeke Harloff of Oceanside won first place for his best tuna ever, a 281-pounder. He got it with a sardine on a 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hook from Owner, tied to 100-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon and 130-pound Izorline spectra on a Penn 30 reel modified by Baker and Sheets. He used a Calstar 770 XXXH rod and got the fish to gaff after an hour and 50 minutes. "He was straight out most of the time," said Harloff.

John Haskin of Lemon Grove won second place for a 262.5-pound yellowfin tuna that fought for 50 minutes. He said it bit a salami mackerel on a 9/0 Mustad 7691 hook. He fished with 130-pound Blackwater Fluoro, 130-pound Izorline spectra on a Penn 50 VSX reel and a Calstar 770 XXH rod. Ralph Moreno of Murrieta used an hour and 10 minutes of rail time to bag his best fish, a 220-pounder, good for third place. It bit a sardine on a 5/0 ringed Super Mutu hook and 100-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon connected to 100-pound Izorline spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 6460 XH rod.

Dave Gonzales of Chino Hills nabbed a 210 pounder with a salami mackerel on a ringed Super Mutu 9/0 hook on 100-pound Blackwater fluoro and 130-pound Izorline spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 770 XXH rod.

Chris Sato took his 310-pounder on a flying fish and the kite. His bait was pinned to a 10/0 Mustad 7691 hook and 130-pound Izorline fluorocarbon connected to 130-pound Izorline spectra on an Avet 80 three-speed reel and a Calstar 770 XXH rod. He brought it to gaff in 30 minutes.