A seven-day trip aboard Excel with skipper Shawn Steward was just the ticket for 31 anglers who arrived at Fisherman's Landing June 27. They had near-limits of yellowtail

"Today we enjoyed very nice weather," wrote Steward June 26, "and we were the fortunate ones to get a school of bluefin to stick with the boat as well. We picked up 49 bluefin from 25 to 35 pounds and they were caught mostly on the long soak and the balloon."

Chris Gregory of Ventura won first place for a 35.6-pound bluefin he fought for 20 minutes.

"He really kicked my butt," said Gregory. "I had the drag set loose because I pulled the hook on a couple of other tuna. I got this one thanks to deckhand Mike Ramirez."

Chris said he fished a sardine on a 1/0 Mustad hook tied to Big Game line on a Trinidad 20 reel and a Calstar 800 M rod.

Kurt Bradford of Irvine was second for a 35-pounder, and Craig Cox was third for a 34-pound bluefin tuna.