"We had 10 or 12 around on the albacore," said owner-skipper Mike Lackey of the Vagabond at Pt. Loma Sportfishing July 13, "and we had about eight around on the yellowtail. It was a four-day trip.

"What a mix!" continued Lackey, "We had a stop yesterday for 17 or 18-pound albies, and then another stop for bigger ones, up to and over 35 pounds."

Steve Howard of Point Loma won first place, for a 54.4-pound yellowfin tuna. Howard nabbed his prize-winner on a sardine, a 4/0 Mustad hook, 40-pound P-Line on a TLD 20 reel and an unknown Calstar rod.

Tim Nolan was second and third, for yellowfin of 53 and 50 pounds. Rich Vandenoord of La Jolla posed with the winners and his best of the season albacore, a lunker that weighed in at 44 pounds even.