"We got some bluefin okay," said Spirit of Adventure owner-operator Mike Keating at H&M Landing August 12, "but that may be the last we'll see of ???em. They were out there at 120 miles, and moving right along in 72-degree water."

"A whale popped up," said an angler on the three-day trip with 26 fishermen, "and then a foamer of bluefin."

Jeff Weaver of Katy, TX won first place for a 36.9-pound bluefin tuna. "He fought real well for 20 minutes," said Weaver, who fished a sardine on a 2/0 ringed Super Mutu hook on 40-pound Big Game line. He said he used a Penn 4/0 reel and a Shimano five and a half-foot rod.

Dan Blue of Cypress was second for a 36.6-pounder, and Larry Plant of El Segundo tied Fred Minton of Redondo Beach for third place with a 35.3-pound bluefin tuna.