Independence arrived at Pt. Loma Sportfishing September 1 under Jeff DeBuy's hand, following a four-day adventure to Benitos and Guadalupe Island.

Fishing for yellowtail was excellent at Benitos, said Jeff, with angler getting what they needed in a morning, before the boat headed for Guadalupe. Here's how Jeff put it:

"When we arrived we were greeted with some of the best fishing I have seen in a while on yellowtail. It was fast and furious for hours. Bait or jigs you name it, they inhaled it. The weather was as good as it gets, so all in all we had an excellent day."

Doug Fraser of Riverside won first place, for a 78.6-pound tuna. He said it bit on a squid on the dropper loop. The squish was pinned to a 5/0 Mustad hook, on 80-pound unknown line, a Penn 20 reel and an unknown five and a half-foot rod.

Frank Nickle of Goodyear, AZ won second place for a 72.8-pounder, and Jim Boswell of Chino Hills was third for a 68-pound yellowfin. Scott McReynolds of Woodland Hills joined the winners in the lineup shot with his 45-pound yellowtail.