"What started off as a slow day of fishing albacore," wrote American Angler skipper Brian Kiyohara September 8, "ended up a fine day of albacore fishing. When it was all said and done - 120 longfin were on board."

The Angler spent her last day fishing albacore after making a good catch of yellowtail at the islands. Kiyohara docked at Point Loma Sportfishing September 9 after finishing the Bob's Sporting Goods trip with 28 fishermen, and weighed the best of the catch, which proved to be albacore, with the exception of the winner.

Jeff Soga won first place for a 47.8-pound bluefin tuna. He said the fish came out of the albacore bite, and took his sardine on a 2/0 Gorilla hook. He used 30-pound Izorline and 65-pound Izor Spectra on a Saltiga 30 reel and a 700 ML Calstar rod wrapped by Bob's.

"He peeled off a lot of line," said Jeff. "I almost got spooled."

Greg Stoney of Ventura was second for a 40.8-pound albacore, and Jon Ichino of Pasadena got as 37-pound longfin that took third place.