The annual Big Al's charter aboard the Excel returned October 2 after an eight-day trip with 20 anglers and skipper Justin Fleck at the helm. Big Al was aboard, and showed off his half-shaved, half-unshaved looks at Fisherman's Landing.

"Today we had an exciting morning trying for tuna," wrote Justin September 29, "as they splashed around right next to us. The fish pulled a Houdini on us and then fortunately returned around 5 p.m. We could see tuna crashing and birds diving and they came right at us. We had our hands full with up to 7 going at one time and lots of tangles. We ended up with a good shot in the evening with over 20 fish. The daily jackpot went to Tom Lane with a 72-pound yellowfin."

Tom Lane's fish held up through the weigh-in and he took first place for a 72.2-pound yellowfin. He said he got it with a sardine on a 6/0 Eagle Claw hook tied to 40-pound Berkeley fluorocarbon leader and 40-pound Big Game line on a TLD 50 reel and a Calstar 6460 rod, after a one-hour fight.

Gregg Downing of Guimon, OK took a 72-pound tuna for second place, and Tyler Noriega of Temecula won third place for a 68-pound yellowfin.