Justin Fleck docked Excel November 9 after the 11th annual Brad Merritt ten-day trip with 24 anglers. Tuna fishing remains tough even on the southern banks (Frank LoPreste is taking his 11-day anglers to the Hurricane Bank because of it).

"We had some geat wahoo fishing," said Fleck, "and there were school-sized (small) yellowfin at Alijos Rocks. We also fished off Punta Tosca, and there were thousands of marlin around. Along with some wahoo and dorado. The dorado fishing is super for good-sized fish."

In the boat's Internet log November 3, Fleck wrote, "Today we kept offshore and had very good dorado fishing with close to 20 wahoo mixed in as well as a few tuna. The morning started off slow but we got into different water and nice size kelps kept us active all day. The last kelp was loaded with dorado and we had them eating bratwurst, hamburger, pickles and even a Serrano chili. Tomorrow we are headed to the tuna grounds to try and get a few trophies."

Don Tienhaara of Winnemucca, NV won first place for a 64-pound yellowfin. He bagged his prize-winner on a sardine and a 3/0 Super Mutu hook. He said he used 40-pound Big Game line on a Penn 4/0 reel and a Calstar 6465 rod.

Dennis Lyons of Martinez won second place for a 38.4-pound Alijos yellowtail, and Rich Miller of Brookings, OR was right behind him with a 37.6-pound yellowtail.