Justin Fleck skippered Excel on a four-day trip to open water south of San Diego, where he found biting albacore among other species. Fishing for yellowtail near kelp paddies was also very good. Fleck's anglers scored very well on albies and forkies (yellowtail).

Chuck Steffen of Oceanside was the jackpot winner, for a 39.8-pound albacore. He said he got it with a sardine on a 3/0 Mustad hook, tied to 25-pound Big Game line on a Sealine 30 reel and an unknown make of rod.

Steffen was tied by Paul Fitzgerald of Westminster, who got his 39.8-pound long fin with a sardine on a 3/0 Super Mutu hook, 30-pound Cajun Red line, a Penn 500 reel and a Calstar 700 M rod.

Second place went to Richard Miller of Sacramento, for a 39-pounder albacore. Excel departed a few hours after arriving July 13, on another four-day trip, this time with regular skipper Shawn Steward at the helm.