Over the years, not having San Diego as a home port we did not fish in this competition that often. A couple of half-hearted efforts brought nothing of merit. However, after moving to San Diego in 1997 we got involved on a more regular basis.

    In 1998 Geoff Halpern, Mark Henwood and I gave it a try. We got some information about Bigeye tuna possibly being seen outside the lower end of the "upper finger" bank south of North Coronado Island. Thus, at first light we just outside of the 475 "knuckle" with 2 Rapalas (on 80)  and 2 Marlin lures (on 30) in the water. Bang! first one, then two and finally all four lines were bit. Geoff and Mark grabbed the 2 Rapala lines  and I took one of the 30 pound Marlin lines. The other was left soaking. Very shortly thereafter, one of the Marlin lures fell off, but mine hung one. Geoff got his fish to the boat, gaffed it but couldn't lift it over the side. I had to put my rod in a rod holder to help him with a second gaff and we pulled it in. Back to the Marlin outfit, but shortly Mark had his to the boat. Geoff was a bit "pooped" from pulling on that fish with that heavy drag so I had to put my rod down again and help Mark pull his fish in. Back to the Marlin line. I had the fish coming nicely when, as all to often occurs, the hook pulled. Later in the day we managed a handful of "football" sized Yellowfin. At the weigh-in Geoff's fish hit 100 pounds and was the biggest fish of the tournament. Mark's fish finished in 4th. The "AMY ANNE" had, I think 3 fish and out-pointed us for 1st Place Boat in the Tournament. We had to settle for 2nd. Too bad those Marlin-lure fish didn't stick.

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    In 2001 Kenneth and I were lining up our crew and asked David Thomas to fish with us. Geoff wasn't available. John Collins had been working on the "AMERICAN ANGLER" and found that two of their regulars, Ian and Gail Orr of Los Angeles, were interested in fishing in the Tuna Challenge. He referred them to us and since we had the room we (fortunately) welcomed them aboard. Ian is the executive chef at Staples Arena in LA and, thus, came with all kinds of edible goodies. We did not starve on the trip.

    Always the question of where to fish in the tournament. Prior to the tournament Gordon Hadfield on the "SEA LION" had pre-fished in the area of the "Inner Bank", west of Ensenada and had fairly good Albacore fishing in the area. So we elected to head for the "295" and possibly work to the East from there. At 6:15 AM we were just coming up on the "295" bank when our Black & Purple Rapala (on 50 pound line) was bit. Kenneth and Ian stood there with the "you go ahead" - "no, you take it" - "no you" routine. Finally Ian picked up the rod and cranked away. This was no Albacore. As he was bringing the fish up there other large boils around us, but no biters. Finally, he had it to the boat, we gaffed it, and pulled a nice (turned out to be 95 pound) Bigeye Tuna on board. Meanwhile, David Thomas had been soaking a line and just as I was ready to take off his rod bent over. Unfortunately, there was some unknown form of tackle failure (shhh - bad knot!). There was our chance for a second tuna.

    As the morning wore on our trolling efforts produced only 2 Skipjack Tuna which we threw back. We were beginning to regret that for we had only the 1 fish on board, not four as might be weighed in. But later, we got our share of Albacore with the whole team contributing. In the afternoon, we found schools of porpoise below the islands and working the school we picked up a couple of fair sized Yellowfin helping to increase the total  weight of our 4-fish catch.

    Approaching the islands we hit the thick fog that extended all the way up to Ballast Point. Groping our way through the fleet of boats doing the same in the pea-soup fog we made it in and to the Southwestern Yacht Club, co-host for the event, and their weigh-in  facility. That 95 pound Bigeye (along with the other mixed bag) gave us 1st Place in the Tournament and made Ian the Grand Prize winner. I also suggested to Ian that for the next year it be nice if we had Eggs Benedict for breakfast.

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    2002 brought information about Albacore a little further out than normal - out to the Dumping Grounds and parts beyond - 80 plus miles out. In addition, there were good reports of BlueFin Tuna being caught out there. Armed with Terrafin Sea Surface Temperature charts and various reports and numbers from Bob Vanian's 976-BITE  we (Kenneth, Geoff Halpern, Ian & Gail Orr, and myself) headed out towards the "Dumper." Nothing to report for the early morning hours, but we did have, yes, he brought it, Eggs Benedict for breakfast.

    Working the temperature break east of the Dumping Ground we doubled back when we heard of a boat taking some Albies back inside of us. All alone where we were we got a single jig bite and Ian brought in a nice 36 pd. Albie. As we chummed we took a few more bait fish. Looking at the meter, we saw tell-tale BlueFin marks down around 150 feet. Then, Gail found that she was unable to lift the fish she was hooked up to. But she kept it up and - yes - a nice Bluefin. Kenneth put out a mackeral and - bang! - he hooked another nice one. Keep the head up - short pump - and to the boat in 10  minutes. That fish was gaffed and put on the boat before it knew it was hooked up. Meanwhile an occasional albacore bit, but there were huge boils all around us indicating more tuna, but we couldn't get bait out to them. Ken picked out a nice fat sardine for me, we put it out and almost an instant hook-up. It was a struggle, but we managed to get that fish, another nice Bluefin, on board. We then tried to slow troll some mackeral in the area and did get bit, but Geoff's fish turned out to be "just" another Albacore. 

    Other Bluefin were taken by some of the boats, but no one had more than one. Thus, our 3 Bluefin (Mine - 80 pounds, Ken's - 72 pounds, and Gail's - 67 pounds) along with Ian's 36 pound Albacore put us way ahead of the pack for 1st Place in the Tournament and gave me the Grand Prize for Largest Fish. Oh yes, I asked Ian for Beef Wellington for the next year.

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    2003 saw Gail Orr with business commitments and Daniel was able to take her place on our team (Geoff Halpern, Kenneth, Ian Orr, and myself). Fishing had been reported way out west past the "Mushroom" Bank and also down south near the "1010" trench. The sport boats were reporting larger fish in the Southern group. The weather for several day had been atrocious with almost "unfishable" conditions on the day before the competition.  With the report of larger fish down below we headed south - at least the traveling conditions would be better than going west. While sleeping I waited for the next big "crash", but it never came. As it turned out the weather had laid down and the day was most comfortable.

    Using Bob Vanian's 976-BITE reports, I headed us to the west of the "1010" trench while virtually the entire fleet was to the east of us. In the darker-than-gray light, with Ian, Daniel and Geoff all sleeping, Ken and I had the lines out when we got a "quadruple." We got the rest of the crew out and got all 4 of the jig fish and about 9 bait fish. A good start. Staying in that area we were able to limit out (25 fish) by 10:15 AM. Most of our fish were in the 30's and Ian had one that went 40+. We started trolling back up hill for a few more fish, but nothing larger.

    Meanwhile, lots of good food to eat, courtesy of Ian, and, yes, Beef Wellington for dinner.

We weighed in the fish at the Marlin Club and found that, yes, there lots of large fish in that area. The Grand Prize (i.e. largest fish) turned to be a 45 pounder. There were several fish in the 40's and lots in the 30's. Our total put us in about 7th Place for the competition and Ian's fish was about 6th. Hmmm, I wonder what we'll have to eat next year.