"I got several fish right off the bat," said first-place winner Louis Papai of Torrance and badfish.com about his five-day trip aboard the American Angler, "so I wanted to get one on light tackle. Naturally, I got the biggest fish on my halibut rod, and it fought for over an hour."

Louis fished with skipper Sam Patella, and when the boat returned to Point Loma Sportfishing September 15, he collected the first place envelope.

Papai said he dunked a Spanish mackerel on a Mustad 4/0 91450 bait hook to entice his prize. He fished with 40-pound Ande line, a Pro Gear 545 reel and a Seeker eight-foot, blue prototype rod.

Liwei Liao of LA won second place, for a 94-pounder, and Dennis Liao of NYC was third, for an 80-pound yellowfin tuna.