Backed by owner-skipper Paul Strasser, Kyle "Rooster" Karcher skippered the Independence on a five-day trip to Cedros/Benitos. He docked the rig at Pt. Loma Sportfishing June 16 and weighed the fish.

Salmon expert Arlen Swanson of Bremerton, WA fished up a 44.6-pound halibut, which won first place in the jackpot. He said it bit on a copper-colored Tady 9 jig with a yellow back. Swanson used 40-pound Izorline on an Avet LX reel and a Seeker 6470 Black Steel rod.