According to the IGFA record book the biggest broomtail grouper ever caught weighed 100 pounds. The all-tackle record holder was caught by Ernesto Jouvin off the Ecuador in 1998. That makes the 114-pounder caught by Mark Yang aboard the Shogun look pretty large indeed, but he didn't say anything about applying for a record.

Yang fished with skipper Norm Kagawa and 27 other anglers on a five-day Flash Fishing charter trip to Cedros Island, where a dozen other broomtails were caught, along with an excellent catch of large yellowtail.

"I thought this one was a yellowtail," said Mark at Fisherman's Landing June 27. "It fought for about 20 minutes."

Mark said he fished a sardine, and used an 1/0 Owner J hook, 30-pound fluorocarbon leader and 40-pound Spectra on an Avet MXJ reel and a Seeker six and a half-foot rod.

Chartermaster Steve Talmadge of Flash Fishing Charters in the Bay Area won first place, for a 51-pound yellowtail, only eight pounds off the line class record.

Talmadge fished a sardine on a 4/0 Mutu hook. He said he used 20-pound Ande line on an Avet SX reel and a Seeker 196-6 rod. He said the fish fought for 30 minutes.

Victor Standridge of Fairfield was second, for a 49-pound yellow, and Andrew McAdam of San Francisco won third place for a 45.2-pound homeguard yellowtail. The group was joined by Patrick Avelino of Fairfield and his 39.6-pound halibut.