The San Diego Long Range fleet has had a year like you wouldn't believe, for giant yellowfin of over 300 pounds. This year's total on world-class tuna is higher than any previous season since Bill Roecker has been keeping score at the docks for the San Diego Sportfishing Council in 1993.

There was one year when more 200-pounders were taken, but that was the remarkable season of 2005-06, when 2,343 cows were caught, most of them from the southern coast of Baja. That incredible event was something we're not likely to see again. There were 12 supercows or 300-pounders that year, and this season just about quadruples that.

The tuna totals as of May 9, 2009: 473 yellowfin tuna over 200 pounds, including 47 giants over 300 pounds.

But wait! It's not over yet. The Red Rooster III leaves on the final long range trip of the season May 30, the trip the operation calls the "June Heat" trip. With a little luck, we'll have a revised number after skipper Andy Cates brings the Rooster home June 14. Watch here for updates while the boat is fishing and for a final count after the decks are cleared and the scales stop smoking when the Rooster returns!