Matt Dill Hooked and landed this huge Dorado

Dave Dubuy of West Monroe, LA won first place for his 28-pound dorado. Dennis Yoshioka of Bishop won second place for a 27-pound dorado. Spencer Gray of Lake Forest won third place for a 25.2-pound yellowtail.

We tried for a while longer on that first paddy with no more biters so we decided to move on. The trolling feathers were put back out and the the trolling rotation started up again. Richards' number was up so he positioned himself behind one of the rods in the corner and waited. He didn't have to wait too long before the reel began screaming and he started yelling "Hook -Up, Hook-Up". A huge bull dorado engulfed his feather and started going ballistic off the back. Richard tried to get him to the boat quickly but this bad boy had other ideas. This huge dorado put up a heck of a fight before finally giving in.

Action is fast and furious when trolling and paddy hopping so you have to be ready. The faster you get a bait in the water after a jigstike the better you're chance of hooking up. Randy "Born Ready" Parker had one of the first baits in the water and got picked up big time. I was right behind him and quickly cast out a nice lively sardine and got bit as well. Luckily, his big dorado went airborne while mine dove down deep allowing us to criss-cross each other without getting tangled.

I kept the pressure on and followed this nice one around the corner before getting it to the boat. A nice gaff job by one of the deckhands later and it was all smiles for this fisherman.

Randy stuck with his big dorado and eventually got it to the side of the boat where deckhand Danny Dixon stuck it with the gaff. It was high fives all the way around.

This is my first year catching dorado and let me tell you, I am hooked !!! These spectacular gamefish are awesome looking and go ballsitic when hooked. Get out on a boat and catch one now before its too late. They lose there colors within minutes of hitting the decks though so take those photos fast.

Randy and his nice dorado that he caught on a large sardine after a jigstrike

Rick Fisk from Florisant Colorado was pumping his fist after he landed this nice dorado during the same stop.

Scott Ewing was part of a group of 12 who made the trip all the way from Bullhead City and Phoenix Arizona to fish the Ocean Odyssey. Part of there group was up to troll and Scott was more than happy to grab his rod and battle this huge dorado after it struck one of the feathers.

We had to search hard but we finally found a paddy that liked what we were serving up. This paddy was loaded with hungry dorado and yellowtail and it didn't take long before these guys were charging our baits. Shad "No I'm Not Related To Jerry and Yes, I Realize I'm Named After a Baitfish" Springer had at least one disgruntled guest to interview after putting this nice dorado on the hotseat. A few more like that one and Shad might just have a talkshow on his hands.

Deckhand Chris Carbrey showed off some of his impressive handy work when he gaffed Shad's nice dorado.

The action really got going and Charles didn't waste any opportunities. The dorado ranged in size from little schoolie sized ones to 20-25 lb hard charging bulls so you had the be ready for anything. Charles made short work outta this one.

Dorado are hard fighters that don't give up easily or without a fight. The prospects of a long car ride to Arizona packed on ice didn't sound too appealing to this big dorado so he decided to make one last run for it. He didn't go far.

We kept trolling since kelp paddies were tough to come by. Nico made the trip with his cousin Richard and was up to troll when another nice dorado hit the feathers. Deckhand Chris Carbrey with the gaffing honors

This was Nico first ocean trip so it was nice to see him land a nice fish. These ones pull a little harder then those trout out of Big Bear lake don't they Nico ?

Frank "The Dodo Master" Dunn had some kind of magical connection going with the dorado because this guy had a knack for hooking the big ones. Here he is feeling the connection.

Danny Dixon with a great gaffing job on Franks nice dorado.

Nice DoDo Frank. Way to stick with him.

Fishing was tough but we could count on Frank to feel the connection again for us and feel the connection he did. Yeah another big Dorado connected to end of his line.