DAN SIMMONS Sportsman's Quest MORE COLUMNS SPECIAL TO THE PVT Check out how and where to go tuna fishing. You could come home with such a prize catch. Advertisement

It's tuna time again and there is no better way to keep sane while waiting for those northern lakes to warm up a bit, than to chase tuna with one of the boats out of San Diego.

There are three-quarter day trips to Mexico's Coronado Islands, as well as full-day and three-day trips to farther destinations along the California and Baja coasts.

For the more adventurous there are those 13- to 16- day trips to waters south of Cabo San Lucas, and the opportunity to catch really big Yellowfin tuna in the 200-plus-pound range.

On any of these trips you'll have the line-sizzling experience of a fight that can take you from one side of the boat to the other and the excitement of your friends, old and new, hollering "hook-up" and "coming through," but it's really the fish that dictates the course of the fight.

You'll also feel the sense of frustration as the big one snaps off, but that is the common experience while fishing. Then there is the thrill of triumph when one is landed; the end-of-the-day exhaustion mixed with sweat and salt spray; a hot shower; a few drinks over a good meal; the retelling of the day's battles and a sound night's sleep with dreams of tomorrow.

On the longer trips it's the morning coffee, a hearty breakfast, the captain calling out "drop lines," and it starts again with no thought of the office, the mortgage or dozens of other less important things.

For many, these long- range trips are an annual event; for others, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to live aboard an ultimate fishing machine with all the amenities not usually found on an expedition of this magnitude.

You'll eat, sleep and live the fishing dream (Oh yeah, you get to eat great steaks, too and sleep in comfortable quarters).

One of my favorite long range boats is the luxurious Red Rooster III out of H & M Landing. With more than 40 years of experience, these folks know how to do it.

They recently returned from a trip to Reville Gigado Island group and the Hurricane Bank, 600 miles south west of Cabo San Lucas. The results speak for themselves: 200-plus pound tuna and wahoo that went to 70-plus pounds, as well as Mahi Mahi and other fish they consider "incidental."

One of these big tuna can take you hours to land, offer months of dining for you and your friends, and give you a lifetime of shared memories.

If you don't have the time, or the stomach, for one of the long range trips, your best bet is a full day trip closer to home, with lots of fast action for albacore, yellowtail and bottom fish. You will leave the dock late one evening, be on the fishing grounds at first light and return home the following evening with a load of fish, sore muscles, as well as being ready to tackle life's challenges once again.

This is an economical trip for the first timer or the experienced angler who just needs to get away and be reminded of a higher purpose: fishing.

For more information on H & M Landing, call 619-222-1144, or go to the Web site, www.hmlanding.com.

What's new

While on a long-range fishing trip, or any other adventure, it's important to keep a log and a journal of your activities and triumphs.

Rite in the Rain provides the ultimate book for this purpose; it is hard-stitch bound on water resistant material.

It's a product for outdoor writing people. Partnered with an all-weather pen produced especially for them by the Fisher Space Pen Company, you will have a log which will be enjoyed by future generations, and remind you of where and when you caught the big one.

For more information contact the J.L. Darling Corporation at 253-922-5000 or log onto www.RiteiintheRain.com.

Upcoming

* Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will hold the Las Vegas chapter banquet on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Sam's Town Casino in Las Vegas. Call Cindy Cothron at 1-702-433-3557 for more information.

* Fraternity of Desert Bighorn banquet is July 12 at South Point Hotel & Casino. Doors open at 5 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m.

The auction will start at 7:30 p.m. For more information visit www.desertbighorn.com or call Paul Harris at 1-702-596-6849

* ICAST, International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, will hold Follow your Instincts, the world's largest sport fishing trade show, July 16 - 18 at the Las Vegas Convention center.

Recipe of week

With 250 pounds of yellowfin tuna, this will be just one of the recipes Chef Angelika will need to provide to us.

This can also be prepared with 100 pounds of tuna for your guests. Be sure to adjust the seasonings and cooking times, and you will need a really big skillet. In any case here's one you can hook into.

Angelika's Tuna Pepper Steaks

(Dedicated to my fishing teacher Gary Hollis)

Four 6-7 ounce tuna steaks, 1 tbsp coarsely cracked black pepper, 2 tsp sesame oil, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1/4 cup dry sherry, 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives, salt.

Season tuna steaks on both sides with just a little salt, sprinkle with cracked black pepper, pressing gently to adhere.

Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add tuna steaks and sear until brown outside and just opaque in center, about 3 minutes each side.

Using tongs, transfer tuna steaks to platter, cover with foil to keep steaks warm. Add soy sauce, then sherry to same skillet.

Reduce heat and simmer until mixture is slightly reduced, scraping up any browned bits, about 1 minute.

Spoon sauce over tuna steaks, garnish with chives on top. Serve with salad, grilled vegetables or oven-roasted potatoes, and enjoy.

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If you have an adventure, a story or a comment, call me at 727-9777 or e-mail dansimmons@usa.net ... The Sportsman's Quest television program appears on Channel 41 each Saturday at 9 a.m. (Spanish), and 10:30 a.m. (English).