FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * TRUST CO OF THE WEST   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol CONTANGO OIL & GAS CO [MCF] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director __X__ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 865 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET, STE 1800 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 03/01/2004 (Street) LOS ANGELES, CA 90017 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) ___ Form filed by One Reporting Person _X_ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 03/01/2004   X   14,010 A $ 3.543 3,191,429 D (2) (3)   Common Stock 03/08/2004   S   61,000 D $ 8.18 3,130,429 D (2) (3)   Common Stock 11/30/2004   S   3,900 D $ 7.57 3,126,529 D (2) (3)   Common Stock 12/01/2004   S   2,500 D $ 8.3 3,124,029 D (2) (3)   Common Stock 12/01/2004   S   59,077 D $ 8.3037 3,064,952 D (2) (3)   Common Stock 12/01/2004   S   25,600 D $ 8.3964 3,039,352 D (2) (3)   Common Stock 12/02/2004   S   17,500 D $ 8.0023 3,021,852 D (2) (3)   Common Stock 12/02/2004   S   22,300 D $ 7.9631 2,999,552 D (2) (3)   Common Stock 12/03/2004   S   34,000 D $ 7.7463 2,965,552 D (2) (3)   Common Stock 12/03/2004   S   5,500 D $ 7.7665 2,960,052 D (2) (3)   Common Stock 12/14/2004   S   9,200 D $ 7.5391 2,950,852 D (2) (3)   Common Stock 12/14/2004   S   7,300 D $ 7.5932 2,943,552 D (2) (3)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Option

$ 2 (1)

03/01/2004

X

2,500

03/31/2000

03/31/2005

Common Stock

2,500

$ 0 (4)

22,500

D

Option

$ 2 (1)

03/01/2004

X

2,500

06/30/2000

06/30/2005

Common Stock

2,500

$ 0 (4)

20,000

D

Option

$ 4.12 (1)

03/01/2004

X

2,500

09/27/2000

09/27/2005

Common Stock

2,500

$ 0 (4)

17,500

D

Option

$ 5.87 (1)

03/01/2004

X

2,500

12/31/2000

12/31/2005

Common Stock

2,500

$ 0 (4)

15,000

D

Option

$ 5.25 (1)

03/01/2004

X

2,500

03/31/2001

03/31/2006

Common Stock

2,500

$ 0 (4)

12,500

D

Option

$ 3.81 (1)

03/01/2004

X

2,500

06/29/2001

06/29/2006

Common Stock

2,500

$ 0 (4)

10,000

D

Option

$ 2.7 (1)

03/01/2004

X

2,500

09/30/2001

09/30/2006

Common Stock

2,500

$ 0 (4)

7,500

D

Option

$ 2.89 (1)

03/01/2004

X

2,500

12/31/2001

12/31/2006

Common Stock

2,500

$ 0 (4)

5,000

D

Option

$ 3.46 (1)

03/01/2004

X

2,500

03/31/2002

03/31/2007

Common Stock

2,500

$ 0 (4)

2,500

D

Option

$ 3.33 (1)

03/01/2004

X

2,500

06/28/2002

06/28/2007

Common Stock

2,500

$ 0 (4)

0

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
TRUST CO OF THE WEST 865 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET, STE 1800 LOS ANGELES, CA 90017		X
TCW GROUP INC 865 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET, STE 1800 LOS ANGELES, CA 90017		X

Signatures

/s/ Lazarus N. Sun, Authorized Signatory		12/23/2004
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Cashless exercise of the option.
(2)	Trust Company of the West, a California trust company ("TCW") holds its securities in Contango Oil & Gas Co. ("Contango") as Investment Manager pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, dated as of June 6, 1988, between General Mills, Inc. and TCW and as Custodian pursuant to the Custody Agreement, dated as of February 6, 1989, among General Mils, Inc., TCW and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee. Trust Company of the West disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of Contango Common Stock reported herein. The TCW Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation ("TCWG"), as the parent of TCW may be deemed to beneficially own shares of Contango Common Stock deemed to be owned by TCW; TCWG disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of Contango Common Stock reported herein and the filing of this Form 4 shall not be construed as an admission that any such entity is the beneficial owner of any securities covered by such filing.
(3)	TCWG is primarily engaged in the provision of investment management services. The ultimate parent company of TCWG and TCW is Societe Generale, S.A., a company incorporated under the laws of France ("SG"). The principal business of SG is acting as a holding company for a global financial services group, which includes certain distinct specialized business units that are independently operated, including TCWG. SG, for purposes of the federal securities laws, may be deemed ultimately to control TCWG and TCW. SG, its executive officers and directors, and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (including all of its business units except TCWG), may beneficially own securities of the Issuer and such securities are not reported in this statement.
(4)	No compensation was paid for the option.
Remarks: These shares are owned directly by TCW.  The securities laws deem TCWG to be an indirect beneficial owner of the shares listed on Table I and Table II.  TCW is an investment company which invests in securities and other obligations of entities.

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