The night he caught the devil. The real story.

[stripers247]

By Jim Hannan

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

The night he caught the devil. The real story.

First a little backround. Al McReynolds is 58 years old. He will be 59 on October 12th 2004. AL and his wife Karen have 3 children. Albert Jr., Thomas and Katey. They have all been and still are tournament fishermen. He is most proud of their accomplishments. They have all been multiple tournament winners and Albert Jr. was an american fishermen sportsmen of the year. They live in Beverly Massachusetts.

He is a kind and sensitive man with little more than an eighth grade education. His lack of education and inability to read and write allowed the total exploitation of his record fish.

Born and raised in Atlantic City New Jersey, 3 blocks from where he caught the fish of a lifetime.

He had to quit school all together to support his family when his Grandfather suffered a stroke "in front of me" and died from a ruptured brain aneurism.

Before this time little Albert had woked with his grandfather who was a sea captain. Al did whatever he could do to help. Manned the swabbie bucket, cut bait, wrapped rods, relinined reels, rebaited traps, painted boats, help build docks and "anything I could that would keep me near the water" he said. "I worked my way on from helper to deck hand, first mate and eventually to captain. I have traveled the earth on fishing boats and still love the sea".

He shined shoes in an Atlantic city casino and got to know Frank Sinatra and Sammy davis Jr. He was not allowed to talk to them while he worked there. "They took a liking to me" he said. "They were very generous. I even got as much as $100 tips for fetching matches for them. I was the richest kid in school". When I took the job working for the Atlantic city life guard beach patrol, they tried to talk me out of it. But I was always drawn to the water. He was still working for the beach patrol the day he caught the record. He took the next day off and was docked the days pay.

He has been fishing or working in and around the water since he was old enough to remember. Al was 36 years old when he caught the world record striped bass on September 21st 1982. Fishing in a Nor'eastern in Atlantic city New Jersey from the Vermont Avenue Jetty the fish took almost 4 hours to land and weighed 78 pounds 8 oz. measured 53 inches in length and 34 1/2 inches in girth.

Albert was born to fish. His years of bad knots, weak hooks, improper drag sets, wrong tides, experiments with water temperatures, baits and lures prepared him for the record.

All the mistakes and preparation beforehand had made him uniqely qualified for this remarkable battle with the biggest striped bass recorded and documented to date.

He now feels he was born to catch that particular fish. "Everything was right for it" he said. "

But nothing could have prepared him for what followed.

THE BAD
Al feels strongly that he was cursed with this fish. The accusations of lying and cheating, hate mail and even death threats were just part of the reasons. Both family members and friends turned on him and demanderd money from him. He was called a cheat and a liar. The years following the catch were so bad for him that he says without hesitation that had he to do it over again he would have cut the line.
"Would you believe a guy pulled a gun on me? Over a Fish. Over a #$@# fish

It had to do with fish skin mounts and reproductions. A tackle manufacturer agreed to make him a mount of the fish as long as they could keep one for their own. They also offered to give him 2 free tackle boxes filled with lures. None of which he ever received.

"I want people to know the truth, people to get their facts right"


The bait and tackle shop weigh master also received $25,000 for having certified the fish as a world record. I will soon publish more in greater detail to explain why he never received the mount. He was told the fish was freezer burnt and thrown away. Al does not believe this happened, because there were at least two inquiries that he was aware of from the west coast and Minnesota to purchase the fish.
The rumor that was perpetuated in his hometown from these same individuals who swindled him out of the fish is that he sold the mount to pay off a bar tab.

The three other corporate tackle manufactures used Al and took advantage of him. Line, rod and reel manufacturers. After he posed for them in their pictures with their tackle they no longer had any use for him. None kept their promises. One offered him life time tackle and job on the advisory staff to put their reel in the pictures. When He went to the manufacturer to collect on his promise He was told that the representative had no authorization to offer any of this, and was eventually kicked off the premises and told the cops would be called if he didnt leave. The Palm Beach line company promised him a life time contract and when they renegged they stated"that they were just a mom and pa outfit". That they couldnt afford to give him any line. They do now though. The rod manufacturer offered 1500 and then told him some guy took off with the money. Only one tackle manufacturer eventually had to pay him $250,000 and only reluctantly after being exposed by an article written in the New York Times by Nelson Byron a year and a half after catching the fish. Loydds of London had denied the tackle companies claim and they in turn tried to deny AL. Nelson Byron stuck by him and threatened to expose the company if they renegged on the 250,000 world record offer. The owner paid Al personally, fired everybody involved then sold the company.

These groups made millions. They gave him a shirt and a hat. He feels he was treated inferior because he was a fishermen. A tennis player or skateboarder received much more respect. He didnt know how to go about getting endorsements or sponsorships . "I was so miserable. I have yet to sell a hat, beer or a even a frizbee"

The Ugly

It gets better. Not for Al. Outright lies about the fish was that it couldnt possibly be caught from the surf that it was bought off a passing trawler.
Al says thats just ridiculous. " If it was caught aboard a trawler why wouldnt they have claimed the fish as a record for someone aboard ship."

He still wants to know why ______ pulled a gun on him? (more about this later).

A picture of Al at the bait shop that betrayed him.
http://www.stripers247.com/NewJerseyworldrecord.htm

He was once married only briefly at age 17 to a Benson & Hedges cigarette heiress. She was now suing him for part of the money.

A cousin was spreading outright lies around his hometown about him. Even assumed Als identity for a time telling everyone that he was a sea captain who had been to Aelutian Islands in Alaska, Hawaii and Gloucester. TI had previously published that the cousin had manged to even sour his once loving grandmother against him. Al says this was not true. "My grandmother loved me till the day she died. She thought my cousin was the whacko".

His childhood friend whom he gave $10,000 to, and was with him when he caught the fish disrespected his wife with a crude sexual comment at an Atlantic city Club that ended their friendship.

The Good

A bright spot for Al was a letter written to him by Bob Rochetta the former world record holder congratulating Al on his record catch. He also warned him about the difficulties that would lie ahead. Al said "it got my attention"

The fish still had to get sanctioned by the IGFA. You only get one shot at it and there is no procedure for appeal. Al was broke and destitute living with his wife and children in a the Blue Marlin motel. Too proud to ask anyone for help. He had just sold a TV set to pay the rent bill. It was christmas eve 1982 when the president of the Internationall Game and Fish association Edward K. Herry called him and said " You are the new world champ". He cried.

Epilogue

He says these days he doesnt have the stamina and endurance that it takes to catch that fish, He no longer "runs like a mullet, I got to walk" The good for him turned into a living hell. Nothing prepared him for what came after.

The experience deflated him and the hate mail broke his heart. When I think about it all sometimes. Was it worth it? I just dont know.

"I didnt catch the devil that night the fish caught me"



Als most recent fishing report. Fishing near the Merrimack river in a place called magnolia rocks with chunks herring. The take was 47 and 57 pounder with a 33 the smallest for the trip.

Al is willing to entertain endorsement offers. If you would like to contact Al you may contact him here. Als mail box almc@stripers247.com. Hel plans to respond to each and every email. Fan or not

http://www.stripers247.com/Almcreyno...ordstriper.htm



Jims note: I am unable to publish the details surrounding the night of the catch until another story runs in saltwater sportsmans magazine September and October 2004 editions. They hold the North American rights until publishing dates. We can reprint Als story then. Al will honor that commitment.

[NIB]

So I am to take it U are the author.I don't know what to think bout this as I heard lots of conflicting stories.I know this I'll feel bad if this is true an the guy's life has been ruined from a fish.Its amazing how many life's an families that have been ruined from the great linesider.Al just happened to get The biggest one.I went to the store to buy the mag.on sunday but they where not in yet.Probly today.I 'll read an digest.

[beachwalker]

cool. well done. I always felt that dude got the crap end of the story.

Good person or bad he caught one son ofa bitch of a fish. Love hearing how the Times stood by him and he ended upgetting some cake.

I don't want to hear the personal detractors if you decide to pipe in. This gut isn't running for president so let it be.

[stripers247]

Yes I authored the piece. There is much more to come. Al would like to set the record straight. I have posted this article on several forums.

He says. Tell em Al is fighting back.

There is much more. He wants to finally tell the complete story and He is working on a book.

Setting the record straight.

[Roop]

Just received Saltwater Sportsman with part 1 of this story - none of this was alluded to in part 1.

[JohnR]

Just as long as it is not self-promoting

David Dibenedetto (sp?) aluded to much of this in his book On The Run. I have no personal knowledge or personal theory of what happened and what did not. His bass is in the IGFA as the world record holder, good enough for me until someone documents otherwise. On the other hand, the guy is probably not a saint (few people are, I'm not, Fishpart might be though) so some of it, justily or unjust as it may have been, was probably brought on himself. It would greatly suck that all of this has gone wrong for him and his family but it can't all be just because of the fish. That likely had a bad impact but it couldn't be the only thing. If he has been screwed by some of these other companys, hopefully he'll get his due.

Anyway, just a small observation. Not something I've given considerable thought to.

[stripers247]

From Al

To you John Im not crying poor mouth and Im not trying to profit from this or is this kind man who has the web site, we are just trying to set the record straight and are just trying to tell unsuspecting fishermen what can happen to them and their family. There is no class you can take or no school you can go to that will prepare you for the business of catching a world record. I was only prepared as the angler from a lifetime of dedicated fishing. I want to be man enough to congratulate the next person who becomes the next world record holder with no remorse for that person. And I would assist them and advise them on what mistakes not to make. Us sincere fishermen know the difference between a 5 from a 10 dollar bill or a blue from a striper but nobody prepares you for hundreds of thousands. I wish I hollered help earlier.

John what do you do when you have no one to turn to? People have a habit of telling you "Keep me out of it" when your asking for help.

Sincerely yours john

Al McReynolds a fisherman. I confess to being nothing else.

[Saltheart]

Everyone hopes their next fish will be the big one. Fisherman cannot help but envy the guy who was lucky enough and prepared enough to land the biggest.

Its unfortunate that such good fishing luck also comes with such problems. I think its the same as I've seen everywhere on the net.....when money and fishing get mixed , the fishing suffers greatly.

Also , there is a huge amount of jealuosy involved. I find it interesting that a kid can carch a huge fish on a line his father baited on a boat his father controls and everyone is happy for the kid but if a grown man goes out after 40 years of hard work and catches a big one , half the responses are degrading and doubting. I can only explain that by jealousy.

Anyway , I guess my point is that it doesn'rt surprise me all this happened.

The money issues are too typical. If you catch a world record for a significant category like largemouth bass or striped Bass , you better keep it secret and get a lawyer before doing anything. Once the fishing is over and the fish landed , if you hope to make money off the ex[erience you have to treat it like a business or you will get screwed like so many others in so many other businesses.

As far as the resentment from other people , I have mixed emotions. Your friends will be glad for you , the people who just fish recreationally will hope to someday be in your shoes , many of the top guns who think they are great at the sport will be jealous , there's no avoiding that. You will find out fast who your friends are.

There has to be some satisfaction knowing that the people who give you the most bull are the most jealous and are the ones who , despite all the protests , wish they were in your shoes the most!!

[DRUMCORPFAN]

i feel for ya al, one thing i 've learned in my short 43 years on this earth people suck, one time in my life i did see people treat each other with respect 9/11 sad sad sad. but that only lasted a couple of days then we all went back to being idoits to each other.

[Mr. Sandman]

I could be wrong, but I just don't see how others made millions? This has been refered to over the years on how he got the shaft while others made millions... I just don't see that. That Nelson Bryant story is interesting as well.

He did get 250K. That is a hell of a lot more then you will get if you catch the record today...which as far as I know is bupkis.
Yes, you could work a deal with exclusive rights to a magizine but I doubt you get 250K+

There is not much $$$ in record fishing. Personal satisfaction yes but cash....nah.

[Karl F]

Al got 250 Grand?
NICE

Stetzko got----------> ZERO...
he even turned down a couple of really sucky offers, on endorsments.
Tone's advise,--> catch a record?... don't tell nobody, yer better off.

[lennyr]

Al you caught the biggest Striper ever. God blessed you.

[S-Journey]

It was destiny and everything happened just the way it was supposed to, good and bad.

I would be interested in hearing what companies screwed him. I would make sure that I NEVER purchased any of their products, no matter who they are.

[The Iceman 6]

Originally posted by lennyr
Al you caught the biggest Striper ever. God blessed you.

We'll Said!

[DaveS]

Originally posted by Saltheart

Also , there is a huge amount of jealuosy involved. I find it interesting that a kid can carch a huge fish on a line his father baited on a boat his father controls and everyone is happy for the kid but if a grown man goes out after 40 years of hard work and catches a big one , half the responses are degrading and doubting. I can only explain that by jealousy.

How true that is Mike. Doesnt even have to be a world record fish. Catch a few 40's and 50's and the jealous types rear their ugly heads.

[JohnR]

Originally posted by stripers247
From Al

To you John Im not crying poor mouth and Im not trying to profit from this or is this kind man who has the web site, we are just trying to set the record straight and are just trying to tell unsuspecting fishermen what can happen to them and their family. There is no class you can take or no school you can go to that will prepare you for the business of catching a world record. I was only prepared as the angler from a lifetime of dedicated fishing. I want to be man enough to congratulate the next person who becomes the next world record holder with no remorse for that person. And I would assist them and advise them on what mistakes not to make. Us sincere fishermen know the difference between a 5 from a 10 dollar bill or a blue from a striper but nobody prepares you for hundreds of thousands. I wish I hollered help earlier.

John what do you do when you have no one to turn to? People have a habit of telling you "Keep me out of it" when your asking for help.

Sincerely yours john

Al McReynolds a fisherman. I confess to being nothing else.

Al, the "as long as its not self promoting" with the spam and the laugh after it was really for Jim's benefit. Ask him, he probably say that we were not "nice" to him the first time he came by.

As for profit, he probably will do good for his site to bring this topic to the forefront - it generates hits, you will "profit" if you are able to set the record straight - not necessarily with money.

My whole point, and maybe I wasn't clear enough, is that what problems you've had in your life were not all the fault of the fish. Unless you are a saint and I'll go out on a limb and say you're not - I'm no saint either and I've done some pretty stupid things over time, most which have been corrected. What I'm saying is that it is not all as a result of the fish. As for the fish, I've been reading for years that you would cut the line if it happened again. Hearing that has made me thought about keeping my mouth shut if I fall into your shoes 30 years later. I have no problem with that fish being the record holder one way or the other. IGFA sys it is, good enough for me and less something monumental caused me to change my mind. Possible but not likely. I also have no reason to doubt whether you caught it or not.

As for what do you do when there is no one to turn to? You learn to clean your own ##$ first - that's what I did. I probably wasn't in as dire straights as you were but I've also seen people bounce back from a lot more serious stuff than this fish (if that's all there is to it). I SINCERELY respect anyone that comes back from the edge, from the lowest of lows, and finds a way back to self respect. That includes you. If people turned away from you and you reached youor low and have come back, as a person you have my respect. From the few stories and articles I've seen, as an angler, you have my respect (and my condolences). If you've been screwed by others, I hope you get what you might justly deserve. But for one, I don't think this fish brought on all of your problems. I know I can't blame all of my problems on one or two stupid things I've done . But I have gotten better thru making better decisions.

So don't take this as a knock, as I'm not trying to knock you or the fish. As someone that's screwed up more than a couple times in the past, I just don't think the fish is the root of all the problems.

[RIJIMMY]

Fish are the root of most of my problems

[stripers247]

Hey Guys

This is stripers 247 talking to Al on the phone having read to him some of the mail from well wishers and doubters. And also posts on several web sites.
This is what Al wants to say.
I fished last night in Beverly Mass a place called Willows pier. I caught 14 skates, chunking with Mackeral, herring and big bunker. I was dead sticking with a 6500 shimano baitrunner spooledwith 30 pound ande . And 10' and 11' lamiglasas rods. 30 inch leader with a swivel and 5/0 light wire treble hooks drifting the incoming tide hoping for the bigun. I used pogie head and mackeral heads.

Nobody tells you when you weigh in a fish that you need a lawyer. and nobody tells you that everything you say will be quoted. Details were supposed to be confidential until the IGFA application is in and they vote on it which could take months. Nobody tells you this. You just want to get back out there and fish again. . Im asking questions as the angler, and they divulge nothing. " Somebody says to me "Im from field and stream or Im from playboy Al can we talk". Everythings at a fever. Your laughing,your crying . Man the one that didnt get away. There telling you they are gonna be friends on the pretense that they are gonna treat you fair. and everything just goes down. Its a beast and becomes a living thing. and your along for the ride. You cant get off.
The IGFA president told me this fish was the most scrutinized in history on account of the prize involved. If any one has any questions on the catch check with the IGFA. It was the most examined fish they ever had. The went to painstaking detail of fact . This fish was under a magnifying glass since it went to Cambells shop. I caught the fish and put it in his freezer box and that was the last I ever seen of the world record.
They Named him Bert the Bass because he was gonna be examined as a patient and needed a name. Dr Nomi and Demayo were bone doctors in Northfield or sommers point New Jersey. sombody named it bert the bass but it should have been Alberta because it was a female. The two Drs. with their medical licenses and reputations at hand to examine this fish and pronounce with the xrays beyond a reasonable doubt the fish had no foreign matter it was all cartiledge flesh bones and scales. 78 .8 pounds.

[stripers247]

Dont take it all so seriously. Al was taken advantage of because he was uneducated and poor. His cousin turned on him and he was a wack job. Als immediate family love him very much and always have. His birth father was a ##### who came to him after he received the money and his mother gave him up to his grandparents. The guy who pulled a gun on him was the one who told him the skin mount was trashed. We dont know the whole story yet and you have rushed to judgement.

I told him about the spam and he laughed. I said I didnt know about any forum protocol and got knocked around for it. abused really. Since that time I have continued with my site and the reason it was started in the first place was a passion for the striped bass that I know we both share.

[fishweewee]

So, as I'm reading this (and yes part of "On the Run"), the moral of this sad story appears to be:

Don't catch a world-record striper unless you are:

1) Well-educated

2) Not prone to being screwed by people

3) Able to get along just fine without the extra money and fame

4) Not a New Jersey resident

5) Not surrounded by greedy relatives.

[InterPlanetaryAngler]

You can substitute "win the lottery" for "catch world record striper."

[stripers247]

That sounds about right

But I dont think we'll have to worry about catching a world record.


I think the story is compelling, whether you agree or not.
Read the account in saltwater sportsman and Mens journal also.

Al didnt profit from On the run.

[iluvspots]

I hope Al invested the money he made.

What would $250,000 be worth today?

Assume Al probably would have had to pay about 40% income tax.

So the after-tax amount would be $150,000.

The S&P 500 index was 247 on 12/31/87.

Yesterday, it closed at 1,082.

That's a 338% return.

So that money would be worth about $651,000 or more today it it was invested wisely.

[JPowers]

Question:

So what do you do if you DO nab an 80# fish ??

I've heard:

1) Only weigh it once - at a reputable/accurated scale.

2) Use your own photographer ( not a tackle shop's or a newspapers) - Own the film & control the copyright.

3) Get an Agent and a Lawyer.

4) Have a thick skin.


Anything else??

[slapshot]

could you buy some kind of insurance against the theft or loss of the trophy fish?

[JohnR]

Originally posted by stripers247
Dont take it all so seriously. Al was taken advantage of because he was uneducated and poor. His cousin turned on him and he was a wack job. Als immediate family love him very much and always have. His birth father was a ##### who came to him after he received the money and his mother gave him up to his grandparents. The guy who pulled a gun on him was the one who told him the skin mount was trashed. We dont know the whole story yet and you have rushed to judgement.

I told him about the spam and he laughed. I said I didnt know about any forum protocol and got knocked around for it. abused really. Since that time I have continued with my site and the reason it was started in the first place was a passion for the striped bass that I know we both share.

Jim (that's your name right?), I don't take it so seriously, I take life seriously and living seriously but typing about fishing on the Internet, while fun and diversionary, is more than a few steps down from family (and fishing ) and no substitue for having your feet in the suds. I have NOTHING against Al, no grudeges, no disrespect for a guy that holds the world record. Wouldn't know him if he fowl hooked me with a cod jig. All I said was that problems in one's life cannot all be the result of a fish. If his family loves him and he in return, he's richer than a lot of people.

I wish him well and if people have screwed him, I hope he gets his due.

BTW - glad you got a real board, nothing but problems with those public ezboard things.... is If your site grows and gets big over time (I'll trade you Bassmaster for some old tin jigs ) you'll know what its like to get people dropping links all over the place. Just gets old. We're not even big here ( maybe too big ) but we're big enough to get inundated with crap..

Don't take it so seriously.

Slapshot - you can get insurance for ANYTHING

WeeWee - I guess YOU qualify for being able to catch a world record (but there is that skilz thing )

[S-Journey]

Who here would let a world record fish out of their sight, for even a few seconds?

I'd take her to the bathroom, shower with her, set a place at the dinner table for her, %!^$ I'd even sleep with her;-)

I think Al put to much faith in man kind. Always trust your family and trust your friends, the ones that EARNED IT, other than that EVERYONE is suspect.

[fishweewee]

Most of us live to fish, not fish to live.

Catch a world record, fine. Win a lot of money, fine, you figure out who your friends are in a hurry.

Striving to improve fishing skills and having fun catching a biggun' deploying hard-earned knowledge and experiences - NO PROBLEM.

Let fishing ruin your life? Fuhggeddaboudit.

Money, fame, glory - it's all fleeting. You can't take it with you.

There are much more important things in life. A loving family is worth more than all the treasure in the world.

I don't mean to be mean, but it's just a stupid fish. If Al got swindled out of the cure for cancer or the Holy Grail or something like that, then there's something to talk about.

[MakoMike]

All I can add is that I'm freinds with Bobby Rochetta, who perviously held tha all tackle record and still holds the 80 lb record, and nothing like that ever happened to him the whole time his record stood. So maybe its not the fish but the fisherman?

[fishweewee]

Exactly.

Captain Bob's life didn't get discombobulated (nearest I can tell).

He's proud of his accomplishments but he doesn't wear his world record on his sleeve. He is far from low-key, but you don't see him introducing himself as "Bob Rocchetta, world record holder."

He's successful because he loves what he does but more importantly HE WORKS HIS ASS OFF. He's sent two kids to college (one daughter in medical school!) and you don't ever see him feeling sorry for himself, he's too much of a hardass.