Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Oct. 1, 1899 p. 47

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Interesting news item I stumbled upon doing genealogical research - note the discussion of the 85 pounder that got away:

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Oct. 1, 1899

Some Fine Catches Made at Mantauk by a Party of Brooklynites

Montauk, L.I., September 30 -- Fishing for striped bass with rod and reel in the surf off Montauk Point is a pastime that is enjoyed by but few Brooklynites. Recently a party made up of H.E. Bedford, Jules Stearns, Mr. Young and Mr. Morgan, all from Brooklyn, came here and had some excellent sport, as the following remarkable record made by three of the party will show:

Mr. Stearns...16-lb., 18-lb., 25-lb.
Mr. Young......22-lb., 20-lb., 16-lb.
Mr. Morgan....25-lb., 380lb., 32-lb.

Mr. Stearns also lost one bass, the head of which came ashore the next day, after the body had been eaten off by a shark. This head measured twenty-two inches in circumference and it is estimated that the fish must have weighed at least eighty-five pounds.

Numerous other catches of bass were made ranging above twenty-two pounds. The largest fish caught was a thirty-eight and a half pounder taken by a Mr. Simonids on September 2. It holds the record for this season here.