JUST HO W "BIG "THEY GET

[LINESIDES]

I hope this is something you folks will enjoy. All of the following state Striped Bass were taken on rod and reel. I could not get any information on Rhode Island. This is a must read all the way to the bottom of the page, there is a Quote taken from an old book I have in my possession. ON JUST HOW BIG THEY GET???

Maine: 67 pounds, Sheepscot River. 9/20/78

New Hampshire: 60 pounds, Great Bay, Dover. 6/26/80

Massachusetts: 73 pounds,

Connecticut: 75 pounds New Haven Harbor, 1992

New York: 76 pounds East Setauket N.Y. 7/17 81

New Jersey: 78 pounds 8oz, Cape may rips, 1993. Current IGAF World record. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/recmarst.htm

Delaware: 51 pounds 8oz, Indian river Inlet, 12/?/78

Virginia: 61 pounds 1oz

Maryland: 45 pounds 5oz Assateague Island 5/4/74

North Carolina: 60 pounds Hatters Island Surf 1972

South Carolina: 46 pounds 13oz, Combahee River 1993

Georgia: 63 pounds Oconee River 5/30/67

Florida: 33 pounds 2oz, Tallahassee.

Yes indeed they go south as well as to the north to New Foundland.

There was at one time on the wall in Red top bait shop in Buzzards Bay Ma. Mounted on the wall above the service counter, a mounted 73 lb. Stripper, caught by or on the boat of Infamous Captain Sabatouski, I hope I got that right. And as time has gone on I have forgotten his first name. He charted on the cape in the Fifties threw as late as early seventies I believe. I under stand he was Quite a character. My best guess you can still see that fish on the wall there.
And finally, A Quote from a book I have in my possession, that talks about old Massachusetts State records. The book was printed in 1975,
SIZE: The official world record for striped bass, by (IGAF at that time 1975) was 72 lbs., had a length of 54 ½ inches and a girth of 31 inches, and was caught by Edward Kirker on Oct. 10, 1969,out of Cuttyhunk, Massachusetts. However, several generations of striper fishermen have grown up accepting the 73 ponder taken by Charles Church in Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts in 1913 as the record to break.
This long-standing world record was disallowed because the line used was not tested for strength.
Since the IGAF was not founded until 1939, Mr. Church’s lack of foresight is to be forgiven.
Another 73 pounder, caught at Cuttyhunk by Charles Cinto on June 6, 1967, was considered ineligible because the angler was using a plug with treble hooks. in my opinion ( The Author) , and I think that of most striper fishermen, Church and Cinto share the record-at least unofficially. (end quote)
NOW TO MY POINT, ON JUST HOW “BIG DO THEY GET!!! In this article. (quote) . Even bigger striped bass have been taken commercially. The largest authenticated strippers, netted at Edenton, North Carolina in 1891, were a matched pair weighing 125 pounds each. And one from Chesapeake Bay, in 1915 weighed 106 pounds “after” the head, tail, fins, and guts had been removed! Biologists estimate that the living fish would have weighed 144 pounds or more. (End Quote)
My next question will be “are you prepared”????

[JohnR]

Linesides!!! You're killing me <img src="/Images/biggrin.gif"><!--e7-->! Excellent stuff here. Would you be able to forward the name of that book? Always interested in a detailed read on Bass from a generation ago. I tell you though, I am suprised at the small size of the Maryland fish, I assumed bigger... We'll need #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& to let us know the Rhody record. I know Tim Coleman got a 67# bass out at Block but I think the record was 70#s. Linesides, ever fish the Porkchop???

Be Prepared!! Should be the motto of the surf, not just that of the Boy Scouts. When I started getting serious about fishing big stripers, being prepared was drilled in. Solid equipment, well taken care of rods & reels, cleaned, frequently respooled quality line. All in good order to be prepared for when the BIG ONE does her thing on the other side of your line. Always be ready, as you may only get one chance...

[John M]

The NJ entry you have there is wrong. The weight its right and thats it. The fish was caught by Al McReynolds on Sept 21 1982 off a jetty (vermont ave) in Atlantic city NJ. The fish was caguth on a windcheater.......

As for the Range you can find them in the rivers in the gulf states, Texas had a commercial fishery for them until WWII. Its all pretty intersting Check out Karras book "The Striped BAss"

as for am I prepared? maybe depends on which set up I have in my hand, I have a couple that would give me a shot......<img src="/Images/Happy_Face.gif"><!--e1-->

[LINESIDES]

I stand corrected. 1982 N.J.

[LINESIDES]

State record for striped bass is 70 pounds, 55 1/2 inches in length, caught in November 1984 at Block Island, RI.