world record striper

[jim sylvester]

does anyone know what was in the stomach of Al McReynolds world record striped bass

54" with a 34" girth
78 1/2 lbs

the fish was landed a day after a noreaster by the way

[tattoobob]

Edit!

[Skitterpop]

a part of a float from the commercial net that it was caught in?

[spence]

Originally Posted by Skitterpop

a part of a float from the commercial net that it was caught in?

Ouch...

I hope you're more kind when I land my 80 Sunday evening. For the record...I don't even know any Comms

-spence

[Skitterpop]

Originally Posted by spence

Ouch...

I hope you're more kind when I land my 80 Sunday evening. For the record...I don't even know any Comms

-spence

Hey Buddy,

I hope you do catch a big mutha

[spence]

Ok, just so we're clear...a BIG fish is more than 10 pounds right?

But to be serious. If I snag a mass of mussles over 8 ounces I'm waking up my wife. A really nice mass of weed? Calling ProJo...

-spence

[Squid kids Dad]

The non believers never stop

[keeperreaper]

McReynolds fish WAS given to him. I believe that from the bottom of my heart. Too many variables that just dont make sense.

[BigFish]

If you don't know for sure...don't speculate. Give the guy a break and let it be.....only Al McReynolds, the guy he was with and THE fish really know so let it go! Which is what I will do should I ever catch a fish like that...let it go! So I don't have to listen to a bunch of finger pointers for 20 years plus!

I don't know if he really caught it or not....but I will give him the benefit of the doubt.....who am I or you to question it?

[keeperreaper]

If you believe he caught it great; but I have my doubts and believe he did NOT catch it. Leave it at that.

[Skitterpop]

People with a free mind and choice to free speech

[jim sylvester]

ok, back to the subject.....does anybody know what was in the stomach since the girth is abnormally large

[Skip N]

Originally Posted by BigFish

If you don't know for sure...don't speculate. Give the guy a break and let it be.....only Al McReynolds, the guy he was with and THE fish really know so let it go! Which is what I will do should I ever catch a fish like that...let it go! So I don't have to listen to a bunch of finger pointers for 20 years plus!

I don't know if he really caught it or not....but I will give him the benefit of the doubt.....who am I or you to question it?

People are just jealous because they didnt catch the record fish.

[ChiefLinesider]

Originally Posted by jim sylvester

ok, back to the subject.....does anybody know what was in the stomach since the girth is abnormally large

It weighed in at 78-1/2 lbs., was 53" long and its girth was measured at 34 - 1/2". It took him over 4 hours not the previously reported hour and 40 minutes to land this monster. Als previous best to this point was 39 lbs. Al also caught a 15.9 pound weak fish immediately before he hooked into his world record beast- Stripers247.com
Its got a 15.9 lb weakfish stuffed into its belly.


Tony Stetzko's striped bass for example 73 pounds 60 inches. Charles Church another 73 lber 60 or 61 inches in length.

Al McReynolds 53 inches, 34 1/2 inch girth? It just doesnt add up. Any studies that have been made on length to weight research have no signs that point to even the slightest possibility of a 53 inch fish weighing in at 78 1/2 lbs. Of course there are exceptions, but the story doesnt fit either. I think it would be a real shame if the bar was set that high from a bogus fish.

Lure: "Long A" black bomber not magnum (the 4 1/2 Inch).. of course big fish fall to it, but I would say the exception rather than the rule.

Battle: 4 hours to land it!
Out of the package Long A hooks definately would have failed by then. Or worked themselves free.
was also During a stiff nor'easter

[saajr]

check out stripers247.com link world record striper

[DaveS]

He caught it, no doubt. There is not one shred of evidence to prove otherwise, never has been.

All the naysayers are just jealous people, happens when guys land 50's let alone world records.

[clambelly]

Originally Posted by ChiefLinesider

It weighed in at 78-1/2 lbs., was 53" long and its girth was measured at 34 - 1/2". It took him over 4 hours not the previously reported hour and 40 minutes to land this monster. Als previous best to this point was 39 lbs. Al also caught a 15.9 pound weak fish immediately before he hooked into his world record beast- Stripers247.com
Its got a 15.9 lb weakfish stuffed into its belly.


Tony Stetzko's striped bass for example 73 pounds 60 inches. Charles Church another 73 lber 60 or 61 inches in length.

Al McReynolds 53 inches, 34 1/2 inch girth? It just doesnt add up. Any studies that have been made on length to weight research have no signs that point to even the slightest possibility of a 53 inch fish weighing in at 78 1/2 lbs. Of course there are exceptions, but the story doesnt fit either. I think it would be a real shame if the bar was set that high from a bogus fish.

Lure: "Long A" black bomber not magnum (the 4 1/2 Inch).. of course big fish fall to it, but I would say the exception rather than the rule.

Battle: 4 hours to land it!
Out of the package Long A hooks definately would have failed by then. Or worked themselves free.
was also During a stiff nor'easter

this article says something different....
from http://www.finefishing.com/1saltfish...mcreynolds.htm

It took him one hour and 40 minutes to get his plug back. One hour and 40 minutes is a long time when it's measured out in surging runs in a strong storm surf, and in careful sidesteps on a slippery, storm battered jetty aimed at summer flounder fishermen. Most of all, it's a long time to strain back, arms, hands and wrists against an unseen fish that grew larger in McReynolds' imagination with every minute, every long run and every vibration of the taut line that sang in the wind. Such imagined fish usually shrink at the net or gaff. McReynolds' did not. Erdman had no more jokes, just encouraging words and the offer of help.

why are these facts different? sounds like there is some discrepincies in these "stories".

[fishenough]

I usually run into Al around Longport this time of year. When I see him I'll ask him about the stomach contents. It's a shame what how that fish ruined his life. He always says if he was to catch another he would cut the line.

[vineyardblues]

Here is my question , please someone answer this question.
Did Al get tossed out of 2 other derby / contest for cheating ?

[afterhours]

Originally Posted by DaveS

He caught it, no doubt. There is not one shred of evidence to prove otherwise, never has been.

All the naysayers are just jealous people, happens when guys land 50's let alone world records.

i agree...there's no PROOF otherwise.....just jealous speculations,

[clambelly]

ok, this is some crazy stuff ive just found. those "freak" fish like a few others have talked about, that just don't fit the mold according to the length/girth charts...you gotta check this out..

http://www.arkansasstripers.com/worl...e-ouachita.htm

[Mike P]

First of all, to answer the original question--I don't think Al's fish was ever gutted. It went intact to a taxidermist, in all likelihood. It had to be weighed on a certified scale to be accepted as the record, and was probably the single most scrutinized fish in history. If I had to guess, I would say the belly was loaded with the mullet it was feeding on.

Al caught the fish. No doubt about it. If it was caught in a net there would have been unmistakeable marks on it, and as I said, it was probably the most scutinized fish ever. The big problem is that Al is not the sharpest tool in the shed, and is his own worst enemy sometimes. At last count, he's told about 4 different versions of how long he had the fish on the line. I don't believe for a second it was an hour and forty minutes. It probably seemed that long to him, but in actuality, was probably more like 40 minutes. A Penn 710 doesn't hold enough 20# line for a striper to fight for close to 2 hours.

[vanstaal]

hay isn't that a Geoduck u have there ! Clambelly ?

[JohnR]

I think the guy caught the fish. We're not old pals or anything but I have met him before and talked with him at length....

Funny how this thread always goes down this road

We should start a new thread "If you landed the world record fish, would you tell ?"

[CAL]

I've heard it took him 4 hours and I've heard it took 1 hour. I've heard he caught it on a bomber and that he got it on a Rebel. Also heard he was going to gut it right on the jetty.

I don't care, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. I think he caught it.

What I don't believe is that it "ruined his life". People don't believe you? %$%$%$%$ them and get on with your life. Why should you care if anyone believes you. Only thing that matters is that YOU know.

[Fish_Eye]

"Al McReynolds 53 inches, 34 1/2 inch girth? It just doesnt add up."

I saw the skin mount of that fish in a New Jersey tackle shop and it's a freak fish with a belly that hangs wide from just below the gills all the way to the tail. In human terms, there are men and women under six feet tall that they need to take walls down to get them out of their homes.

Did he catch it? I know that Dave DiBenedetto interviewed him at length for the book, On The Run, and despite a lot of loose ends that don't add up, he honestly believes he caught the fish.

[DaveS]

Mike I'm curious as to whats the biggest bass you have ever seen while diving?

[DZ]

Originally Posted by jim sylvester

does anyone know what was in the stomach of Al McReynolds world record striped bass

54" with a 34" girth
78 1/2 lbs

the fish was landed a day after a noreaster by the way

Jim,
To get BACK TO YOUR QUESTION - If I remember correctly there were schools of mullet in the area the night he took the fish. I have the original article published by The Fisherman mag somewhere in my basement. That article said he was using a Rebel - probably a small windcheater.

Fishing after storms has a long history of being good... or bad.

DZ

[Slingah]

Originally Posted by DZ

Jim,
That article said he was using a Rebel - probably a small windcheater.

saw him speak....he said he got it on a Rebel windcheater......

[Swimmer]

Last I knew he, Albert Mcreynolds, lived not far from the Viking Club in Braintree. We had him speak at our monthly M.S.B.A. meeting a few years back. I have to believe him after listening to him talk. Catching that fish made hislife a living hell. I heard him say quite a few times he wished he didn't. I think everyone who deosn't think he did should tell him to his face. Or otherwise kiss his .