As I was hauling this fish up to the beach last night.......

[numbskull]

A 39" fish (fork length) usually would weigh in the low to mid twenties. A real fatty might get to the high twenties. If you google "striped bass length weight charts" you'll find plenty of info. Most fish these days are thinner. Measuring techniques have changed, too.

Most people don't measure fork length (so subtract 1-2") and most people bend the tape over their fish (which adds another 1-2").

Your eyes also fool you. When I've been doing lousy a 25 lb fish looks like thirty, and a thirty looks like a 40. Unless of course your buddy catches it, in which case the opposite applies.

Carrying a good scale is fun and interesting (even when it only rarely gets used), it also eliminates a major reason to keep a large fish.

[RoyL]

Nice fish flap

[Doublerunner]

Originally Posted by numbskull

A 39" fish (fork length) usually would weigh in the low to mid twenties. A real fatty might get to the high twenties. If you google "striped bass length weight charts" you'll find plenty of info. Most fish these days are thinner. Measuring techniques have changed, too.

Most people don't measure fork length (so subtract 1-2") and most people bend the tape over their fish (which adds another 1-2").

Your eyes also fool you. When I've been doing lousy a 25 lb fish looks like thirty, and a thirty looks like a 40. Unless of course your buddy catches it, in which case the opposite applies.

Carrying a good scale is fun and interesting (even when it only rarely gets used), it also eliminates a major reason to keep a large fish.

Thanks. I did release it successfully. In my attempts to travel light I do not bring a scale but I do have a small tape measure ( the floppy kind like would be used for sewing...not that I sew ). I should have measured the girth as well but was really more concerned with getting her back into the water. I was estimating around 25 pounds, maybe a little more as she was a fatty.

Thanks again
DR

[jettyjockey18]

my experience with bass lengths to weights is the following:

36" = 17lbs +/-
38" = 21 lbs +/-
40" = 24lbs +/-
42" = 27lbs +/-
44" = 30lbs +/-
46" = 35lbs +/-
48" = 40lbs +/-

as always, ymmv...