Al's SWS article

[Mr. Sandman]

OK, I don't want to start a war here but I have been following all the buzz about this fellow since the day he caught this fish. I use to think that he caught the fish and the world was looking to exploit the fish and him for whatever it is worth...but now my opinion is changing...

I have been fishing sb for over 40 years and I find several odd things about this article.

The biggest problem I have is that he hooked it at 8pm and landed it at midnight? I find this very hard to believe. While he was in heavy weather still...4 hours? OK it is a big fish, no doubt, 78 is a big one esp on 20# test. All I know is I landed a 58 on 20# test in 15 minutes from the shore in similar conditions. I find it very hard to believe it took 4 hours. I know of NO SB that EVER took so long to land. I did have a 30# leader he tied direct.IMO this should have taken no longer then 30-45min AT THE OUTSIDE..4 hours is so insane I just can' believe ANY SB lasting 4 hours.

2) I have read on what an "experienced" bass hotshot this guy was many times...but he says his largest fish to date (prior to the record) was only 39 lbs! What I find it odd he did not put a leader on his 20# class line. Generally if you are going for a record, you fish with tournment line, as he did but the rules allow for and most experienced anglers will fish with a leader...he tied direct. if you are fishing light line in hostile waters with big fish and seeking a record...well I think most would have a leader of some kind. Tying direct with class line is not smart as it is designed to break at 20 when in perfect condition, when knicked up as it will get during the battle it will break at much less then that. I know he had serious drag on it from his description of the rod bending. Also I know some guys tie direct for some fishing but class line...rough condtions, rocks, fins, direct? Seems like the wrong call to this experienced angler.

3) He says he wanted to "gut the fish" to make it lighter to carry up the beach. Does this sound like someone seeking a record to you? Fish with IGFA class line, land a giant fish, then want to gut it?


4) The fish fought like no bass I have heard of. Maybe it happened that way but this in and out and in and out and in and out each time to the end of the line seems like a stretch to me.


I am looking forward to the rest of the article but I have to say, something does smell fishy more now then ever.

I am glad he is saying this in his own words so we can finally clear the air.


IMO he has the record and that it is and has been the target for the last 20 years. But this "fish story" and his life story is too much!

I would like to get Tony Stetszkos take on this. I know his 73 did not take 4 hours.


Also I think for some records you have to agree to subject yourself to a polygraph test...did this happen?
what do you guys think?

[jugstah]

Like most fishermen, even Al is prone to exaggeration, too.

[rwilhelm]

Why would he lie about how long it took to get the fish in?

[jugstah]

Like some people lie about the biggest fish they ever caught, they tack on an extra foot or somethin''....

[BigFish]

I could really care less about his fish.....I got to concentrate on catching my own 78 pound striper!! Life is way too short to worry about a fish that was caught so long ago.....move on folks and leave the guy alone......either he really caught it and he should be happy for himself and leave it at that or he didn't really catch it and he has to live with himself forever......either way....I don't care!

[Duke41]

It still stands as one kicker of a fish. all the rest of the stuff is just human nature. Hope to have the same challanges in my life.

[Mr. Sandman]

I agree, it is a monster and I think he caught it (some how)and in my eyes he has the record...but this story is just not believable...possible? I guess, likely....not in my eyes. Is it still the record? YES! 78lb 8oz is the record.

Last night I read it to my wife her quote was "Sounds like a whack-o...but then again, most of you bass guys are whack-o anyway"

[Shawn B]

I read the SWS article, at first I was in awe of the fight but then started doubting many of the points already brought up. Most of us would think that a fish of that size would have no problem cutting/rubbing through 20 lb test line during a 4 hr fight from a jetty that I would guess has more rocks out beyond it. Then when he gets the fish into gaff range he misses it and it nearly spools him again after a 3 hr fight, that fish would be exhausted at that point and that just doesn't seem likely. then on his second shot at the fish he slips off the jetty into chin deep water and amazingly that 78 lb fish is right in front of him so he gets his arm through it's gills and pulls himself back onto the jetty with some assistance from his buddy. He would have had to do that with no hands then f he held on to his pole? Unless he let go of his pole and used that free arm to get himself back onto the rocks, then in theory he could have pulled the rod and reel back up if the plug was still hooked into the fish, which I assume it was? I guess it's possible that all of these things went this way just not real likely!

[bluefish]

I know that the fight originally was 1 and 40 minutes. Now all of a sudden it's 4 hours. I don't know what to make of this. To be honest, I hope someone, (maybe even me) hooks and lands an 80# and then we won't have to be stuck in this 1982 bull$hit story time warp with all of it's discrepencies and we can ALL MOVE ON!!

[beachwalker]

in hindsight it would have been great to see his gear afterwards.

maybe the friggin record washed up at his feet (the lucky(?) basstard) and the only true part of the story is him swimming after it and his buddy pulling them both up the rocks.

i done know. i admit with whoever it was that said they would have missed it. i have missed so many fish in my life it is ridiculous.

fish stories are great though aint they ?

[Slipknot]

Maybe it was a typo

[PurpelNoon]

I would love to believe this guy, and I have but its true that the holes keep getting bigger: The story about how long the fish was fought has changed. Also, why would someone who pays extra and goes through the trouble to use IGFA line talk about gutting a fish like that? Very strange.

[Surely Bassey]

I fully agree with Sandman; something doesn't ring true. Hey maybe he hooked the fish and the next big wave rolled the fish up on the rocks. Who knows.

[Roseneath]

I didn't read the article, so all I know is that a guy named Al from NJ caught a 78.8# striper. If he's lying, those are demons that he'll have to live with...as for me, I'm going to take him at his word and believe that he landed the fish.

[fishweewee]

Originally posted by bluefish
To be honest, I hope someone, (maybe even me) hooks and lands an 80# and then we won't have to be stuck in this 1982 bull$hit story time warp with all of it's discrepencies and we can ALL MOVE ON!!

Harsh, dude!

[NIB]

There is also a article in Mens Journal(not a subscriber)this month by the "On the Run" Author Dibenedeto.Says in there the fight was 1:20 mins.The Veiw i got from the article is that Al who quit school at 13 before he could read never really got any smarter as his life progressed.I have a friend who was fishin the Long Port Bridge that night an he said there was no way they where on that jetty that night.I would like to hear From his friend Pat Erdman who 's name is kept out of the SWS article for some reason. Lots of strange things happened after, like the fish bein thrown away.There was a $100,000.00 insurance policy taken out on the fish after a hunting club offered 250,000.00 for the skin mount.Now If i had a fish worth that much in 1982 which would be like 1 mil today I would watch it very carefully.Makes U wonder Either Al is a dope or some kinda payola took place there.When Al got the Check for $250,000 form Abu he said he was gonna buy a good used car.The next day he cashed a check for 10,000 an wrote a checkTo Erdman for 10,000.U could buy a new truck for 10 grand in 82.Hmmm..... Now this is my view from information read in this article who knows what true or Not.

[slapshot]

If someone was lucky enough to land the new world record today, are those manufacturers still offering cash rewards?

[Surely Bassey]

Any idea what type of reel he used? Conventional, spinning??

[PurpelNoon]

I think he said it was a Penn Spinning Reel, something like the 710 or 712?

[PurpelNoon]

In the SWS article he showed a photo of the Rebel Minnow he used. He mentione he added a heavy duty hook in the back and he also mentione that the fish was hooked in two places, maybe to reduce questions of how he landed such a big fish with auch a fragile lure?

[Surely Bassey]

In the SWS article I didn't think he mentioned the reel manufacturer at all. Maybe a lack of support$$$$

[PurpelNoon]

True, he purposely left out the names of a lot of stuff, just like he mentioned "my friend" about fifty times instead of just giving his name.

[bloocrab]

I'm not calling anyone a liar....

but, ...one of the very first things that came to mind after reading the story was...the 4 hour battle. It seemed like a story-book catch. Al shouldn't have dressed it up as much as he did...good story for someone who doens't fish, questionable story for those of us who do. Doesn't really matter to me...just thought I'd chime in with my thoughts. The story definately smells fishy though

[Karl F]

IGFA story... 1 hour 40 minutes to land, 20 pound test, Penn 710, 5 1/2-inch long Rebel Black-back silver minnow plug. The fish measured 53 inches in length with a 34 1/2 inch girth, and was estimated to be 20 - 22 years old. 78 pounds 8 ounces.
4 hours.... stories change over time...................

[Duke41]

can anyone point me to a link with the article in it?

[PurpelNoon]

There is an article with him being interviewed on another bass site as well in DiBenedetto's book.
The newest article is in this month's Salt Water Sportsman.
Compare all the stories and note that they all have different details in them.
Someone once told me, if you are honest, you don't need to have a good memory!

[bluefish]

Originally posted by fishweewee
Harsh, dude!

Thanks weewee.... I aim to please! how ya been?

[PurpelNoon]

In a few weeks, Al himself will be speaking of his story at a surf seminar in NY.

[TheSpecialist]

Good Luck To Him.

[Mike P]

Originally posted by TheSpecialist
Good Luck To Him.

You got that right