2008.01.23
News flash: Pending record saltwater striper caught
It looks like Virginia could have a new saltwater striped bass record.
The fish just tipped the scales at 73 pounds, 4 ounces at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center, more than 5 pounds over the current record of 68 pounds, 1 ounce. The angler was Fred Barnes of Chesapeake, who was fishing with charter captain Pat Foster aboard Country Girl, one of the boats that runs out of VBFC.
Claude Bain, the retired director of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, called me with the tip. Claude works part time at a tackle shop near the Fishing Center so he was able to get down there when he heard about the catch.
"I saw the fish," Claude said. "It's a monster."
The fish is barely 5 pounds shy of the world all-tackle record of 78 pounds, 8 ounces, and probably one of the top 10 saltwater stripers ever landed on a rod and reel.
Even though the monster striper breaks the record it won't be the official record until Barnes submits an application and it's approved.
I just learned that the fish's official weight was 73 pounds even.
Fred returned my call a few minutes ago but I was on another line and missed it.
My buddy Lee Tolliver, the outdoor writer at the Virginian-Pilot, is supposed to be sending me some pictures of the fish. Lee said, "It's just a perfect striper."
Comment by Mark Taylor — January 23, 2008 @ 4:13 pm