January 23, 2008News flash: Pending record saltwater striper caughtIt 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. |
About this blog
While growing up in rural Southern Oregon, Mark Taylor developed a passion for the outdoors while he and his younger brother tagged along with their father on fishing, hunting and camping adventures. Graduating from Northwestern University in 1988, Taylor spent four years as an officer in the U.S. Navy based in Norfolk before moving into journalism. After five years writing about the military for a Norfolk-based publishing company, he became the outdoors editor at The Roanoke Times in 1998. He lives in Roanoke with his wife and twin daughters. .....Advertisement.....
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Comments
[January 23, 2008 4:13 PM]
Mark TaylorI 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."