Big Fish Memories

[capt. ed]

Ah it's a cold and crappy January day. Closing out my books for the tax man and looking back at 2007. Here's the biggest fish landed on my boat last season. (April 13, 2007 Susquehanna Flats)
The angler was Gary Haley from Smyrna Delaware, who was asked to fill in to round out a trip at the last minute. The rod was a G Loomis "Bronzeback", 6' 3" Medium Fast (smallmouth rod). The reel was an Okuma V-30 spooled with 10 lb test Fireline Crystal. The lure was a 7 inch Chartruese Green Bass Assassin.
The Big Striper pushed 50 inches/50 pounds, although exact measurements were not taken due to the need for a quick release after photos. (best guess is she was just shy of 50). The hookup came in 14 foot of water well away from other boats, using a slow and deep presentation.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h21/captainedwin/flatssoloApril12011.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h21/captainedwin/flatssoloApril12013.jpg

That's a full grown man holding her! The fight and capture were beautiful to behold. Absolutely the most exciting catch of 2007 for me.
Here she is about to swim free:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h21/captainedwin/flatssoloApril12014.jpg

[phish4fun]

can you tell which was ours:)

[channel runner]

Capt Ed, Very nice! Thanks for the post. Keeps the embers flickering on a cold January day.

[marlinmatt]

Ed, you getting jumpy for this years flats season? haha cant wait hope its alittle better then last year; although i cant complain.. we did pretty well. i think were gonna spend some time south this year around taylors island for trophy season.

heres my nice striper memory: sunday april 22nd. (i missed church)
only boat out on the water this morning, as the fogs lifting and boats are a coming around the bend beyond turkey on the flat/channel edge. throwing a 5" limetruse BA. on the inital fall it was picked up.. on the lightest outfit we all witnessed one of the biggest stripers either of us has seen to this date.. a few trolling motor difficulties.. almost a stripped shimano.. and a good while later we had the big girl to the boat. with a crowd of boats that witnessed the display. were not sure on weight we guessed it pretty close to 50.. cant be certain, as i wanted to get her back quick.. thanks to the help of my buddy ryan and brandon she was released very gently and timely...
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n224/marlinmatt/100_0077.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n224/marlinmatt/100_0079.jpg

[capt. ed]

yea jumpy Matt. I hate Jan, Feb with a passion. I remember when you posted that last year. Awesome fish. It's catches like that one that keep you going when things are slow. You never know when the biggun is going to hit.

[annak]

Everybody in that 50/50 club should be very proud of themselves I never came close. There is always next year.

[SURF STRIPER KING 0536]

The chances of catching a 50lb striper is 3-5 million to 1. I learned this at the seminar on sunday. You should be proud your 1 of them:)

[rr331]

nice fish especially on that bass boat

[2dogs]

My biggest was a 52lb caught and released in the Delaware river in the spring of '95.
The one that sticks in my mind is the monster that followed my plug back to the boat on the flats last year. I'm fishing the same spot this year until it shows up.

[marlinmatt]

haha when you put in the time.. your odds greatly improve.. we try to fish everyday allowable whether it be a stupid run after work just to fish an hr and a half or so of light.. but its always fun when they smack the artificials. ken i feel it buddy.. you'll get her this year.

[bgreene]

What I like best about your catches - the RELEASE ! !!!!

Good for you all. Bet you felt great about that.

Less than 30 seconds - that's how fast you want to release the fish.
If camera is ready, that's plenty of time.

[DEEP POCKETS]

Thanks for the post Capt Ed, brought back some good memories of last spring although I only made it down once or twice last spring:(

You deserve that fish as you put your tine in on the flats and know the area well and pays off for you. Congrats on a great catch and on 10 lb test it really doesnt get any better than that (except for topwater of course:D ).

Here's hoping to a dry spring and some good conditions down the flats this spring, may be an earlier season if it doesnt get real cold in the coming weeks.

[capt. ed]

Didn't have a lot of great topwater action last season, but the prior year was excellent out in the real shallows:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h21/captainedwin/greggouldflats006.jpg

Stillwater Smackit in 2.5 feet of water, glass calm, overcast.
Angler Don Whitfield with his first ever topwater striper.

[Joseph Lamberty]

Nice Light tackle Fish ..........What a thill to remember, w/ photos..also very pleasing to see you released her.

Liv 2 Fish
Forced 2 Work

[Striper In]

My biggest was a 52lb caught and released in the Delaware river in the spring of '95.
The one that sticks in my mind is the monster that followed my plug back to the boat on the flats last year. I'm fishing the same spot this year until it shows up.

Was this near the CBB?

[Rick..still casting]

awesome pictures! and on such light tackle! my heart would've been in hyper drive! what a perfect looking day made only more perfect by a catch and release, thats sportsmanship! I know where all the material comes from in my dreams,, pics like that! thanx for sharing.

[Re-Bait]

Nice catch. 49.9...50 is there really a difference? Not to me, any big striper is worth a ton of memories!!!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f389/rebait1/AllisonO23.jpg

[flatshunter]

I remember i was 12 years old and my dad and I were fishing otu of manasquan inlet, it started to get real snotty, so we decided to some in and try the river or the canal, well we had to stop at the railroad bridge cuz of the train, so as we and about 10 other boats were sitting ther waiting for the bridge to open i grabbed my dads rod with a penn senator on it, i had no idea had to cast it out, i took the rod put a whole squid on there and dropped it right next to the boat, as soon as it hit the bottom, i felt the line burn my thumbs, the real started to scream, everyone was watching this go on and was in amazement, 25 minutes later i had my first striper a 38 lber, the other ten boats threw the anchor and started tossing plugs, need less to say that was my biggest striper, my first striper, and the easiest(except for the fight) striper i ever caught and my dad and about 20 other guys watched a 12 year olds persistence pay off...HAHA

[Fighting Irish45]

Nice fish Capt. its really cool how you excercised the catch and release. I don't know if i could have done the same and its nice to see people leading by example. Regardless if you let it go due to regulation or not, it was still cool to see!!

[Fighting Irish45]

Nice fish Capt. its really cool how you excercised the catch and release. I don't know if i could have done the same and its nice to see people leading by example. Regardless if you let it go due to regulation or not, it was still cool to see!!

[Fighting Irish45]

Nice fish Capt. its really cool how you excercised the catch and release. I don't know if i could have done the same and its nice to see people leading by example. Regardless if you let it go due to regulation or not, it was still cool to see!!

[Fighting Irish45]

Nice fish Capt. its really cool how you excercised the catch and release. I don't know if i could have done the same and its nice to see people leading by example. Regardless if you let it go due to regulation or not, it was still cool to see!!