Another 50+ Bass taken on LBI

[Striper101]

This was posted on FQ site.

JUNE 26, 2004
6:00 AM Congratulations to Bob Capri Jr. A very nice young Angler who landed a 52# 4 oz. Bass yesterday on a bunker. Get this, he took his kayak just off the beach into the schools of bait where he found the hungry cow breaking that elusive 50 pound mark at a very young age. After setting the hook he was on a Nantucket Sleigh Ride for about 5 blocks.

Congrats to this young guy!

[ 06-26-2004, 07:42 AM: Message edited by: Striper101 ]

[BBunker]

FISH OF A LIFETIME! On a YAK! :eek: He will tell that story for the rest of his life. ;)

CONGRATS Bob Capri jr!

[Spooled]

Congrats welcome to the 50 club. Awesome on a yak-hope to hear more

[Brian E. Mullaney]

That is schweet!!!!!!!

[Bgsdad]

"I hear those sligh bells ringing!...Oh yes it's lovely weather for a sliegh ride together"

[In Depth]

:eek:

Nice!!!


42 years and i'm still trying to get a 50 :rolleyes:


Exelent job Bob !

[ 06-26-2004, 07:00 PM: Message edited by: In Depth ]

[Striper101]

You & me both In Depth , but the best part is that I can still keep trying! :D :D :D

[ 06-26-2004, 07:14 PM: Message edited by: Striper101 ]

[surfrat]

I saw the pic..very nice fish. Congrats!

Nick

[NIGHTSTRIKES]

http://home.comcast.net/~fishing_report/BobCapriJr20040625.jpg
Bob Capri Jr, Photo From FishermensHeadquarters

[Striper101]

Thanks Steve,
I couldn't find the picture to post it!

[surfrat]

I think he took it to every Bait shop on LBI!!!! I would too!!!!I might even put it on the hood of my truck for all to see!!
Nick

[Dr. Bass]

Awesome

Must be the lighting but that is one eespecially beautiful bass. Excellent coloring.

If it were mine I think I would steak it.

[AFEW50S]

surfrat...funny you should mention about putting the bass on the hood of your car. Young Bob Capri's grandfather, Art McIntyre used to do just that everytime he caught a real big fish. I'll never forget seeing that big Jeep Wagon with a 40+ pound bass tied to the hood and cooler rack, going down the street on his way to Bruce+Pats B+T back in the late 80's. Art's daughter Michelle married Bob Capri, another Striper maniac like the rest of us, and hence, Bob Capri Jr, with a 50+ before he can drive...haha!. They own and run Subogies, a block or two north of Bruce+Pats B+T. I'm sure a lot of you have had breakfast there.

[AFEW50S]

[ 06-27-2004, 09:37 AM: Message edited by: AFEW50S ]

[AFEW50S]

surfrat...funny you should mention about putting the bass on the hood of your car. Young Bob Capri's grandfather, Art McIntyre used to do just that everytime he caught a real big fish. I'll never forget seeing that big Jeep Wagon with a 40+ pound bass tied to the hood and cooler rack, going down the street on his way to Bruce+Pats B+T back in the late 80's. Art's daughter Michelle married Bob Capri, another Striper maniac like the rest of us, and hence, Bob Capri Jr, with a 50+ before he can drive...haha!. They own and run Subogies, a block or two north of Bruce+Pats B+T. I'm sure a lot of you have had breakfast there.

[Striper101]

When I read the post on FQ, I had to post it on here. I'm really happy for the boy!

[TSStriper]

A friend of mine called me yesterday and told me that he witnessed this fish being caught. Beautiful fish!

[JPHooks]

Congrats there rook!

[Fin-Advisor]

thats awesome ! Hey spooled I guess you know what your next goal is even though you are a 50 member. you have to do it in your yak

[Spooled]

Ordering a rod float as we speak and look out this fall

[fowlhooker01]

in the pic. it shows a date that is june 25 01


hummm

[upchuck]

The fish got bigger as the store gets told. A buddy of mine has a boat at LBI and he tells the store of the 65# striper being cought in the surf from a Kayak? This has got to be the same fish?

[NIGHTSTRIKES]

Originally posted by fowlhooker01:
in the pic. it shows a date that is june 25 01


hummm FowlHooker01,
Its just the way FH Logs their PICS..
Check out this Picutue taken last month.
See the Date- 52501 with the Year 2004 Above It.
http://www.fishermansheadquarters.com/images/2004/May/052501.jpg

[NIGHTSTRIKES]

Originally posted by NIGHTSTRIKES:
http://home.comcast.net/~fishing_report/BobCapriJr20040625.jpg
Bob Capri Jr, Photo From FishermensHeadquarters Here's the Story:
-------------------------------------------------

On kayak, teen hooks 52.8-pound striped bass

By JARRETT RENSHAW Staff Writer, (609) 978-2015
Press of Atlantic City

STAFFORD TOWNSHIP - It is an elusive feat that most experienced fishermen never taste, despite years of chasing it down and countless stories of the one that got away.

But once they do, they become members an elite group who can proudly boast they caught it - a 50-pound or more striped bass.

Bobby Capri Jr. joined that club Friday at the ripe age of 14 in a most untraditional manner, nearly breaking a world record along the way.

The young but experienced Capri was nestled in his 10-foot kayak off the coast of Surf City when he felt a strong tug on his 10-pound test line.

"I was out there trying to catch some bunker to use for bait. Then, I hooked one of the live bunkers on the hook, and I had this monster of a hit on my line," said Capri on Monday.

The fish dragged the 115-pound Capri Jr. for almost 20 minutes, sending him past two jetties and spinning him in circles about a dozen times.

"I knew I had something big. I just did not know how big," Capri said.

It wasn't until Capri brought the fish next to the kayak that he realized exactly how big it was - a 52.8-pound striper.

The fish was within five pounds of the world record of 57 pounds for his age group, according to the International Game Fishing Association.

Capri said that he struggled with getting the large fish on board his kayak. He was forced to put his hand through the striped bass's gill plate and drag the bulky fish onto his lap.

He then attempted to paddle ashore with the fish more than half his size and just less than half his weight, but the nose of his kayak kept tipping, and he feared he might lose the fish.

So, he pushed his hand up through the fish's gill plate once more and jumped out the kayak. He dragged the fish the last 10 to 15 yards in the water and was greeted by a half-dozen onlookers.

Capri initially believed the fish to be about 40 pounds, which is what he told his father during a highly charged cell phone conversation on the beach Friday.

"He called me all excited and asked for help. He said the fish was about 40 pounds," said his father, Bobby Capri Sr.

The call did not surprise Capri Sr., who said his son has been striped bass fishing since the age of 2. In addition, Capri remembers a similar conversation when his son caught a 27-pound striper last year.

"This is what he loves, and he is good at it," said Capri Sr., who, like his son, has recorded a 50-pound striper.

Capri Sr. believes that the kayak actually helped his son catch the fish.

"Have you ever seen those old movies where they harpoon the whales or sharks and tie barrels to the line," his father said with a smile. "Well that was what happened here."

The pair then brought the fish to Tonnesen Tony's Bait and Tackle in Stafford Township, Ocean County, where they found out it weighed 52.8 pounds.

"We have not had a fifty pounder plus in some time now," said Andy Tonnesen, owner of the bait shop.

Tonnesen said that many of the fishermen wait their whole lives to catch a striper weighing 50 pounds or more. "I just had a guy, about 63, who caught his first 40 pounder."

Tonnesen said that this season produced a number of 40-pound stripers, but none more than 50 pounds.

Catching this size of fish at an early age has its drawbacks, as his more experienced father wisely points out.

"I don't think he realizes what he just did. He set the bar so high now that it is going to be a let down in the future if he doesn't catch something bigger, which is not easy to do," Capri Sr said.

On Monday, the fish was still on its local tour of friends and family of the Capris. It will be cut up and given to friends and family.

And no matter how humble Capri Jr. may appear to be, he has earned some bragging rights at an early age.

"He told me he whooped my butt," said one friend of the family who caught a 40-pound striper on the same day.

To e-mail Jarrett Renshaw at The Press:

[ReadyJettyGo]

Man, thats awesome!
Good for the kid.

[fowlhooker01]

oh was just wondering sorry

[mr151]

its a beautiful thing ;) :D hey Bob keep ur phone lines open im sure that fish will make u famous... saw u on the news last night and you'll probably be on the front page of many magizines. GOODLUCK TO YOU!!!!!!