The Al McReynolds story, holy cow

[Timmy T]

Man, what a CRAZY story about the world record striper! If you have not read this you must, its Al's story in his own words. Its a shame really how the guy was treated in the end, crazy stuff

http://www.stripers247.com/seventeighteight.htm

[bgreene]

Yeh, and if you believe the rumors, the stories, and tales from old time commercial fishermen - some Stripers, bigger.............much bigger were caught in nets.......

100lbs + have been discussed.

I was born in the wrong age. Should have been fishing in the 1920's - 1950's.

Limited fishing technology, but lots of fish.
Today - lots of technology, but limited fish.

Thanks for your post.

[bubble]

the largest weighed was in north carolina 100 years ago 125lbs with the head missing estamated 6 foot long:eek:

[Fly Ty R]

Al's fish used to be hanging in Corky Campbell's store (Campbell's Marine), which is now Gifford Marine in Northfield. As a kid that was my local tackle shop (only 2 miles or so from my house), and I never knew that was the record mount until someone told me a long time afterward. I saw that it was a big fish, but since I didn't do much saltwater fishing back then and didn't know anything about stripers, I had no idea that it was an original mount of the real world record fish, and that is where it got weighed in. Pretty cool! :D

Al still shows up from time to time to fish or net bait in the AC area. He's a local yokel at heart.

[Timmy T]

the largest weighed was in north carolina 100 years ago 125lbs with the head missing estamated 6 foot long:eek:

do you have a link or something where I can read about this, sounds cool!

[LOOPY64]

good read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[addictedtofishing]

oughta write a book out of that kept me very entertained

[aimless]

Al's bass is in Campell's New Generation Marine in Somers Point now. Also the record tog is there.

[Backlash_Bill]

I was given a book a few years ago for x-mas, which is written by a Field & Stream writer who followed the migration of the Striped Bass from Maine to North Carolina.


Book: " On the Run" an Angler's journey down the Striper coast.
Author: David Di Benedetto
2003

HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

This is an excellent read and he told a very interesting story about Al McReynolds in the book, Chaper 10 is devoted to the World record catch.
I don't have much time to read , but I couldn't put this book down, enjoy!

[gone_fishing]

On the run is an excellent book. I am nearly through Striper Wars. MUST read for serious fisherman. I believe that if we did our part and HONESTLY released the big girls we would see big Stripers in the future. Unfortunately too many people in Cape May and Oregon Inlet keep every cow they can grab. Keep a 30...release the big uns to breed.

I'm off the soap box...

[Working Class Hero]

Such a wonderful read! I also have the "On the Run" book. Makes me want to fish at night with a 5 1/2" rebel!

[finaddict5]

Wow, what an interesting story by Al! Kind of sad, but he is still "The Striper King".

[Michaelc]

Al is a work of art. He shows up every year around the mullet run. Notice how in the article he never names his friend in the article. He is pictured at the top. Pat and Al had a falling out after the fish was caught and Al refuses to give Pat any mention in any of the articles written about him. He is always referred to as "his friend". There is more to the story but I cannot get Pat to give it to me. I have tried for years. One of these days, Pat will break down and give me the scoop. There have been many rumours about the catch ever since it was weighed in. Only two people know the truth.

[Capt. Lou]

Tough deal, if evertyhing was done right he could of parlayed that 250 into 500K & still be at it today ! Anyway for sheer consisitency it's Charlie Cinto, I believe, not positive, he landed three over seventy lbs.

[egghead]

Al is a work of art. He shows up every year around the mullet run. Notice how in the article he never names his friend in the article. He is pictured at the top. Pat and Al had a falling out after the fish was caught and Al refuses to give Pat any mention in any of the articles written about him. He is always referred to as "his friend". There is more to the story but I cannot get Pat to give it to me. I have tried for years. One of these days, Pat will break down and give me the scoop. There have been many rumours about the catch ever since it was weighed in. Only two people know the truth.

Interesting quote. Corky Campbell won't discuss it either but the mount in the shop owned by his son.

Why?

[barrell]

There is also a mount in the marine mammal stranding center in Brigantine.

[Fly Ty R]

Interesting quote. Corky Campbell won't discuss it either but the mount in the shop owned by his son.

Why?

I don't think any of them want to light the powder keg that this issue seems to be brewing. I think they just want to let it go. Let the record stand, and forget about the rest of the story. If IGFA certified it, then it's good enough for me. Whether he got it legit or from a netter friend in the Del Bay, or whatever story you want to believe, let it rest. ;)

[freaky One]

There are three sides to every story...Yours....his... and the truth! :D

[Timmy T]

Yeah the whole story is nutso, who knows what the truth is, half the time the truth is stranger than fiction so you never know!

[egghead]

I don't think any of them want to light the powder keg that this issue seems to be brewing. I think they just want to let it go. Let the record stand, and forget about the rest of the story. If IGFA certified it, then it's good enough for me. Whether he got it legit or from a netter friend in the Del Bay, or whatever story you want to believe, let it rest. ;)

Then why is the mount so prominently displayed in the shop? I think he is hiding something.

[Timmy T]

who is hiding something?

[egghead]

who is hiding something?

Corky Campbell.

[Fly Ty R]

I'm not Corky, so I wouldn't know the truth. But I would think, regardless of the story, it was the IGFA certified world record fish original mount, caught in that area, weighed in at his shop..... so why not display it? Regardless of the story of how it got there...

I really doubt it brings him in any business. Al never mentions Corky by name, or his store by name, in his story. So it's not like it's a shady promotional business between the two of them. And, no one in the store ever mentioned it to me, or anyone else I knew, for the years that I went to his original store. I only found out about it years after the Northfield store changed hands. It had to have been more of an "ask first" sort of thing, I guess.

[egghead]

In "On the Run" the author tries to track down the mount and mentions Campbell's.

I find it very curious that Corky refuses to talk about it.

[cutwingsmatt]

I love this stuff- legend, intrigue, grudges, - I feel for Al. I have a fascination with the records only in that they serve to tell you something about BIG fish. but the longer I dig around them the more I see that the effects of jealousy, money, and greed on those around them is really, really dangerous. Look at the guys who caught the massive largemouth in CA this past year- good for them letting it go (I know they snagged it - but they didn't have to tell us that)! It's like the phantom punch, the immaculate reception, the Great White off Montauk- all legend made even more so by the circumstance...

We are a very strange species trying to explain our very existence... to ourselves.

[Timmy T]

yeah I definetly don't envy him!

Great story though and a very interesting read

[Michaelc]

I love this stuff- legend, intrigue, grudges, - I feel for Al. I have a fascination with the records only in that they serve to tell you something about BIG fish. but the longer I dig around them the more I see that the effects of jealousy, money, and greed on those around them is really, really dangerous. Look at the guys who caught the massive largemouth in CA this past year- good for them letting it go (I know they snagged it - but they didn't have to tell us that)! It's like the phantom punch, the immaculate reception, the Great White off Montauk- all legend made even more so by the circumstance...

We are a very strange species trying to explain our very existence... to ourselves.
If you ever spent any time with Al, you would start to wonder about it. If Pat wasn't there that day, Al would still be dragging that fish home. As I remeber it, Corky did not want to open up early to weigh the fish. I believe the fish was out of the water a good 5 hours before it got weighed and the actual carcus was so be up by the time it was certified, that they had to make a Best Guess to do the mount. I have read many articles about and by AL and he never ever will mention Pat by name. Always "my friend". Pat has told me that someday he will put out the whole story. Head to head, I would take Pat as a better surf fisherman. fished with both, both know thier stuff, Al was just lucky. Or so they say.

[filletone]

Reading Als tall tales, I think he is full of it. He claims Corky pulled a gun on him??????WTF

The thing that is being suggested by the silence is that Al's friend with him that night (who he no longer speaks to) assisted in the catch in a manner that would disqualify the record. Corky allegedly knew it.



There is so much bs about a guy who got lucky one night on a jetty (caught a big weakfish that night too) that the story will never be clear.

[Timmy T]

I don't understand what the carcass being beat up would make you wonder about. its still there, albeit beat up, if anything it would weigh LESS because it whooped up right?

[Timmy T]

"The thing that is being suggested by the silence is that Al's friend with him that night (who he no longer speaks to) assisted in the catch in a manner that would disqualify the record. Corky allegedly knew it"

ah, gotcha.

[DaPlumber]

I would buy him a beer . Sitting on the truth is no better than stretching it . If its certified it all good by me . Is there really anything better then a GREAT fish story ?

[BlueFen]

Al's fish used to be hanging in Corky Campbell's store (Campbell's Marine), which is now Gifford Marine in Northfield.

Corky still has the mount at Campbells New Generation Marine in Somers Point, NJ. It is hanging over the Yamalube.

[Backlash_Bill]

The link that Timm T posted also had a rebuttal to the book I mentioned on an earlier post. The rebuttal contrast what is written in the book " On the Run" and lends a clear perspective to the negative innuendos recorded in the book in regargds to Al. Al should write a book called Striped lighting: Does strike twice, what a story!

[Michaelc]

I would buy him a beer . Sitting on the truth is no better than stretching it . If its certified it all good by me . Is there really anything better then a GREAT fish story ?
Go for it. Al is around every fall, catching mullet and selling it. But beware, Buy Al one and you will have a hard time shaking him loose. You very rarely see him with a rod in his hand up here mostly a cast net.

[egghead]

Reading Als tall tales, I think he is full of it. He claims Corky pulled a gun on him??????WTF

The thing that is being suggested by the silence is that Al's friend with him that night (who he no longer speaks to) assisted in the catch in a manner that would disqualify the record. Corky allegedly knew it.



There is so much bs about a guy who got lucky one night on a jetty (caught a big weakfish that night too) that the story will never be clear.

That would not surprise me.

[fishpoint]

I worked with Al on the ACBP thru the late 60s and 70s. He worked out of New Hampshire Ave. Tent and I worked out of States Ave. One of the reasons he was so familiar with the Jetty he caught the fish from is he was on that beach for 7 days a week every summer.

[Bridesburg River Rat]

With all that is read and said regarding this world record it does make the story very interesting. I remember the photo's in the paper from that day many years ago, and even then there was speculation that the fish was netted. The truth is only known by two people who are not saying anything, other than it was caught on a Penn reel with Ande line using a Rebel at the Vermont Avenue jetty.

Hey Michaelc send me an e-mail. Where in the Burg are you from? and When?

[egghead]

Perhaps I was not cleear. I have no trouble believing that Corky pulled a gun.

[bubble]

timmy t the fisherman magazine runs that story in a factoid just about every issue /april 26th issue page15r reads{The largest striped bass ever recorded was caught in Edenton NC in 1891,weighed an amazing125lbs
[without the head]and is estimated to have been six feet long.} thats all i know:eek: :eek:














]

[Working Class Hero]

"I remember the photo's in the paper from that day many years ago, and even then there was speculation that the fish was netted. The truth is only known by two people"

Me too! what a wonderful thing. I'm just so glad that a surf guy caught the biggest striper and not a boat guy!!

Leave the guy alone!! it should give you some inspiration to fish for stripers at night from the shore.......... and what could be better than that?