[lumberslinger178]

I found more of the story




October 31, 2007

1:30 PM

More on that Rod and Reel with Striper snag reported on 10/28/2007 Noon...

The angler who originally hooked up with the fish is now known. On 10/10/2007 after a meeting of the Heavers Fishing Club, Pete Figueroa went fishing off 28th Street in Barnegat Light. His rod was baited in a sand spike and when he walked away for a few seconds that is when the fish struck. The sand spike went down and the rod and reel were pulled into the water just inches away from the angler grabbing it. At that point it was just a wonder as to what it could have been. Mr. Figueroa is now excited to know that what he actually hooked that night was a 52-inch Striper. [This would have been a great fish for the LBI Striped Bass Derby.]

A bit more info... On 10/21/2007 the vessel Rascal II with Captain George Ellmer and Mate Captain Tom Albert while fishing a charter loading up on Croakers and Weakfish about a 1-1/2 miles off Barnegat Light snagged a fishing line. It was Power Pro and handling it took some care and patience especially when they realized a big fish was pulling back on that end of the line. Pulling in the line they discovered a live 52-inch Striper on one end and a 10' Surf rod and reel on the other end. Yes, you read that correctly, the fish was alive