Giant East Coast Striper In Kayak

Thought NCKAers might enjoy this story from a friend of mine

https://www.facebook.com/chesapeake.kayak.trolling/

Great story and insight into his technique, beautiful fish as well. And his description of having it on the kayak was spot on 

Awesome story

What A Monster! Awesome

Holy Fazzitti! I get the quick release bit, totally, but I do wish he had a chance to really measure and weigh that monster.

Holy frijole!

Bryon,

I saw the picture of this striper on Snaggedline.com the other day and thought about posting it, but never got around to it. I'm glad you did.

Thanks,

Dave

wow, what a beast!

monster rockfish!

I don't do facebook, can someone link this another way pls

I don't do facebook, can someone link this another way pls

See if this link works:

https://www.facebook.com/chesapeake.kayak.trolling/photos/a.1439487312985191.1073741832.1437659766501279/1671531996447387/?type=3&theater

here you go:

"Water Temp 38-45 F
Air Temp 30’s-40’s
In winter I like getting out early, really early. This time I was on the water by 4:30 AM. The baitfish congregate at night making them easier to find on the fish finder. I cruise about looking for as many clumps as possible, trolling lures to entice a strike. Generally speaking, the striped bass hit right about day break. Afterwards the schools of bait thin out and more time must be spent finding them again, which ends up wasting time. For those of you that have read my book or listened to me speak, wasting time is the enemy of catching fish. Everything should be done efficiently to put the best odds in your favor.
Alone in the dark, in the bay, on a kayak can be a little unnerving. I must have spooked some fish because large splashes erupted on at least two occasions right next to the kayak. I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t startle, further questioning what I was doing out there in the cloudless frigid darkness. As the sun poked above the horizon, a friendly boat came near. I recognized my friends on the vessel and I shared what I’d seen for the previous 2 hours. After a time of no success they were moving on, but I called them over to fish my area where I was catching some smaller 20” fish. Certainly not why I came, but a tug on the line is fun none the less. I always prefer being friendly on the water than shunning those that fish around me. I’ve learned quite a few tricks from guys that have been fishing way longer than I’ve been alive. After some time they moved on, as the bite became nonexistent.
I put away the rod I used to cast a ¾ oz jig with a 4” paddle tail trailer and decided to look for some big fish. I cast a 6” lure to one side and an 8” to the other and went back to the bread and butter, kayak trolling! I covered about a half mile along an 8’ contour and back again to see if they preferred one direction rather than another. They typically do. The tide was falling at this point and I was following it, focusing on a patch of bait that seemed out of place. I don’t typically see them at this location but with current ripping around a point and bait fish present, it seemed like the right opportunity. At the end of the run and no fish to show for it, I remember making a conscious decision. I moved the rudder to steer the kayak deeper then I changed my mind. I headed shallower to repeat the run. No sooner did I turn, the fish of a lifetime snapped up my lure.
Almost unceremoniously the rod bent backwards with no great run or reel sizzling action. Almost as if the fish didn’t know it was hooked, I turned the kayak towards it and began reeling it in. The kayak moved closer to the fish, than the fish moved to the kayak. The long head shakes gave the fish away as a giant. Rapid head shakes belong to smaller fish. Later in the season this fish would have dashed off in a hurry, but this one stayed put. I couldn’t move it, and as I did, then it made its runs. After about 5 minutes of tussling with the giant I knew it was something special and I began recording on the GoPro. After another few minutes, the fish was tired and was at the side of the kayak.
I was faced with a pair of problems. The first, my 40 lb Boga Grip couldn’t open wide enough to get around the lower lip which was a little wider than my thumb. I eventually solved the problem with a solid thrust onto the lip, although I feared knocking the plug from its mouth and the whole thing going for naught. I had the fish by a single arm and discovered quickly that there was no chance of landing it like that. The pair of trebles hanging out of its mouth made me question my next move to reach in with both hands to pull the beast from below. It was at this point the kayak nearly rolled with the weight of the fish hanging off one side. With a quick posture I leaned to the other side and pulled it aboard. The weight sat heavy on my lap. It was unbelievable. Everything about the fish was oversized and somehow looked different. This fish, fully fattened on shad, looked as wide as I. I can only describe it as unwieldy on a kayak.
I wanted a few photos and to attempt a measurement before releasing it where it will continue on to breed in another month. My tape measure reached only 35” with much fish remaining to measure. If you don’t know, I’ve been after a 50” fish for a long time. These specimens are quite rare, but a few are caught every year. I thought this could be it. I moved the tape a little further, another 13”. I’ll claim 48” conservatively, although it could have broken 50”. I can’t take credit for a life goal without having a proper measurement, which turns out is nearly impossible for a fish this size in a kayak. I have a pole measured for 50”, but I’d left it in my truck. Ah the luck that this would be the day I’d need it.
None the less, this fish is the largest I’d ever caught, surpassing the 47” red drum I’d caught just months before. That was measured on a 50” stick and was awarded a catch and release citation. This fish was simply a reward for the years of endless fishing, and while I’ve caught many 40” fish, none were like this one.
As always, I share my catch and report following a day of fishing, but that first pic went a bit crazy on social media. Thanks for all the love guys. I appreciate it. There were some haters for whatever reason. I guess you reach internet supremacy when people care enough bash you. I love the guy who took the time to write “photoshopped” on many of my reports. I guess it’s hard for some people to believe that there are people that spend a lot of time learning the waters and are rewarded. Another particularly entertaining theory was that I’d taken a mounted fish and took a photo with it….as if I have nothing better to do, or even have a mounted fish at my disposal. I do not. You got to love the internet. I assure you, this is a fish of a lifetime that was caught Saturday morning, 3/5/2016 at 8 A.M.. I spent time to ensure she was strong enough to swim off. I didn’t let go until I could hold her no more. I did give her a kiss goodbye and told her it was nice to meet her."

WOW!!

Wow !!!, fish of a lifetime for sure, congrats to your friend...

Monster.  His smile says it all.