from the Hudson River in Orange County.
The record for catching the largest inland Striped Bass in New York state was recently broken, state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. Eric Lester of Campbell Hall caught a 60 pound female striped bass measuring 53.4 inches in length and 33 inches in girth from Hudson River in Newburgh, Orange County on May 14. The new record surpassed the former record of 55 pounds 6 ounces, set in 2007, by four pounds ten ounces.
“This is a remarkable new record catch,” said Commissioner Martens. “I congratulate Mr. Lester on his success and determination in catching the largest recorded inland Striped Bass in New York and encourage others to take advantage of the many outstanding fishing opportunities New York has to offer.”
Angler Eric Lester knew he had a big fish on when a comedy of errors ensued as he fished alone on Newburgh Bay on May 14, 2014. As the fish fought, the reel came off his rod; he managed a quick fix only to find the line tangled around his prop. Despite these difficulties, he was able to successfully land the fish. Mr. Lester, while astounded at the size of the fish, managed to get her on board. DEC biologists estimated the fish to be at least 20 years old.
For more information, read the entire press release here: http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/97066.html
Nice job staying with and landing the fish despite the equipmnet failures during the heat of battle. Fish-On!!
That fish should’ve been released. Record or no
Why is this striper considered to be fresh water when it can just as easily swim to the ocean? Are not there stripers in Santee Cooper. These fish are freshwater.
spawning cows ? NYS really ? slot limit during spawning and the heck with records…
This is a damn shame. It’s 2014, the striper stock are in a massive decline and OTW, publishes a 60 BREEDER that was killed. CATCH & RELEASE for God sake!!!!!!
Nice fish very happy for your record however with the decline of our stripped bass should we be about records or releasing spawning bass??
Please stop complaining about him keeping a legal fish. If you don’t like the current system complain about the DEC not instituting a slot.
I agree with the commentators; should have been released. I say a letter in OTW the other day from a regular Hudson River fishing father and son wanting to now fish the Connecticut River as the Hudson wasn’t producing as well; DUH! And the Cod trawlers complained that the rules were hampering their livelihood. Do you think that humans will EVER learn?
You simply cannot keep the egg laden females, of ANY species, thus preventing the laying of the eggs! That striper had THOUSANDS of eggs that may have spawned hundreds of schoolies and, eventually, maybe another 50 pounder. I taught my kids to release ALL of the female bluegills in the spring, and we caught hundreds! Largemouths as well. And to keep only what we wanted for a meal. And Nate, never has the “law” been a replacement for a good moral compass, Tight Lines, Joe
Right on Joe G, if you want eat Stripers-keep the legal males. Let the cows go!!!
Hopefully it spawned already and was returning to the ocean. OTW – more conservation focus; less striper cup lets kill everything we can. Slots for stipers.
Great catch that fish is very editable no reason to release.
What an idiotic record….who gives a damn how far up a river a 60 pounder was caught. Female probably spawning with eggs that’s why it weighed so much. Should have been measured and released. By the way, a fish over fourty pounds is much poorer tasting and is loaded with PCB’s which are very bad for you.