new PB Smallmouth Bass Raritan River

[thmyorke1]

I was fishing lower main stem this evening and hooked up on a fish on a weightless fluke. Felt good. Sadly it soon comes off....

Immediately after, right after popping off, I get nailed again. Maybe the same fish? Or a fish following the previous one and took the bait? Either way, I see this fish's fins out of the water. Massive body, and I was first thinking it was a pike until I see it flop out of the water. Came back down like a carp lol, splash!. The fight was astonishing and it just kept on working itself side to side, pulling.

Finally get my thumb in it's mouth. Taped it out just over 21 inches. Pics came out crap as always with my one handed measuring tape. Video I took of it might help show. Definitely bigger than my last 20 incher.

Fatter, meaner, and just full of raritan goodness.
Sorry that I had no net, had to lay it in dirt.

https://i.postimg.cc/sXG1XXN8/big2.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/prDTfSxJ/big1200.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/sxFxZzF2/self.jpg

https://media.giphy.com/media/IfguexRtleSyEDaBb6/giphy.mp4

Oh yea and I caught this dink earlier in the evening.

https://i.postimg.cc/xT38qB60/dink.jpg

[JDTuna]

What a tank! Congrats man. Hope you submit it for Skillful Angler!

[Sako1]

Nice fish, congratulations! Must have been an awesome fight.

Dave

[thmyorke1]

What a tank! Congrats man. Hope you submit it for Skillful Angler!
Thanks

I did submit an application. However they can be picky and deny it as i did a poor job measuring with the camera in the other hand, and shaking from adrenaline lol. Hard to get the tape straight and parallel with the fish. They denied my last two applications because the measuring tape was too tiny.

[Jigman13]

Thanks

I did submit an application. However they can be picky and deny it as i did a poor job measuring with the camera in the other hand, and shaking from adrenaline lol. Hard to get the tape straight and parallel with the fish. They denied my last two applications because the measuring tape was too tiny.

Lol gotta calm the adrenaline. Shore based measurement is an art! Get a fat max tape with a good locking function. Huge numbers, wide ruler and durable.

[Lard Almighty]

That is a PIG of a smallmouth! Congrats on the PB. There are bigger ones in that river, and they will start feeding in earnest soon. Can't wait to see your pics of a 6-pounder!

[AndyS]

Congrats on yet another new PB from the RR !!

[thmyorke1]

Lol gotta calm the adrenaline. Shore based measurement is an art! Get a fat max tape with a good locking function. Huge numbers, wide ruler and durable.

Im considering a bump board, but id have to find a way to carry it in my vest. Anyone recommend a folding one?

[jcmasi]

Congrats in the new PB !
Awesome looking fish !

[FASTEDDIE29]

That’s a beauty of a river Smallie! Congrats homie! :D

[Hookmanski]

What a toad!!! Congrats on the pb man!

[JimmyL]

Not surprised at all to see you get that bass. Congratulations, sir.

[Gerry Zagorski]

WOAH!! Nice river Smallie right there. Congrats on your PB... That one will be hard to top..

[Chrisper4694]

Im considering a bump board, but id have to find a way to carry it in my vest. Anyone recommend a folding one?

the grey folding rapala one is good, but still big even folded up. a lot easier to handle a fish with two people.

[thmyorke1]

the grey folding rapala one is good, but still big even folded up. a lot easier to handle a fish with two people.

Im gonna try that out. Thanks.

I did a lil mod on my tape , glued a bump to it with a firm piece of metal.

https://i.postimg.cc/tJ1WxPqQ/IMG-20190923-071118728.jpg

Might come in handy for the time

[Esox Luciano]

Congrats on the new PB!! Definitely looks like it would give up a good fight. I hate missing them upon strikes, but love when their predatorial instinct kicks in and makes them attack again & again! Awesome!!!

I think i like that modified tape. Good thinking!

[thmyorke1]

Congrats on the new PB!! Definitely looks like it would give up a good fight. I hate missing them upon strikes, but love when their predatorial instinct kicks in and makes them attack again & again! Awesome!!!

I think i like that modified tape. Good thinking!

Thanks, just ordered the rapala 24 inch folding ruler. I'll keep the tape for fish anything above 24 inches,... so basically nothing i catch lol :D

[Rich196]

Hot damn, great fish dud. Great job landing that monster. I have a question, I see a lot of guy's on this site over the years post some of the biggest fish I ever saw, and it seems like most measure the fish but never weigh it, why is that? All in all great job.

[reason162]

Fatter, meaner, and just full of raritan goodness.

That is one gorgeous river smallie, congrats!!!

[thmyorke1]

Hot damn, great fish dud. Great job landing that monster. I have a question, I see a lot of guy's on this site over the years post some of the biggest fish I ever saw, and it seems like most measure the fish but never weigh it, why is that? All in all great job.


Not sure about others, but I do length instead of weight because river fish can tend to be lighter but longer. I think length of a fish is a good way to measure age, and im not looking to measure the variable weight that could change if the fish is still trying to digest a bunch of sunfish or carrying eggs.

Now it would be cool if i just measured both properties but then its adding time to the fish out of the water and i like releasing asap. And carrying a scale with me with all the crap I already pack in my vest is just too much. I just got that rapala folding ruler, ill see how much faster and more accurate the process is.

Also weighing trout, carp, esox, etc are not easy so length is like the universal procedure. One last thing is the skillfull angler program (for CnR) asks for length.


@reason162,
You should try the river via kayak. You can hit some spots no bank angler can get to that actually hold some crazy fish.

[reason162]

@reason162,
You should try the river via kayak. You can hit some spots no bank angler can get to that actually hold some crazy fish.

I'm sure of it! Haven't explored the river yet...the thought of having to drag my inflatable over rocks etc gives me pause. I've seen some true giants come out of there, so it's always in the back of my mind.

[ALK11]

Wow. That's a nice fish.