Albert McReynolds World record Bass

[Brewlugger]

I just heard second hand that Albert passed away last night. I never met him but I did see a mount of his 78.5lb Striper at Cambells about a year after he caught it. Here is what I remember about it. He caught her in late September at the Vermont ave jetty in 1982. He said he got it on a 5 inch Rebel at the start of a northeast storm at 10 PM and The Bass were pushing Mullet into the jetty. Not sure if my memory is correct and I'm wondering if any on here recall that catch. The one thing that's burned in my memory was when I saw that fish at Cambells tackle shop.

[RescueDogger]

https://www.onthewater.com/striper-holy-ground-the-vermont-avenue-jetty

Great story. May Albert rest peacefully. Good piece from OTW.

[june181901]

I too saw the fish. One guy was holding the fish and another man at Campbell's was moving a 5 pound or so weakfish in and out of its' mouth.
There was a NJ Fish and Game guy there as well and he felt the fish 'lost' a couple of pounds since it didn't get to a certified scale until a few hours after the catch. He suggested to all anglers if you need a certified scale at zero dark thirty head to the nearest hospital as their morgues have said certified scales.

Kudos should also go to the late Nelson Bryant outdoor editor of the NY Times who made McReynolds aware of some very rich prizes out there for catching a world record breaker. McReynolds could have had a nice supplemental income going around and talking at dinners, conventions etc. Alas he was not a public speaker.

[tjd24]

Interesting aside to the World Record story.

There was a big controversy after McReynolds caught this fish. In 1982, Abu-Garcia ran a contest that would pay $250,000 to anyone who broke the World Record for each of the following fish: largemouth, smallmouth, land-locked striped and saltwater striped bass for a $1,000,000 Total.

He had not entered the tournament before the catch but the rules only said you must catch the fish within the prescribed time period. He entered the tournament after he caught the fish. Abu-Garcia disputed the claim but the rules were not specific enough. After a long battle between McReynolds' lawyer and Abu-Garcia's lawyers, he was eventually given the $250,000 Prize.

I think Abu-Garcia rewrote the language in their future contest rules.

[porgylber]

There was a NJ Fish and Game guy there as well and he felt the fish 'lost' a couple of pounds since it didn't get to a certified scale until a few hours after the catch. He suggested to all anglers if you need a certified scale at zero dark thirty head to the nearest hospital as their morgues have said certified scales.

I’d love to see the look on the hospital workers face, when someone shows up with a big, dead fish at the morgue!

[dales529]

While I didnt know him personally the story goes that this fish ruined his life.
He was spurned by those he shared a surf passion with, accused of cheating, received death threats and really just wanted to fish quietly. The exposure damn near killed him then and hopefully he came to peace with it all before he passed.
RIP AL

[shrimpman steve]

While I didnt know him personally the story goes that this fish ruined his life.
He was spurned by those he shared a surf passion with, accused of cheating, received death threats and really just wanted to fish quietly. The exposure damn near killed him then and hopefully he came to peace with it all before he passed.
RIP AL

This is the story I read as well. Either way, catch of a lifetime

RIP.

[RescueDogger]

received death threatsUgh.

If he was fishing Vermont Ave though, (inlet district, pale blue color on the Monopoly board), he must have been tough and ready to take all comers when it comes to escalation of force.

Must have been an amazing catch. I'll be pretty psyched when I get one half that size.

[Detour66]

What a catch and story. Every fisherman's dream and apparently nightmare. May Albert RIP. True legend!

[NJ219bands]

The night before the world record was caught, a big bass broke my line and stole my lure while I was plugging on the Barnegat Inlet north jetty. I like to think that it was the world record. The night of the world record, I caught a 22 lb striper there on a plug. The late Rich Mohr tried to gaff it, but it was so rough that a big wave washed it onto the jetty before he could gaff it.