8.74lb Lake Hopatcong Largemouth Bass...

[henro]

Awesome fish for NJ. My biggest in NJ is 6lb 15oz that I caught when I was young and used to bass fish a lot. I know how long it takes them to go grow that big this far north with our cooler climate and shorter growing period so that's a monster! Just a rant but I hate when guys gotta lean back that far to take a pic with a fish. So stupid it's a trophy already no need for that.

[River Renegade]

Solid LM nicely done!!

[icebadger]

as roland would say"sun thats a toad" great fish congrats.

[River Renegade]

Originally Posted by icebadger

as roland would say"sun thats a toad" great fish congrats.

Actually he says "son" Martin rules though.

[AndyS]

I've seen only one 8lbr so far, impressive !!

Congratulations on the catch of a lifetime and great job on the release. That is one healthy looking fish to boot! Good to see a fish of that size with the limited growing seasons we have up north caught. Especially so when you consider the amount of angling pressure Lake Hopatcong gets, very impressive catch and glad she's still swimming around.

[Chrisper4694]

three 8.5lbs+ largemouth have been caught from hopatcong over the past 2 years. I saw one with my own eyes, this one in the picture that many confirm, and a 3rd one that was apparently 8lbs12oz (reported at the KDC meeting, but as far as i know not documented at all)

[Chrisper4694]

Originally Posted by henro

Awesome fish for NJ. My biggest in NJ is 6lb 15oz that I caught when I was young and used to bass fish a lot. I know how long it takes them to go grow that big this far north with our cooler climate and shorter growing period so that's a monster! Just a rant but I hate when guys gotta lean back that far to take a pic with a fish. So stupid it's a trophy already no need for that.

Better than taking a pic of a monster and making it look smaller than it is haha, hate it when that happens! Better to be safe than sorry! Present the fish to the camera, lean back and relax and don't get any background in the pic hahaha.

[XXlyakattacker]

Now that is one nice bass! Makes it hard for me to stay at work after seeing a beast like that.

[yumasdad]

Originally Posted by Chrisper4694

Better than taking a pic of a monster and making it look smaller than it is haha, hate it when that happens! Better to be safe than sorry! Present the fish to the camera, lean back and relax and don't get any background in the pic hahaha.

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YEAH BUT THE WATER WAS COLD....THERE WAS SHRINKAGE!!!!!


Awesome fish. Great color & looked very healthy. May she keep spawning for years & passing on those dominant genes.