19" Striper scores hardest strike I've ever had

[CHOC]

I was retrieving a Rapala XR10 near some sunken structure and BAM! My first thought was a really big bluefish. Shortly after the strike I felt the telltale quick head pops of a smaller striper and the rest of the fight was pretty pedestrian. However, my right hand is still sore from the impact of the strike.

I ended up limiting out on the day with a 20" and a 21.5" but neither of them had as much piss in their pants as the 19". I put him back for you guys. I don't know what it was about it, but it felt like a car accident reverberated through my fishing rod.

[XXXMedium]

Thats awesome! I always love the shorts that bring it. Kinda like the little guy that bit a lure the same size as overall length! I hope your right hand gets better

[WOOD YAK]

Sweet feeling! I had a 17" today that when I pulled the rod out of the holder it pulled so hard it nearly ripped the rod out of my hands, thought he was a keeper for sure. Never had that happen. Must be getting feisty with the cooler temps!

[manlystanley]

Hawg and Wood: Good going! Nothing like feeling that reel click out.

Best Regards,
Stan

[ronaultmtd]

Last fall I had a strike trolling an XR14 XRap that darn near stopped my Outback in its tracks- like hitting a stump with the Mirage Drive...pulling big crankbaits, I have a fairly tight drag to drive the big single Owner hooks home...and the 19 inch "football" stripers that are fully filled out are powerful...Albert Einstein- Energy equals mass times acceleration squared...

[manlystanley]

Last fall I had a strike trolling an XR14 XRap that darn near stopped my Outback in its tracks- like hitting a stump with the Mirage Drive...pulling big crankbaits, I have a fairly tight drag to drive the big single Owner hooks home...and the 19 inch "football" stripers that are fully filled out are powerful...Albert Einstein- Energy equals mass times acceleration squared...

Wow! I bet-you that guy had a sore mouth when you let him go........

Best Regards,
Stan

[ronaultmtd]

We were catching 23-27 inch fish that day Stan...no big fish, but lots of frisky, legal fish...once we found them we stopped trolling and cast to them with the big crankbaits...after a dozen or so, you really are wore out and ready for a nap...looking forward to that fishery...Got into them some Monday but not like they were that day...they were schooled up on a ball of bait in 12 FOW...and the XR14 was what they wanted- were not on top water

[CHOC]

Last fall I had a strike trolling an XR14 XRap that darn near stopped my Outback in its tracks- like hitting a stump with the Mirage Drive...pulling big crankbaits, I have a fairly tight drag to drive the big single Owner hooks home...and the 19 inch "football" stripers that are fully filled out are powerful...Albert Einstein- Energy equals mass times acceleration squared...

"Football stripers" is an apt term for the fish I caught. Short but powerful. Like a fullback. Probably weighed more than a lot of keepers.

[CHOC]

I will say that this is the hardest strike I've ever had with the pole in my hand. Not the hardest I've ever had while fishing. That prize goes to a fish this March. I was trolling an X-RAP 8 in about 12 ft of water on the mid bay and the poll bent nearly in half instantly and snapped the 20lb mono leader within 2 secs of the strike. I wasn't even able to get my hands to the reel in the Scotty. It was over before it started.

[manlystanley]

I will say that this is the hardest strike I've ever had with the pole in my hand. Not the hardest I've ever had while fishing. That prize goes to a fish this March. I was trolling an X-RAP 8 in about 12 ft of water on the mid bay and the poll bent nearly in half instantly and snapped the 20lb mono leader within 2 secs of the strike. I wasn't even able to get my hands to the reel in the Scotty. It was over before it started.

Bummer!!! The dumbest thing I have done this season, is that I caught a huge rock fish last month. Must have been 124-26 inches. I got my tape measure, put the fish on my lap, the started to pull out the tape. Just then the fish started to flop like crazy. Before I could get a grip on it, the fish was over board. Man, I was upset.

Best Regards,
Stan

[CHOC]

Haha, I've lost a few like that! When it's a really nice fish, I keep the hook in the fishes mouth until I measure and/or put it on the stringer if I plan on keeping it. That way if the fish gets floppy, I have a safeguard.