10 year old catches 40lb Striper on Lanier

Bob Benson

Member
Got out with my son this morning on Lanier. Caught some bait early. Fished with small threadfin on #6 hooks and some larger herring on #2 hooks. Water temps were stable at 45. Fished everything on floats or planer floats. The big fish hit and sat on the bait for a few seconds. I picked up the rod and fed it some line. Shortly after, it took off. I engaged the reel and handed it off to Charles. After it peeled 200+ feet, I realized this would be a solid fish. At about 300', I decided to turn and chase the fish. We were fishing with Abu 6500s and 12' fluoro leader. By the time we caught up to her, she found her way into a brush pile. I got the rod back and played cat and mouse for a while. I finally just opened the bail and fed line allowing the fish to swim out of the brush. It started to take off in a different direction. Heres where we got lucky. I engaged the reel after it ran 50+ feet. I felt the break, which was luckily the branch breaking from the main line (20 lb). I handed the rod back to Charles for round 2. The fish managed to pull another 100'. I continuously loosened the drag after the brush incident. The fish surfaced and we did have to use the trolling motor to catch up again. I was afraid of breaking the badly frayed line. Charles did a great job keeping the rod high and keeping solid pressure on the fish. She was a click over 40 pounds and 45.5" long. We released her with anticipations of getting a Replica done.
 

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Worley

Senior Member
Fish

Awesome- awesome- awesome fish pal....Congratulations on a great story u will get to share for a lifetime, and a Huge fish....:cool:
 

Ahab

Senior Member
Incredible! Great to see a giant to kick things off this year.
 

bayoubetty

Senior Member
Great story of the one that didn't get away!!!! Congratulations to the young man, Charles :)
 

jerseycat9

Senior Member
That is awesome Bob!!!! Ricky kept telling me "just watch someone's gonna get a big one in the next day or so" well he was right and I'm glad it was you and your son!
 
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specialk

Senior Member
that's great!!!....it will take a week to get that smile off his face!!!
 

Robert Eidson

GONetwork Member
GREAT CATCH and I love this picture... Congrats to both of you..... This post made my day....
 

Scout'nStripers

Senior Member
WTG Charles and Bob! Not very many folks have a striper over 40 on Lanier. Quite an accomplishment for the young lad.:cheers:
 

Batjack

Cap`n Jack 1313
How many folks can say that they caught a fish TOO big to take a picture of ? That young man is hooked for life ! Can't beat a smile like that ! Congrat's and more tight lines. Congrat's to the "Proud Poppa" too. Good luck keeping him in school and out of the boat from now on.
 
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