a slob, no doubt about it....

Wow.

Were in the heck did you and that monster.

Definately paperwork, nice fish man

What did it weigh?

congratulation's on a monster fish. topping the world record by over two lbs. just goes to show you never known what you will catch around here any time you drop a line.

Now you're talking!!!! Pretty work.

Thats one of the only times pulling up a croaker while flounder fishing isn't disappointing. Congratulations on a great fish

Not my fish gents, here's the story

http://content.hamptonroads.com/stor...30519&ran=2874

[quote=carolinasman,Aug 19 2007, 06:14 AM][quote=carolinasman,Aug 17 2007, 10:31 PM]a slob, no doubt about it....

[/quote]


Not my fish gents, here's the story

http://content.hamptonroads.com/stor...30519&ran=2874

[/quote]
By LEE TOLLIVER, The Virginian-Pilot
© August 18, 2007 | Last updated 10:42 PM Aug. 17



Norman Jenkins has given new meaning to catching a "horse" croaker.

On Friday, the angler from Portsmouth caught one that weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces from the deep waters around Old Point Comfort at the southern tip of Mathews County. The fish is believed to be the biggest croaker ever caught - in a net or on rod and reel.

According to area headboat and fishing pier operators, more Atlantic croaker are caught from Virginia waters during the summer than any other species.

"Good Lord, that's a big croaker," Virginia Beach captain Skip Feller said. "We're catching a lot of croaker right now, but nothing like that."

The species is a summer mainstay because of its abundance and taste. Those that weigh 2 pounds or more are affectionately called horses. Jenkins' fish was more like a Clydesdale. And it shattered world and state records.

The International Game Fish Association all-tackle world record for the species was 5 pounds, 8 ounces. It was caught in 2000 off the coast of Alabama.

The previous Virginia record weighed 5 ounces more, but it was caught in 1982, before the IGFA recognized the species for world record consideration.

The fish gets its name for the deep croaking sound it makes. The average croaker is 12 inches long and about 1-1/2 pounds.

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A 3-pounder is large enough to earn an award from the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. But fish topping 4 pounds are a rarity throughout the species' range.

The species rarely lives past five years but can survive up to nine, according to Jon Lucy, a marine recreation specialist with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

"With all the people who bottom-fish along the coast and in the Gulf, with all that activity, for there not to be more big croaker caught is an amazement," Lucy said. "That's what makes this particular fish so unusual."

The easy-to-catch bottom feeder is a mainstay for many Virginia anglers.

"Spot and croaker are our bread and butter," said Brock Baskette, a bait shop employee at the Ocean View Fishing Pier in Norfolk.

"We've been catching them pretty good lately. We even had a 4-1/2 -pounder a couple of days ago.

"But an 8-pounder? Geesh!"

Jenkins was flounder fishing with his lifelong friend, Sammy Brooks, also of Portsmouth.

"We thought it was a puppy drum or something by the way it was fighting," said Jenkins, a 63-year-old retired railroad employee. "When we got it close to the net, Sammy thought it was a small black drum."

When the two measured the grunting fish at whopping 28 inches, they realized they had a real horse on their hands.

"He started croaking like crazy, louder than most croaker you catch," said Jenkins, who added that the fish was his first award-winning fish. "We started realizing it was a croaker.

"One heck of a big croaker."

Holy #**#, thats just rediculous!!

Man thats great, its always good to know that bigger fish are always there.

That 80# striper is going to hit the dock this Winter for sure.

holy schnikies

I've caught 3 lb croaker and they were all I could handle on the light gear I was using. I can't imagine the battle a 9 pounder would give on 8 lb test. That is truely an impressive catch!

I'll make sure I post a pic when I get it.

Did you catch a red drum and paint him to look like a croaker???? that is the biggest one I have ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

doesnt the IGFA reconize release citations as capable for world records?? but hey i would get that sucker mounted but imagine releasing something that size, feeling of graditude and success

That's a spotless red drum!!!

Damn nice croaker!!!! Congrats to the angler!!

I've read that the IGFA has been trying to come up with release records. Haven't heard of anything absolute yet.

Incredible fish and fishery we are blessed with here! Would have never imagined a croaker getting that size. Hats off to the lucky angler. The catch speaks for itself but I hate pictures with any fish held out at arms length, more so with trophy class fish. A 3#'er can look that big if you hold it close enough to the lens. Tape or scale gives greater visual impact imho.

Note to self: make sure Shimano, Ande, Loomis, Garmin, Berkley, Miller Lite, Fritos and a big VBSF banner are in the picture of my world record fish. The picture taken by my contract lawyer lol.

Bowed Up brings up a good point...that arms length could bring up some issues with IGFA. They too don't like photos at arms length. I'm sure they're plenty of other pics for the IGFA to look at though...regardless...one heck of a fish!!

Thats a monsta croaker

I saw the monster with my own eyes and can tell you for sure - the picture DOES NOT do justice to the size of that beast. It looked to be five inches thick and probably pushing twelve inches tall at the head. I believe half of what I see and none of what I hear, but this one's for real. Congratulations Norm Jenkins!