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Hook, Line and Sinker

Virginia Beach's Dr. Julie Ball - one of the top saltwater anglers in the world, with many top awards and world records - enjoys sharing her knowledge via seminars, radio, TV, articles and a weekly fishing report on her Web site, drjball.com. She is also the area's International Game Fish Association representative. Her passion is to inspire others to get out on the water. Join her as she shares her tips, hints and inspiration here.

Category: Saltwater Angler Subscribe to this blogSubscribe to this blog
■ 23 January 2012 | 10:53 PM

Now that's a big fish

This is why I love being involved in the sportfishing world. The amazing people, historic events, and incredible catches never cease to hold our attention with awe. We never know what’s coming next. And the month of January, traditionally a slower time on the fishing front, continues to shake up the community.

With our heads still spinning from the bizarre striper-tuna phenomenon taking place off the coast of Virginia Beach, this weekend produced yet another eye-opening occurrence with the capture of one of the largest rockfish ever caught, the state’s new record.

I had the opportunity to stand in the presence of this massive record-blowing striper, which was humbling. All the photographs and descriptions of this fish just don’t do it justice. Max King fetched the beast from Virginia Beach, toting it to the Richmond Fishing Expo to place it on display in all its glory. An extra long tub, likened to a live stock feeding trough, was used to stretch the fish, all 57.75-inches of it, in an elegant pose on a layer of ice. Cell phone cameras snapped photos of the once-in-a-lifetime catch for hours on end as folks came from all over to crowd around yet another of Virginia’s extraordinary gifts from the sea. And no wonder, I couldn’t help but stare in amazement myself each time I walked by. That was one beautiful, colossal, amazing fish. I can’t even imagine how excited the angler must be. So, what’s next Vriginia?

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