From SWLCC facebook page posed May 2020
Salt Water Lure Collectors Club
tMauSsplomyeon s1o3refd ·
R.I.P To another striped bass legend.
Al McReynolds pulled this World Record striper from the Atlantic fishing at night off the Vermont Ave. jetty in Atlantic City following days of September Nor'easter storming in 1982. The fish was taken on a 5 1/2-inch long Rebel Black-back silver minnow plug on 20-pound test line. It took one hour and 40 minutes to land the fish on the slippery jetty. The fish measured 53 inches in length with a 34 1/2 inch girth, and was estimated to be 20 - 22 years old. Its 78 pound 8 oz. weight earned it the IGFA all-tackle record!
McReynolds passed last Sunday at his residence in Naples, Florida
That's one helluva fish! Looks like a 710 greenie?
Cool photo Bob. What is the rod?
-steve
No idea Steve, jut found it on the FB page for the club.
Quote from: oc1 on December 21, 2020, 07:41:15 PM
Cool photo Bob. What is the rod?
-steve
I blew it up and there is a recognizable logo on the rod. At first I thought it was a Fenwick but when I enlarged it, it looked different. Someone on this site will recognize it. Dominick
Based on the thread title, I fully expected to open and see a pic of Dominick catching a fish in the original stock green Speedo....
What manufacturers were reversing reel seats back then?
Quote from: Dominick on December 21, 2020, 10:58:39 PM
I blew it up and there is a recognizable logo on the rod. At first I thought it was a Fenwick but when I enlarged it, it looked different. Someone on this site will recognize it. Dominick
My guess was going to be Garcia-Conolon or Browning Siaflex but Fenwick sounds better.
If you're really bored you can look at the Vermont Ave jetty on Google earth. It's one of those erosion control things. I was expecting something grander.
-steve
I recall reading the story of Al's catch in OL or F&S; I was about 14 then. There was a follow up story much later, the catch had a very negative impact on his life, so it read.
Quote from: Dominick on December 21, 2020, 10:58:39 PM
Quote from: oc1 on December 21, 2020, 07:41:15 PM
Cool photo Bob. What is the rod?
-steve
I blew it up and there is a recognizable logo on the rod. At first I thought it was a Fenwick but when I enlarged it, it looked different. Someone on this site will recognize it. Dominick
He maybe had a 9.5or10ft shimano,,,, ;) but abu-garcia paid him to hold that one,,,,,,,, ;D
Here's a link to a Mens Journal article about the fish and aftermath, rod was a Garcia, or Garcia thought so to the tune of 250K.
https://www.mensjournal.com/features/the-biggest-fish-story-ever-told-20130917/
Wow, what an amazing tale, and a very entertaining read. "...not sure they had even caught a fish but possibly a sea monster in the shape of a striper".
On a sad note, I was also reminded of the young men I see at fishing piers that are there seemingly 24/7, squandering their lives' potential.
Yeah, well written story. Guy was probably never gonna be ready for that kinda success. I sure wouldn't have the knowledge of how to work a deal like that for myself. It sounds like you need one or more professionals, but whom can you trust?..."Yeah, buy me another beer, and we'll make a deal"...
Just had an opportunity to go through an almost unused 714, those Greenies are relatively simple, but seemingly tough machines [haven't fished one yet].
Gfish,
I've been trying to wear out a 700 I got as a kid in the 60's, in those days I wasn't kind to my tackle. It's butt ugly with a chunk busted off the foot, beat up today but still functions as factory new. Maybe I can wear it out in another hundred years or so. A pleasure on the water, go treat yourself to those thrilling days of yesteryear.
Cutty,
I'd say... BUTT A*& UGLY for sure!!!!!
What is the largest fish you've caught on this 700???
Wayne
Great history with that old soldier there, CH —
The 700, 704, and 706 are some of the toughest HD and long-lasting reels ever produced — whether spinner or conventional.
If you would like a full restore — I would do one at no charge that would rival when you took this one out of the box when you were a pup.
It would honor a good companion — that has reliably traveled with you on too many fishing trips to recall.
When the Shimanos, Daiwas, and other more modern Asian Tupperware plastic reels have been in the landfill for decades — these Spinfishers will still be on duty.
Best,
Fred
This thread just gets better and better Bob. Thanks for that link. But really, it's sort of a sad story. May he rest in peace. Here's Al rebuttal to the 2004 article:
https://www.stripers247.com/Alsrebuttal.php (https://www.stripers247.com/Alsrebuttal.php)
I have some history with the 700 but mine was jinxed and never caught much. Clunk.
Fred's been talking about his new restoration set-up. That would be very tempting. But, then again, yours has a lot of character. Tough choice for sure. Either way, best of luck wearing it out.
-steve
Wayne,
Bunch of bass in the 30's, the nutso bonito that way out fight a bass pound for pound, and mahi's south of the Vineyard back when there were swords on the shelf. Best was throwing an eel to a skillie, he took it, but he was gone in about a minute.
Fred,
Thank you sir for the offer, I had plans and I did pick up a nice cosmetic body and gear cover on ebay, but it still sits in the drawer. If I swapped it out it just wouldn't be "my" reel anymore.
Steve,
See ^
Couldn't wear it out using salt water as lube, now that it's greased a century may not be long enough.
There's a thread on "SOL" where some locals told another story,,,,, ;) and a little debate about the 1hr and 40min fight,,,,,,,, :o it's doesn't matter which is true,,,, :D there both very good ones and hard to figure out which one is true,,,,,,, ;D
I'm getting some more info on the this and well given it first on the zoom meeting Saturday,,,,,,, ;D
Quote from: Benni3 on December 24, 2020, 12:02:23 AM... a little debate about the 1hr and 40min fight
So much skepticism about the tackle and the "
1hr and 40min fight". ::) It all seems very plausible to me. Heck, I landed (from shore) a 33lb striper on 10# test using a little 'ol Penn 712, from a raging inlet current no less. It was no where near that long of a fight, just took alot of running up and down the beach!
Granted, the conditions that the record fish was taken in were rough as hell, and from a jetty, but it certainly was not unrealistic to success.
Oh well, such is fishing and the tales it encompasses, be they real or fiction. Merry Christmas!
Quote from: nelz on December 25, 2020, 05:05:24 PM
Quote from: Benni3 on December 24, 2020, 12:02:23 AM... a little debate about the 1hr and 40min fight
So much skepticism about the tackle and the "1hr and 40min fight". ::) It all seems very plausible to me. Heck, I landed (from shore) a 33lb striper on 10# test using a little 'ol Penn 712, from a raging inlet current no less. It was no where near that long of a fight, just took alot of running up and down the beach!
Granted, the conditions that the record fish was taken in were rough as hell, and from a jetty, but it certainly was not unrealistic to success.
Oh well, such is fishing and the tales it encompasses, be they real or fiction. Merry Christmas!
Completely plausible. The Lake Lanier record striper weighed in at 47 pounds 12 ounces and was caught by a visiting angler fishing for bass with a spinning rod and 8 pound test line. It was rumored at the time to be a Bill Dance combo, but I can't confirm that.
(https://www.gon.com/media/2015/09/00001576xl.jpg)
(https://www.gon.com/media/2015/09/00001575xl.jpg)
Quote from: nelz on December 25, 2020, 05:05:24 PM
Quote from: Benni3 on December 24, 2020, 12:02:23 AM... a little debate about the 1hr and 40min fight
So much skepticism about the tackle and the "1hr and 40min fight". ::) It all seems very plausible to me. Heck, I landed (from shore) a 33lb striper on 10# test using a little 'ol Penn 712, from a raging inlet current no less. It was no where near that long of a fight, just took alot of running up and down the beach!
Granted, the conditions that the record fish was taken in were rough as hell, and from a jetty, but it certainly was not unrealistic to success.
Oh well, such is fishing and the tales it encompasses, be they real or fiction. Merry Christmas!
It took some time but the reel story is better and is funny no disrespect to al,,,,,,, ;) because he did it and tomorrow on zoom I will explain,,,,,,,,, ;D
Ok so Tim Smith on sol has the penn 710 the rod was most likely a 9" shimano,,,,line 20lb green Ande ,,,,,,, :D the fish was most likely beached it self and al jumped in the water and grabbed it,,,,, ;) but the real story will never really come to light because al and pat erdman has passed away,,,,, :( but one other thing about the story is where al pulls a gun on corky Campbell over the missing fish,,,,, :o it just doesn't get any better than that,,,,,,,,, ;D
Quote from: Benni3 on December 26, 2020, 09:16:40 PMbut one other thing about the story is where al pulls a gun on corky Campbell over the missing fish
I thought it was
Campbell that drew the gun on
Al? Did I misread the story? Either way, there's nothing funny about that.
Quote from: nelz on December 26, 2020, 11:14:06 PM
Quote from: Benni3 on December 26, 2020, 09:16:40 PMbut one other thing about the story is where al pulls a gun on corky Campbell over the missing fish
I thought it was Campbell that drew the gun on Al? Did I misread the story? Either way, there's nothing funny about that.
I not that sure what happen exactly,,,,,, ??? it was in 1982,,,,hehe,,,,, :D and the part about the fish wrapped in a towel strapped to the hood and pulled over by the police thinking it was a dead body,,,,,,ya it's new Jersey,,,,, :o I want to see the movie about this,,,,,, :-\ if Chris Farley wasn't gone he could have played Al Mcreynolds,,,,,,, ;D
I'm just going by what I read in the Men's Journal article.
Quote from: nelz on December 27, 2020, 02:28:20 AM
I'm just going by what I read in the Men's Journal article.
No disrespect to Al Mcreynolds because he caught the fish,,,,,,, ;) but what happens next was just funny like D.B. Coopers story nobody really knows exactly what happened,,,,, :-\ but Al got the money his family needed so much,,,,,,,, ;D