New Striped bass Record!

[B-Faithful]

IGFA Representative Announcement
Dr. Julie Ball, IGFA Representative, Virginia Beach


Pending IGFA World Record
20 pound Tippet Fly Rod Class
Striped Bass 51lbs, 5oz

I am pleased to announce another pending Virginia IGFA World Record.

I received an email first thing Friday morning from Richie Keatley of Norfolk. He caught a big striper the night prior, and thought it could possibly be a world record. I told him the fish needed to be at least 43lbs, 12oz. Richie explained he had only caught school-sized fish up until last night, but he was sure it was over 50 pounds. When I asked why he thought the fish was over 50-pounds, he told me he had weighed the fish while standing on his bathroom scale. I laughed, and agreed to meet him at Long Bay Pointe for the official weigh-in where the fish did in fact push the needle to 51lbs, 5oz! I examined his fly rod and line, and took photos. When everything appeared in order, we began his application. This is truly an outstanding catch.

Richie was fly fishing with Pete Sileo in his 22-foot boat at the CBBT Thursday evening, December 17th. Using a trolling motor to maneuver around the pilings, he placed his own hand-tied 3/0 Clouser blue-tinted fly in front of a school of big boys. Richie’s battle of a life time began when one of those trophies slammed the little fly. After a nerve racking battle, with the fish taking the line around the pilings, and several other "close calls," Richie had the fish boat side within about 30-minutes. But the troublesome task was not over since their net was not meant to hold a trophy-sized fish. After three netting attempts, the final swipe resulted in a broken net, with part of the net disappearing into the night. A quick thinking hand through gills maneuver by his buddy landed the trophy safely in the boat. Congtatulations Richie and Pete! Once again, Virginia fishing history in the making.