8.74lb Lake Hopatcong Largemouth Bass...

[buzzbaiter]

I guess that lake does have some nice fish...

http://www.newjerseyhills.com/print_only/_headline_style/bold_42/history-made-with-fisherman-s-catch-in-mount-arlington/article_6f3991f8-63d0-55ac-b8f2-16cd52cb8c18.html

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/newjerseyhills.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/a2/fa261294-a809-5123-bd2b-d443379b5069/570bdc4da1734.image.png

[acabtp]

that's an awesome fish

i got to Lee's that day just as the tournament was coming in for the weigh in. i was a little bummed that i'd have to wait for the 20 or 30 boats to come in before i could launch, but i went about getting my boat ready for the water. by the time i was rigged and ready to go, all the tournament boats were out of the water and the ramps were clear, no waiting for me at all. say what you will about tournaments, but those teams sure have their boat ramp routines down!

[Bruce Litton]

I got a report some years ago of a 10-pound dead largemouth in LH. It's interesting to me that in two years' time, two bass over eight pounds have been weighed, and only a seven and some ounces 20 years ago. I know this doesn't mean plenty of seven-pound-plus bass have been caught and released without publicity, or maybe at least a few. That's a big lake full of forage and I always felt it odd that only a seven-pounder made the record.

And according to last year's lake survey, or actually the year before, but reported in the spring of last year (there's a good article in Lake Hopatcong News :), largemouth bass have been in decline by numbers and the state is actually stocking quite a number to compensate. But just because numbers go down doesn't necessarily mean that, proportionately, the number of big ones decreases.

[henro]

Awesome fish for NJ. My biggest in NJ is 6lb 15oz that I caught when I was young and used to bass fish a lot. I know how long it takes them to go grow that big this far north with our cooler climate and shorter growing period so that's a monster! Just a rant but I hate when guys gotta lean back that far to take a pic with a fish. So stupid it's a trophy already no need for that.

[River Renegade]

Solid LM nicely done!!

[icebadger]

as roland would say"sun thats a toad" great fish congrats.

[Chrisper4694]

Awesome fish for NJ. My biggest in NJ is 6lb 15oz that I caught when I was young and used to bass fish a lot. I know how long it takes them to go grow that big this far north with our cooler climate and shorter growing period so that's a monster! Just a rant but I hate when guys gotta lean back that far to take a pic with a fish. So stupid it's a trophy already no need for that.

Better than taking a pic of a monster and making it look smaller than it is haha, hate it when that happens! Better to be safe than sorry! Present the fish to the camera, lean back and relax and don't get any background in the pic hahaha.

[River Renegade]

as roland would say"sun thats a toad" great fish congrats.

Actually he says "son" Martin rules though.

[AndyS]

I've seen only one 8lbr so far, impressive !!

[dakota560]

Congratulations on the catch of a lifetime and great job on the release. That is one healthy looking fish to boot! Good to see a fish of that size with the limited growing seasons we have up north caught. Especially so when you consider the amount of angling pressure Lake Hopatcong gets, very impressive catch and glad she's still swimming around.

[Chrisper4694]

three 8.5lbs+ largemouth have been caught from hopatcong over the past 2 years. I saw one with my own eyes, this one in the picture that many confirm, and a 3rd one that was apparently 8lbs12oz (reported at the KDC meeting, but as far as i know not documented at all)

[XXlyakattacker]

Now that is one nice bass! Makes it hard for me to stay at work after seeing a beast like that.

[yumasdad]

Better than taking a pic of a monster and making it look smaller than it is haha, hate it when that happens! Better to be safe than sorry! Present the fish to the camera, lean back and relax and don't get any background in the pic hahaha.

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YEAH BUT THE WATER WAS COLD....THERE WAS SHRINKAGE!!!!!
:D

Awesome fish. Great color & looked very healthy. May she keep spawning for years & passing on those dominant genes.