Record Striped Bass caught on Black Warrior River

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(Gallery by Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com)

DORA, Alabama -- James R. Bramlett of Dora, Alabama got the call he was waiting for from IGFA World Records Coordinator Jack Vitek. The call came around 2p.m. Monday May 13. Vitek told Bramlett that the monster striper he caught on February 28, 2013 in the Black Warrior River is the new IGFA world record for a landlocked striped bass.

The official IGFA (International Game Fish Association) measurements for the huge striper are: 69 pounds 9ounces, 44.1 inches long and a whopping 37.75 inch girth.

Vitek is sending the official world record certificate to James by certified mail today and he should receive it by mid-week.

The IGFA has listed Bramlett's catch on its website. Here is the

. You need to register on the site to see it. The previous record was 67 pounds, 8 ounces. That record has stood since May, 1992.

The mammoth striper was caught on February 28 on the Black Warrior River near the Gorgas Steam Plant. Bramlett battled the fish for 25 minutes before landing it in front of witnesses on other boats and on the bank. A barge captain coming down river even stopped and stayed out of Bramlett's way so he could have a better chance of landing the fish.

Bramlett's wife Janice urged him to go fishing that day. She was going to be in the hospital for a procedure and knew she would need his help when she returned home. Janice has been touted as the perfect fisherman's wife in several fishing publications for urging him to fish that day.

He went to one of his favorite spots on the Black Warrior River near the Gorgas Steam Plant. He said the fish rolled on top of the water so he threw his bait in that direction. After a battle that lasted more than 20 minutes, he landed the record striped bass and immediately called his wife.

The mammoth striper smashed the Alabama State record by almost 15 pounds. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources wasted little time confirming the fish as the state record in late March.

The striper is being mounted by Centreville taxidermist Jacky Scott. It should be ready sometime in the next week or so.

Here is the original story about the catch.

