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Mark Preston's been fishing the

religiously nearly his entire life, and the fish the 48-year-old Easton resident has waited for finally arrived last Monday night.

All those

, though, are minor leaguers compared to the 45-pound striper Preston landed around 10:30 at a site Preston refused to divulge, for obvious reasons.

Preston, who said he fishes the river five days a week year round, knew immediately he was dealing with a special fish.

Preston sensed it would be a good night for fishing. Not only has the river finally receded to the point where it's fishable from shore, but Preston noted the way the surrounding wildlife was acting.

Preston and Fistler are proving to be the kings of Delaware River stripers. According to Jim Heebner of

in Pohatcong Township, a 22-pound, 38-inch striper Fistler caught was the largest to date this year.

The Pennsylvania state record for a striper from the Delaware River is a 53-pound, 13-ouncer caught by Donald Clark of Delaware County in 1989. The New Jersey record for a Delaware River striper is the 36-pound, 8-ouncer hooked by Richard Frankenfield in 2001.

For Preston and Fistler, they appear to be picking all the right spots.

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Also reported by

THE OWL'S NEST

(Pohatcong Township)

Greg Cartagena

(Phillipsburg) -- 231/4-inch, 6-pound rainbow trout, Musconetcong River.

Justin Dornblaser

(Easton) -- 21/4-pound, 15-inch crappie (N.J. Junior Angler Award), Spruce Run Reservoir.