Mike Dean, a regular contributor to The Fisherman’s weekly video fishing forecast out of the Long Island, Metro New York region has broken the Manhattan Cup record for largest striped bass ever entered into that annual catch and release event. Taping out at 47 inches with a chunky 32-inch girth, the calculations used to estimate weight (length x girth x girth / 800) put Dean’s tournament winning fish at 60.16 pounds.
“Amazing captain, crew and team that got it done,” Dean said after his tournament record catch, crediting Capt. Adrian Moeller, Felix Perez and crew aboard the Brooklyn-based Rockfish Charters for what he called “an insane NYC fishing memory!” The monster striper was caught on live bunker and is the largest striped bass ever caught and released in the 23-year history of the tournament.
The winner of the Christopher J. Raguso Memorial Cup going to the wounded service veteran with the largest striped bass of the event was Dwayne Lallathin with another monster of a bass estimated at 52.56 pounds (50 inches in length with a 29-inch girth) that was caught aboard Capt. Willie Davis’s Epic One.
In the striped bass division, Don Meyer caught the largest striped bass (29.61 pounds) on an artificial while fishing with Capt. Anthony Grassi aboard Finchaser Makaira, with Rodger Rau also tallying a big bait bass (52.56 pounds) aboard Capt. Frank Gissi’s Greta. Capt. Andy LoCascio won a Gray striper mount for largest average length of five striped bass tagged with Gray Fishtag Research streamer tags aboard his Long Island Fishing Charters, and also earned top prize for most striped bass caught by angler John O’Brian.
For top bluefish caught and released at the Manhattan Cup, Joseph Albanese took top honors (10.66 pounds) for largest on an artificial while fishing with Capt. Frank Crescitelli aboard Fin Chaser, with Jose Enchautegui grabbing largest bluefish on bait (10.08 pounds) aboard Capt. Adam Frank’s Legasea. The largest bluefish on a fly was angled by Bill Dawson (4.93 pounds) while fishing with another regular contributor to The Fisherman, Capt. Mike Century aboard Anglers of Legends Sportfish.
Proceeds from The Manhattan Cup benefit veterans of our Nation’s armed forces, along with local charities and organizations working to protect and conserve our nation’s marine resources, including the annual Northeast Striped Bass Study. Learn more at manhattancup.com.
