Hybrid striped bass record certified in Ohio

A new Ohio record hybrid striped bass (a cross between a white bass and a striped bass) has been certified by the outdoor writers of Ohio State Record Fish Committee.

The new state record hybrid striper, weighing 18.32 pounds, was caught by Richard A. Knisely, of Washington Courthouse, Ohio, in a feeder creek to Deer Creek Lake in Fayette County. Knisely caught the hybrid striped bass May 24, using cut shad for bait, on a spinning rod with 15-pound test monofilament line. Knisely’s hybrid striped bass is 31.75 inches long and 24.5 inches in girth.

His catch replaces the previous state record hybrid striper which was caught in Deer Creek Lake by Rosemary Shaver May 4, 2001, weighing 17.68 pounds and measuring 31 inches long.

Ohio’s record fish are determined on the basis of weight only. Ohio’s state record fish are certified by the Outdoor Writers of Ohio State Record Fish Committee with assistance from fisheries biologists with the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Fish Management Supervisor Debra Walters from the Ohio Division of Wildlife District Five Office in Xenia confirmed the identification of Knisely’s catch as a hybrid striped bass.

Other hybrids

Hybrid striped bass aren’t the only genetically confused fish swimming in Ohio waters. Saugeye are produced by mixing walleye eggs with the milt of sauger and the result has been popular where ever stocked. Hybrids don’t reproduce making them a safe fish to stock.

Hybrids are not accidental or the results of nearsighted fish. Hybrids are created by hatchery manipulation and intended to create additional fishing opportunities. Several years ago Ohio fisheries biologists created a tiger muskie, a fast growing and quite aggressive offshoot that attracted some fans where ever they were stocked.

Records

The state record for tiger muskie is held by Matt Amedeo of Akron who landed his 47 inch, 31.64-pound tiger in April 2006. He caught the prize in Turkeyfoot Lake, part of the Portage Lake chain in Akron.

The state record for pure strain muskies, a 43-year-old record that may never be broken, is held by Joe Lykins with a 55.13-pound monster caught on Piedmont Lake, April 12, 1972. The record for pure strain striped bass is another record that may never be topped since stripers are no longer used in Ohio stocking efforts, is held by Mark Chuifo of Ravenna for his 37.10-pound whopper taken from West Branch in Portage County in 1993.