Nice catch, Charlie!

Type: Nontidal
Region: Central
Location: Private Pond in Cecil County

Back in June, while exploring a pond on a hunting property that we have access to in Cecil County, my eight year old son Charlie hooked a monster bass from the bank near and overhanging tree that he was catching bluegills and crappies under. The fish screamed off drag and raced to the center of the pond but after a five minute fight, the line snapped and the fish was gone. He was upset but has been determined to get revenge ever since. With cooler temperatures and rain in the forecast yesterday we headed back out with the same rig he was using that day - a small twistertail on an ultralight rod with four pound test. This time though, we fished from my old jonboat so we could cover water more easily.

After catching several small bass and bluegills around the cover near the banks, we drifted across the pond to the same tree that he lost his big bass under. As I was casting a popper off the back of the boat toward a beaver lodge I heard Charlie yell and turned to see his rod doubled-over to the sound of line peeling off, just as it had before. Charlie held his rod tip high and I told him not to reel against the drag. He got the fish close twice but each time, it dove straight under the boat, spinning us in circles, nearly wrapping around the motor as it stripped off more line. Afraid that the fish was going to spool him as it swam across the pond, I dropped the trolling motor back in and we took chase. Charlie sat on the bow with the rod held high, gaining line as we got closer. After a 15 minute fight I reached down and grabbed the lip of what has to be the largest bass I�ve ever seen. I whipped around to show him his trophy and he screamed �I GOT IT!� and then let out a blood-curdling scream while stamping his feet excitedly. The bass was massive and measured 23�. We took a few pictures and then safely released it. I said �Charlie, I�m so proud of you� and replied �I�m proud of me too.� Soaking wet, exhausted, and with hearts beating like crazy we packed it in and called it a day. I�ll never forget a detail of it.

Charlie is 8 years old and a third grader at Avon Grover Intermediate School in West Grove, PA. He plays ice hockey, baseball, and rugby. Charlie is an avid fisherman, focusing mainly on trout, bass, and panfish, but has been joining me regularly on the Susquehanna Flats where he hopes to get his first big striped bass.

Story by Matt Morgan, Charlie's Proud Father

Charlie received a FishMaryland certificate for this catch. Congratulations!

To see if your catch might be eligible for a certificate and to find out how to submit it for consideration visit dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/FishMaryland.aspx