Striped Bass — 74 lb (2012)
Species: Striped Bass
Species reference image — not the record catch.
Confirmed against an official or primary source as of the date shown.
Directly confirmed via VMRC's own per-record announcement page and cross-checked against the current saltwater records index, which still lists this record as of the index's own 2026-01-13 last-updated date.
Virginia Saltwater State Record
- Recognizing authority
- Virginia Marine Resources Commission
- Record program
- Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament
- Status
- Current
- Certification date
- 2012-01-20
- Predecessor record
- Striped Bass — 73 lb (2008) — do not treat as current; see its own page for its status.
Official sources: Virginia Marine Resources Commission — State Record Striped Bass Announcement (2012) (weight, angler, date, location, vessel, tackle); Virginia Marine Resources Commission — Saltwater Gamefish State Records (current index) (confirms striped bass is currently listed with this record)
Sources last checked 2026-08-09.
- Weight
- 74 lb
- Length
- 56¾ inches
- Girth
- 31½ inches
- Angler
- Cary Wolfe
- Catch date
- 2012-01-20
- Catch location
- Atlantic Ocean off Cape Henry, Virginia Beach
A specific named place, as published by the source below — not a precise coordinate. - Vessel
- Bada Bing, Captain Tim Cannon
- Method / tackle
- Trolled a tandem parachute rig — two 2-ounce jigs paired with 9-inch rubber shad bodies — Penn 114H reel, 80 lb Ande monofilament
Hampton Roads connection
- Caught in or near Hampton Roads waters: Caught in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Henry, Virginia Beach.
Laboratory analysis at Old Dominion University's aging lab determined the fish was a 26-year-old female — at the time, tying as the oldest striped bass ever aged by otolith examination.
This page cites an existing official authority's own determination — it is not itself a certifying body. Always confirm current status directly with the authority linked above before relying on it, since records can be broken or updated at any time. How record certification works →