Dec. 19, 2002
When Robert Hornstrom of Meadville headed out to nearby Conneaut Lake
on November 8, he had high hopes for a good day of fishing.
Considering that he came home with the new state record white bass,
one could say: mission accomplished.
Hornstrom
was jigging with a quarter-ounce spoon when the fish struck. Once in
hand, the fish measured just over 19 inches with a 15 ½-inch girth. A
trip to the meat department of a local grocery store to have the bass
weighed on a certified scale revealed that not only was the fish big,
it was actually the biggest on record for its species in
Pennsylvania. |
The new record, 3 lbs, 15.7 oz, surpasses the previous white bass
benchmark by a little more than an ounce and a half. David F.
Hornstein, also of Meadville, caught that 3 lb, 14 oz fish - at
Conneaut Lake. The state record white bass prior to Hornstein’s 1996
catch also came from Conneaut Lake.
Pennsylvania certifies
state records based on total body weight.
Potential record fish must exceed the established mark by at least
one ounce, as weighed on a certified scale. To be considered for
state record certification, a fish must be caught using legal means,
in season, from Pennsylvania waters open to the public without charge
or fee. Fish taken from farm ponds, fee-fishing lakes, ponds or
streams or in waters restricted to use by club members or their
guests do not qualify. A biologist or Waterways Conservation Officer
from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) must examine
the fish. The PFBC is the only entity that can certify an official
state record fish in the Commonwealth. |