Striped bass are beautiful, stunning fish. They can’t blink and their pupils don’t dilate. You can count the rings on their scales to determine their age. They can swim 50 miles or more in a day with ease. A 28″ striped bass is seven years old and weighs about 12 pounds – insane fishing on light tackle or fly gear!

The Massachusetts state record is 73 pounds and was caught by my late friend, Tony Stetzko on a black fly he tied up the night before at the kitchen table. He tied it in as a dropper above a live eel November 3rd 1981, at Nauset Beach on Cape Cod. Miss you my friend.

– Capt. Dave Bitters, BAYMEN, www.baymenlife.com