---
title: "Perch Fisherman Catches a State-Record Striped Bass on Light Line"
description: "Ohio angler George Bruggeman was fishing for perch with light line and a nightcrawler when he caught the new state-record striped bass."
date: "2025-11-06"
modified: "2025-11-06"
authors:
  - name: "Dac Collins"
    job_title: "News Editor"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/dac-collins/"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/fishing/ohio-striped-bass-record-light-line/"
categories:
  - "Fishing"
  - "Freshwater"
  - "Record Fish"
tags:
  - "News"
---

# Perch Fisherman Catches a State-Record Striped Bass on Light Line

![A record striped bass on a measuring board; an angler holds up a big striper.](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ohio_striped_bass_record_light_line_1.jpg>)
*The striped bass is a new Ohio record; George Bruggeman holds up the fish after landing it on 8-pound test. Photo/s courtesy Ohio Division of Wildlife*

George Bruggeman had no intention of catching a record-sized striped bass when he headed to Ohio’s Kiser Lake on Sept. 29. He was actually set up for bluegills and yellow perch when he hooked into a huge striper. Bruggeman ended up landing the fish, and it has since been certified as a new state record, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

ODW said in [a recent announcement](<https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1302040321955580&set=a.226403159519307>) that the 71-year-old angler was fishing one of his favorite spots on Kiser using a typical panfish setup: a light spinning reel spooled with 8-pound test Trilene, and a hook baited with half a nightcrawler. A photograph of Bruggeman with the giant fish shows him standing in a small jon boat. Holding the fish’s head up above his waist, its tail stretches all the way to the floor of the boat.

“It’s always \[the\] guy with 8lb test fishing for bluegill that ends up catching giant records,” one Facebook user wrote in the comment section of [ODW’s post](<https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1302040321955580&set=a.226403159519307>).

![A fisherman and an ODW official measure a state-record striped bass.](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ohio_striped_bass_record_light_line_2.jpg>)
*George Bruggeman (right) verifies the measurements along with an ODW official. Photo by Ohio Division of Wildlife*

Bruggeman’s striper measured 41.81 inches long with a 27.36-inch girth, according to the ODW official who verified the species and measurements. The *[Scioto Post](<https://www.sciotopost.com/71-year-oid-ohio-angler-lands-record-breaking-striped-bass-with-thin-line/>)* reports that it weighed 37.375 pounds and was confirmed as a new state record by the [Outdoor Writers of Ohio](<https://outdoorwritersofohio.org/>) State Record Fish Committee.

**Read Next:** [Monster Largemouth Bass Caught in Tournament Should Be a New State Record](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/fishing/potential-arizona-record-largemouth-bass/>)

Although the record-keeping organization has yet to update [its website](<https://outdoorwritersofohio.org/ohio-record-fish>) with the new record, Bruggeman’s striped bass outweighs the current Ohio record by a little more than a quarter of a pound. The previous record, a 31.1-pounder, was caught from West Branch Reservoir in 1993.

## Author
Dac Collins is the News Editor at *Outdoor Life*. He helps tell the latest stories about America's hunters and anglers while reporting on critical conservation issues, oftentimes with a fly rod or shotgun in hand. He lives in Colorado with his wife and son.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/outdoorlife>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/dac-collins-4aa67b10a/>)