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This fish story has witnesses: Eric Doppee, 13, caught a black bass at Shadow Cliffs lake on Saturday that weighed 18 pounds 9 ounces. That breaks the record, he learned from a ranger the next day.
Eric, an eighth-grader at Pleasanton Middle School, said he began to fish in the cove using a lure after he saw a lot of bass in the water.
“I hooked into him and he didn’t really fight that much,” Eric said.
He noted that the big fish had grayish eyes, which indicated he was old, as did his size.
“I tried to release him but he wouldn’t swim away,” Eric recalled.
His father Tim arrived to give him a ride home and exclaimed over the size of the bass. They found a fisherman with a scale and weighed it, and the next day a ranger told Eric that it beat the previous Shadow Cliffs record for a bass, which was 18 pounds 1 ounce.
Eric gave the record-breaking bass away to a family, as he did two years ago with a carp weighing 47 pounds 9 ounces.
“I recently caught an 8-pound catfish and a 9-pound trout. I have them in my freezer, and we’re going to eat them,” he added.
Eric said his uncle, Victor Gomez, began taking him fishing when he was about 4 years old. Now he rides his bike to Shadow Cliffs from his home in Vintage Hills every day to engage in the sport.
“He will fish from sunup to sundown,” said his dad. “He went back on Sunday and landed seven. He either released them or gave them away.”
“Our freezer is full — he is under strict instructions not to bring any more home,” he added with a laugh.
Congratulationss: These are the stories that are lacking in the newspaper these days. Hope we see this young man’s picture in the paper this week.
Taking my grandsons to the BMX park is also a fantastic time for our Pleasanton children……..we have wonderful parks in town, but we sure could use some more dog parks.
Howard Neely
These are the kind of stories that forced me to quit fishing after 34 years. Why on earth would you keep a fish like this? Teach your child conservation and in fact unless your fishing for the dinner table then there is no reason what-so-ever to be fishing. Instead of recognizing the magnificence of such a species and leaving it unharmed we trick ourselves into thinking we have achieved some great accomplishment. Wrong! You just killed an apex predator for no reason other than to stuff your freezer. So sad….
If you read the whole article it said he tried to release it but it wouldn’t swim? I know this kid well he goes to my school and I fish with him a lot.
We would love to do your replica!
http://www.fishscaletaxidermy.com
Some people like to fish to be with their friends, be in the fresh air like me. Even if I don’t catch any fish I go home with a smile on my face because I had a good time no matter what. Eric is there because he loves everything about fishing so cut him some slack he’s not trying to kill apex predators.
Eric, Congradulations young man. I have been trying to catch and certify a giant like that one you caught for over 10 years. I believe you tried to let the fish go. I believe the fish did not swim away. In very cold water a fish that size needs sunlight to warm her to get her going so to speak. For all you young guns ou there, in the future when you catch a winter bass when you let them go it takes a few minutes to regain strength to swim off. Next time release in the sun and in enough water so her back is in the water walk away and come back in 5 minutes or so and check on her. Chances are this fish would have revived and lived to fight again. Again Congrats for a fish of a life time
Don Osborne http://www.swimbaitcity.com
Marc– please clarify because I truly don’t understand (38 y.o. female here!) You fished for 34 years but don’t anymore because, why? And the 34 years you fished was out of necessity to put food on the table?
Thanks, M
Sorry Eric, but you know and I know you didn’t catch that fish. I was there and watched you from a boat. You snagged the dead rotten floating bass just to check it out. Have some integrity and TELL THE TRUTH, dead bass don’t fight much or swim away. I would love for you to catch a bass of that size and I would be the first to congratulate you, but to take credit for something you did not accomplish is a big disappointment.
Good Luck, Ben.
Agreeing with Ben – my teenager and his friend were there too – the fish was dead, floating just below the surface. Where is the honesty?
Eric did not win the record. I was there and so were a bunch of my friends fishing there and it was by the boat launch. The fish was dead. Floating. Rotting and he took a sinker with a hook and hooked it and brought it up. Ive been fishing with this kid and he does catch a lot of fish but this one was probably dead for a few days. Not tryin to rat him out but he does not deserve the record. I dont like how he lied to the press but he doesnt deserve the record.
Congratulations!
I applaud you -especially for being outdoors and doing what you love.
Enjoy your time fishing!
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