Rocks and Whoppers

Everyone knows what rocks and whoppers are, don’t they? Did you answer a rock is a stone and a whopper is a juicy hamburger? Normally you would be correct, but we’re not talking about the same things now.

Around the Chesapeake Bay every year about this time, their meanings change. Rock means striped bass, we’re talking the big ones and whoppers are the tales that come from these fish being caught by people from all over the Mid-Atlantic States. Some people fish from piers, others from kayaks, but most fish from boats.

You see, fishing is a way of life on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and this time of year brings out both the avid fishermen and the novice. Why? Because rocks are huge, strong fish that can pull even the strongest man over, making them look like the hunchback from Notre Dame.

The state record for Virginia was caught in 2008 by Frederick Barnes; the 73-pound striper measured 52 inches in length and had a girth of 31-1/2 inches. Yes, rocks like this quickly become whoppers and make for interesting stories by the campfire at night.