Scott,
That was last Friday during the new moon around midnight and it was like an inkwell out there. We were pitching about 15' to the inside front edge of a reed line in 5' of water with 6" plastic worms, Texas rigged with 1/8 oz Gambler florida rigged slip sinker, and 2/0 Gamakatsu hook. We were using 15lb P-Line and black lights. When David set the hook he yelled "good fish". She first took him into the reeds and hung up, but David gave her a little slack and then she made a run under the boat taking drag. David had the rod into the water up to the reel. She only rolled once on the other side of the boat and we knew she was big. He worked her back around the boat without getting in the trolling motor and lead her to my waiting net. As soon as I lifted her in the boat the hook fell out. Notice from the picture that she appears to be without roe.
BTW, another competitor brought in a 9-4 that same night, but we still had him beat for big fish and total weight.
Russ C.