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Fishing in 1901

Updated Mar 10, 2025
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Fishing in 1901
A woman, her rod, and a poor fish: Mrs E. N. Dickerson of NYC with a 363 lb Black Sea Bass, 1901
Date & Place: in New York United States
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Gone fishing in 1901...this black sea bass weighed in at a whopping 363 lbs! So in awe of women from 100+ years ago who did everything while dressed immaculately.
Photo of Wynkin De Worde Bruge Wynkin De Worde Bruge
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07/22/2020
Poor thing, look more like a cod.
Photo of Michael Guerin Michael Guerin
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07/22/2020
Not with that cane rod
Photo of Ross Blaisdell Ross Blaisdell
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07/22/2020
Michael Guerin
That might not be a cane rod. At that time, rods were also made from maple, ironwood, hickory, and other woods. And they were generally made in sections with the midsection generally made of ironwood with the tip made of more flexible strips of cane glued together to make them lightweight but strong.

People did go out deep sea fishing and they did use rods, the same way people do now. The material used for the rods have changed, but the old rods caught very large fish, too.
Photo of Linda Benninghofen Linda Benninghofen
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07/22/2020
You go girl!
Photo of Michael Guerin Michael Guerin
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07/22/2020
Can you say photoshop
"It is estimated that the Giant Black Sea Bass is capable of growing to lengths of over 7 feet and weighing over 700 pounds. The largest species ever caught by a sport fisherman with rod and reel, weighing 563 pounds, was caught off of Anacapa Island in 1968."

Source:

(Anacapa Island is off the coast of California)
Photo of Donna Michel-Dow Donna Michel-Dow
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07/22/2020
That makes me feel hot and itchy
Photo of Linda Haydell Linda Haydell
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07/22/2020
Wow! Nothing but respect for her!
Photo of Adrianne Balcom Adrianne Balcom
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07/22/2020
GaJesus
That IS a black sea bass. And in 1900 one was caught that weighed 384 pounds...using a rod and reel.
Black sea bass, caught on rod and reel, 425 pounds.
Photo of Lilly Watson Lilly Watson
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07/23/2020
The point went over your head.
Lilly Watson Perhaps you would explain the "point"?
Photo of Jackie Leighty Jackie Leighty
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07/23/2020
love seeing all the old pics
Photo of Helen Norvell Helen Norvell
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07/22/2020
Amazing
Photo of Tery Shoemake Tery Shoemake
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07/22/2020
Super cool photo!
Photo of Ann Weagle Ann Weagle
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07/22/2020
What hat does one wear for fishing?
Photo of Melissa Ozmen Melissa Ozmen
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07/22/2020
Bahri Ozmen
Photo of Anthony J. Martin Anthony J. Martin
via Facebook
07/22/2020
So much clothes on I get HOT 🌚 looking at it.. hot a** corset sweating PROFUSE--LY.. BLACK!.. Heels! HAT!! Stockings!!.. Blazing HOT GLARE from the water!! NO CLOUDS!!.. NO WIND!! FISH AND HEAT IN HOT a** BLACK DRESS FULLY FURNISHED 🌚
How do you know there was no wind, no clouds, and blazing hot? It could easily have been a cloudy autumn day. The guy in the boat behind her seems to have on a jacket.

And why are you assuming she was wearing heels? Women often wore low-heeled working shoes and hiking shoes. And there's also no reason to claim she was out fishing in that outfit. She could easily have lived not far away and went home to change clothes for the photograph.
Photo of Anthony J. Martin Anthony J. Martin
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07/22/2020
Ree Young it's just a joke🙄
Photo of Anthony J. Martin Anthony J. Martin
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07/22/2020
Can't say anything without someone picking it apart. Reasons are beyond me when all in life matters to do is try and solve and resolve everyone's comments but your own. Narcissist annoying.
Photo of Caitlin Szekely Caitlin Szekely
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07/22/2020
Anthony J. Martin hot a** black dress is right!! I have a civil war outfit. Wore it for an event in the summer. I thought I was going to pass put from heat stroke just walking!🤣
Photo of Jennie Marxer Pak Jennie Marxer Pak
via Facebook
07/22/2020
Anthony J. Martin all the under garments except the corset, where made of natural fibers. This outfit was not as hot as you would think. I am a living history presenter and regularly dress in full period garb. Even at the height of summer, its surprisingly comfortable.
Photo of Anthony J. Martin Anthony J. Martin
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07/23/2020
Jennie Marxer Pak Texas? 😏
Photo of Kenneth Russell Wilson Kenneth Russell Wilson
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07/22/2020
and hats too
Photo of Jeanne Walsh Heyworth Jeanne Walsh Heyworth
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07/22/2020
and never once lost her hat
Photo of Nancy Overstreet Byrd Nancy Overstreet Byrd
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07/22/2020
Much respect!
Photo of Alana Lee Alana Lee
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07/22/2020
You can do just about anything in a dress if that's all you know 🤷‍♀️
Photo of Anita L. Russell Anita L. Russell
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07/22/2020
I'm going to guess that she probably didn't fish in that outfit. More than likely, she went home or back to her hotel to change into her best dress before having her photo taken.
Photo of Lilly Watson Lilly Watson
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07/23/2020
I bet those were her fishing clothes. puritan influence still at work.
Photo of Jackie Henry Jackie Henry
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07/23/2020
Anita L. Russell they wore these kind of dresses all the time back then, no matter what chore or event. I think the dress probably reeks of fish and she probably had to wash the hell out of it. We can’t imagine fishing in a dress and petticoat, but then again people these days don’t even want to wear a lil mask. Lol
Photo of Mary Hirsch Mary Hirsch
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07/22/2020
Now that is a fish.
Photo of CJ Johnston CJ Johnston
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07/22/2020
Randy Szlosek
Photo of Charlene McCabe Allemon Charlene McCabe Allemon
via Facebook
07/22/2020
Fish deserved to live.
Photo of Shirley Swanson Shirley Swanson
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07/22/2020
Yeah, right. I like the photo though. Big fish!
Photo of Shirley Swanson Shirley Swanson
via Facebook
07/22/2020
Wow! Who would have known you could do that.
Photo of Tundi Szendrey Tundi Szendrey
via Facebook
07/22/2020
And you believe she cought it with that fishing rod. Media was exactly what it is today. Sorry, but hilarious 🤣😂🤣😂 women back then didn't count.
My maternal grandmother (born 1874) often went out on a fishing boat with the men when the colder weather came and the harvest on their farm was done. And she brought home, cleaned, and cooked the fish they'd all caught. My mother, who was born in 1908, loved to fish, and she and my dad fished a lot, especially before I was born (she was 40 when I came along).

All the other photos I posted of men with record catches of black sea bass used rods and reels, too. My dad still had his old rod and reel from his deep sea fishing days, and I can vouch for how strong it was.

After all, people fished for a living for centuries before graphite and fiberglass rods came into use in the 1960's. How do you figure they caught large fish?? Do you think people "back then" were incapable of hauling in a large fish or that women in the lower and middle classes didn't work as hard as the men, including women who were blacksmiths, who plowed fields, chopped wood and split logs (heck, I spent years doing that because we heated with a woodstove for decades!)? They couldn't vote, but they were essential in the economy and survival of the community and family.

Your assumptions are way off!
Photo of Breanne Bennett Breanne Bennett
via Facebook
07/22/2020
Are we certain that this isn't one of those clever gag photos of yesteryear?
Photo of Jackie Henry Jackie Henry
via Facebook
07/22/2020
She didn’t need a fishing pole...she just gave it that look 👀
Photo of Nick Caboz Nick Caboz
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07/22/2020
Zach Alger
Photo of Nichola Henry Nichola Henry
via Facebook
07/23/2020
Gloria L. Henry
Photo of Gloria L. Henry Gloria L. Henry
via Facebook
07/23/2020
Nichola Henry that's a big fish!
Photo of Nichola Henry Nichola Henry
via Facebook
07/23/2020
Gloria L. Henry I know! you came to me when I saw this lady that court the fish
Why is she not smiling!
Photo of Linda Woody Linda Woody
via Facebook
07/23/2020
Yes, there were larger fish back in the days prior to pollution, and over fishing. There are photos of just enormous fish that were caught from piers or close to shore on small boats.
Photo of Jackie Leighty Jackie Leighty
via Facebook
07/23/2020
wow, that's awesome and you know she had to be really hot in that big dress
Photo of Mandy Stumer Mandy Stumer
via Facebook
07/23/2020
Sea Bass Sam Blackburn 😁
Photo of Sam Blackburn Sam Blackburn
via Facebook
07/23/2020
Evil mutated sea bass haha
Photo of Vena Bivins Vena Bivins
via Facebook
07/24/2020
Amazing & increible
Photo of Suzette Swartz Suzette Swartz
via Facebook
07/24/2020
The photo looks like the fish is closer to camera & she is farther away..just say' in
Photo of Suzanne Berglund-Edwards Suzanne Berglund-Edwards
via Facebook
07/27/2020
Tammy Bales
Photo of Tammy Bales Tammy Bales
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07/27/2020
Suzanne Berglund-Edwards I couldn’t even imagine reeling something like that in 😱
Photo of Suzanne Berglund-Edwards Suzanne Berglund-Edwards
via Facebook
07/27/2020
Tammy Bales Pretty good huh? I love reading about and seeing pictures of women ‘doing their thing’ when it was pretty much socially unacceptable.
Photo of Suzanne Berglund-Edwards Suzanne Berglund-Edwards
via Facebook
07/27/2020
Tammy Bales You never know Tammy, ya just never know. Maybe it’ll be you someday with a massive catch! In the meantime just enjoy!
Photo of Tammy Bales Tammy Bales
via Facebook
07/27/2020
Suzanne Berglund-Edwards I like them all...just as long as I catch them. Lol
Photo of Linda Kowalko Rohs Linda Kowalko Rohs
via Facebook
08/06/2020
With her hat on.
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