Great pic Peter. The classic difference in body styles between a male striper and female striper from the same class. I've attached a jif that sorta shows the difference in length and weight between males and females per yearly class. You can also see the slightly deeper body style of the female. That deeper body style is why some people mistake a female striper for a hybrid. Some just see broken lines on a torpedo and still call it a hybrid.
One clear indicator that your fish is a striper is the shear length. I don't think Hybrids top the 20 inch mark. I am sure someone could prove me wrong on this but I doubt any hybrid will ever make the 26 inch mark.
I wonder if that fish was hung in the trees\weeds and only came out when you swung around? I've had them run under ledges and cover before while bottom fishing. I've put the rod back in the rod holder and had them come back out later on their own. I've also had them run back into the cover when tree top fishing.
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