I love to fish, I really, really do. But I am also a very competitive
person. I cannot help it. Put me in contact with another human and I am
primed to compete. It wouldn't matter what it was, it could be spitting the
farthest, I would be looking for the competition.

Logically speaking, if you caught a World Record Fish, chance are, that fish
is in it last year of life anyways. We also don't know, because no one has
ever tagged and released one of the top monsters to see if one was ever
caught again. I suspect, a number of the monsters we catch and release die
within a day or two, due to the stress of being caught, and all the
handling. Which is bound to remove its protective slime coat.

If you caught a World Record Fish and you put it in a tank by itself, with
slime chemicals, and gave it a chance to totally recover, it would have a
better chance of survival and could be thoroughly examined for the record.

Something to think about. The reason so many fish caught in a tournament
live is because of the chemicals we put into our livewells. The reason so
many fish die after a tournament, is because of the Jerks that don't!!!

So I say, I would keep the fish. Put it in a livewell tank my itself,
photograph it, weigh it, and give it all the time it needs to recover. Then
recognize me as the World Record holder and let me die a happy man. Being
richer for and from the experience.

--
Craig Baugher