Worlds Record Bass - Kill it or Save it?

As much as I hate to kill fish, I'd do what I had to in order to get that
$1mil or so. Of course, I'll never catch one (in all likelihood) that's even
a third of the record, so this is pretty hypothetical.

"RichG" wrote in message
m...
In Texas, we have what is called the "Save a Lunker" program.

Obviously, I have never participated, but I think it goes like this...

Any fish over 13 lbs ( that's big by my standards) caught between Dec and
end of March ( I might be wrong on the months) should be kept alive and
reported to the TX Parks & Wildlife Department. They send a guy out,
equipped with a big fish travel truck. They weight it, photograph it and
then take the fish to the spawning tanks in Athens, TX.

After one year, (assuming the fish is still alive) it is retuned to the
same body of water from which it was removed. Most live..most are retuned
to
the water. The fisherman gets a free plaque and fiberglass mount that is a
replica of his catch. They've been doing it for about ten years, and
hundreds have been caught and turned in. The TPWD believes that the big
fish's spawn helps improve the breed stock.
--
RichG
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners--


That sounds like a cool program. Of course if they instituted it here in NC,
the size would have to be smaller, as I am pretty sure our record is on the
order or 14-14 or 14-15. Maybe do ours at 11 pounds? 10 Pounds is becoming
more common in areas (I personally only have one that size to my credit),
but rarely do you hear of a 11+ lb fish here except in the record books. Our
lakes with the best potential have moved to a 16" minimum size for keeping
and one lake has a 16"-20" slot for helping out those mid-sizers to grow
into biguns.

If I ever did catch any record book fish, I would probably never know it. I
might take a picture of it, but more likely would simply admire it for a moment
and put it right back. I don't need fortune and I don't want fame. Thats not
why I fish.

-Zimmy

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

"Craig Baugher" wrote in message
news:IyE4c.2942$1p.52301@attbi_s54...
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 thought a 21 lb near record fish was caught twice in Ca in the last couple
years. They knew because it had a similar mark on it. I believe a couple
trout fishermen found it floating last year.

I'm pretty sure that was in the last Field and Stream magazine.

--
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at
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dot
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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

G. M. Zimmermann wrote:
If I ever did catch any record book fish, I would probably never know it. I
might take a picture of it, but more likely would simply admire it for a moment
and put it right back. I don't need fortune and I don't want fame. Thats not
why I fish.

-Zimmy



I couldn't care less about fame. I guess I just don't need fans to feed
my ego, but fortune? Man, it must be nice to have enough money to not be
struggling to keep bills paid. I would want to do my best to care for
the fish, but it's going to live high on the hog in a beatiful aquarium
somewhere, making money for my family. I don't need much myself, I
PREFER jeans and sneakers, but the kid's gotta eat, and with a little
cash I could spend more time with them.

H. Hefner

ok, i'll admit it. as petty as it sounds, i would put it in bass pro's
giant aquarium if they paid me, and if not i would mount it. i know that is
selfish, but if you let it go, it is going to die anyway at some point, or
worse grow a bit and get caught again and you would lose your record.

that being said, with all the mexican lakes and south american lakes now
getting stocked with largemouth, at some poin the record will fall and it
won't mean near what the old one did. much like in football and other
sports the times are changing. i think the new record will be broken
several times in a short span, where this one has stood for decades. there
is a big difference in fish management and trophy lake management now.

hope you all still love me :-)
crownliner
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
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Bob
To date, I have never taken a fish home with me but if I catch a record
size bass ,its going on the wall .No doubt about it.


Ken Blevins
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
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"Ken Blevins" wrote in message
...
Bob
To date, I have never taken a fish home with me but if I catch a record
size bass ,its going on the wall .No doubt about it.

If you donate your 13+ pound bass to Texas ShareLunker program, Lake Fork
Taxidermists make a cast of it for your wall while it is still living and
the ShareLunker program uses your bass in breeding if it is a pure Florida
strain. They said my 14 pound 2 oz. Rosie (Sharelunker #361) had the largest
shoulders they had seen for her length and girth. Instead of on the wall,
Rosie is in a case which goes to a lot of fly tying shows where I show kids
and unbelievers that it is possible to catch a world record bass on a fly
rod. Kids of all ages really need to see what a big bass looks like.

Fame and fortune? Unless an all tackle world record holder is a tournament
fisherman, guide or owns a tackle shop I doubt if there is very much money
coming his way. I haven't got a cent for the fly rod record.

There is another option. A week or so later I was down at the Lake Meredith
Stilling basin and a good ole boy bait fisherman said to me, "Iffin I ever
caught me a bass that big, it'd be filetted, rolled in corn meal and fried
in a country minute!" ROFLMAO!

Good luck!
John

I'd probably hang it around my neck for a week or two, then have the smile
surgically removed... and take a shower or two
"bassrecord" wrote in message
...
"Ken Blevins" wrote in message
...
Bob
To date, I have never taken a fish home with me but if I catch a record
size bass ,its going on the wall .No doubt about it.

If you donate your 13+ pound bass to Texas ShareLunker program, Lake Fork
Taxidermists make a cast of it for your wall while it is still living and
the ShareLunker program uses your bass in breeding if it is a pure Florida
strain. They said my 14 pound 2 oz. Rosie (Sharelunker #361) had the
largest
shoulders they had seen for her length and girth. Instead of on the wall,
Rosie is in a case which goes to a lot of fly tying shows where I show
kids
and unbelievers that it is possible to catch a world record bass on a fly
rod. Kids of all ages really need to see what a big bass looks like.

Fame and fortune? Unless an all tackle world record holder is a
tournament
fisherman, guide or owns a tackle shop I doubt if there is very much money
coming his way. I haven't got a cent for the fly rod record.

There is another option. A week or so later I was down at the Lake
Meredith
Stilling basin and a good ole boy bait fisherman said to me, "Iffin I ever
caught me a bass that big, it'd be filetted, rolled in corn meal and fried
in a country minute!" ROFLMAO!

Good luck!
John