World Record Loss

[Dwight Hottle]

Man loses world record on alabama rig.

http://www.grindtv.c...rize gets away/

[Nitrofreak]

I doubt he gets the 100 grand either for using Mustad hooks, WOW what a heart breaker !!!

[Dwight Hottle]

Yea the poor guy lost the state record, world record & the mustad contest prize.

[deaknh03]

Yea the poor guy lost the state record, world record & the mustad contest prize.

and he can't even refer to his lure as an "Alabama rig" without the threat of a lawsuit.

[hooah212002]

Here is the relevant rule for those interested:

1. For live or dead bait fishing no more than two single hooks may be used. Both must be firmly imbedded in or securely attached to the bait. The eyes of the hooks must be no less than a hook's length (the length of the largest hook used) apart and no more than 18 inches (45.72 cm) apart. The only exception is that the point of one hook may be passed through the eye of the other hook.

(bolding mine)

http://www.igfa.org/...LING-RULES.aspx

[Fishing Rhino]

It's not even close to the world record striped bass, unless there is a fresh water category. Greg Myerson is the current IGFA record holder with an 81 pound 14 ounce striper.

Still, it's definitely in the bragging size.

http://www.onthewater.com/fishing/its-official-new-world-record-striper/

[Bass Slayer 72]

Not that the money wouldn't have been nice, but wow, what a fish.... I'd have it mounted and sent to the IGFA....

[Dwight Hottle]

It's not even close to the world record striped bass, unless there is a fresh water category. Greg Myerson is the current IGFA record holder with an 81 pound 14 ounce striper.

Still, it's definitely in the bragging size.

http://www.onthewate...record-striper/

Tom it could be a line class world record rather than all tackle record.

[Mad Fisherman]

Wow, that is a monster, and a heart breaker.

[tomustang]

I don't see poor, I see someone who didn't follow rules. Hell of a way to be shown he was wrong.

[retiredbosn]

IGFA recognizes a seperate category for landlocked stripers.

[North Ga Hillbilly]

I don't see poor, I see someone who didn't follow rules. Hell of a way to be shown he was wrong.

I take it you have the IGFA rule book cemented up in your head.

NGaHB

[tomustang]

I take it you have the IGFA rule book cemented up in your head.

NGaHB

If I had a reason then I would, I don't play with the contests and records though so I don't. It's common sense that if you want to break records you would know the requirements.

[Fishing Rhino]

Tom it could be a line class world record rather than all tackle record.

I stand corrected.

[Fishing Rhino]

Upon further review/research, it would have been a world record striped bass caught in fresh water.

World Record Freshwater Striped Bass

The world record freshwater striped bass was caught by Hank Ferguson in O'Neill Forebay, San Luis California, on May 7, 1992. It weighed 67 pounds 8 ounces.

O'Neill Forebay is a 2250 acre freshwater reservoir in Merced County, that is part of the California Aqueduct System.

To find out how striped bass got to be in the California Aqueduct System follow this link: California Striped Bass.

http://www.striperspace.com/about_striped_bass.html

[ClackerBuzz]

if he had knowledge or hopes of breaking any records then he should have known the rules. if he didn't have the expectations and just had a $1M slip thru his fingers then I'd like to be the first guy to buy him a beer...or 10. and he should DEFINITELY get the Mustad $100K.

[yoyoman]

sounds liked he got ripped off to me. it read to me that he was just any everyday angler who signed up for a contest and not a professional angler. worst part he took it twice, state record and world. i can assume that this man felt he was following all the correct game laws. now if there is more to the article i can not see i would change my opinion. is this contest like cabellas 1 million dollar fish?

[Lund Explorer]

While I'm sure most of feel sorry that the guy lost his chance at a payday, you only need to read the story to see that he made quite a few mistakes along the way. From the original article:

"Ply caught the striped bass on Feb. 18 and submitted his catch to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission; the state record is 64 pounds, 8 ounces. But in May, the commission disallowed the catch as a state record because an Arkansas wildlife official did not witness the weighing and the scale was not certified."

So besides the fact that IGFA doesn't recognize the Alabama Rig, the State (and most likely IGFA) doesn't recognize any weight using cousin MaryLou's baby scales, and actually requires an official witness. I could give Bubba here the benefit of the doubt with regards to the lure of choice, but if he's going to take the time to sign up with Mustad, maybe he should've taken the extra time to learn a little bit about what it takes to establish a record.

Somethings you just can't cure.

[yoyoman]

will lund thanks for the article. that cleared everthing up. in the process of looking for a certified scale the fish spit up resulting in a lower weight. tough luck. and yes if he entered a contest he should of read the rules on how he wa allowed to fish for it. d**n thalk about a bad day.

[bassmaster3541]

While I'm sure most of feel sorry that the guy lost his chance at a payday, you only need to read the story to see that he made quite a few mistakes along the way. From the original article:

"Ply caught the striped bass on Feb. 18 and submitted his catch to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission; the state record is 64 pounds, 8 ounces. But in May, the commission disallowed the catch as a state record because an Arkansas wildlife official did not witness the weighing and the scale was not certified."

So besides the fact that IGFA doesn't recognize the Alabama Rig, the State (and most likely IGFA) doesn't recognize any weight using cousin MaryLou's baby scales, and actually requires an official witness. I could give Bubba here the benefit of the doubt with regards to the lure of choice, but if he's going to take the time to sign up with Mustad, maybe he should've taken the extra time to learn a little bit about what it takes to establish a record.

Somethings you just can't cure.

So if your were fishing a megabass jerkbait or the larger style of lucky craft sammy's which have 3 seperate and you hooked a world record you would just toss it back in the water?

And if you read just about any story on record's being broken it takes fish and game officials hours (if at all) to actually come to certify the weights

[Lund Explorer]

So if your were fishing a megabass jerkbait or the larger style of lucky craft sammy's which have 3 seperate and you hooked a world record you would just toss it back in the water?

And if you read just about any story on record's being broken it takes fish and game officials hours (if at all) to actually come to certify the weights

Heck no, I'd give it to a bucket fisherman to take home to eat!

Now seriously, I guess I'd feel a little stupid/unlucky/whatever for not knowing the rules. After about ten seconds, I would simply accept the fact that rules are rules.

And I have not only read stories about record setting catches, but knew what needed to be done to establish a claim for a state record catch. In the 1960's this state added a whole bunch of new salmon species swimming in our Great Lakes. A lot of people dreamed of catching a state record King, Coho, or Atlantic Salmon. A#1 on that list was a certified scale had to be used, which with a little thought should be easy to find if you have ever visited a meat market as their scales MUST be certified by the State Dept of Agriculture. As far as a witness from the state, there's a conservation officer in every county, many of whom would gladly come to help out.

The Bottom Line - The things this fisherman did wrong far outweighed (no pun intended) an IGFA rule that was in effect long before he ever hit the water that day. If he or anyone else wants to take it personally, then I can't cure that either.

[bassmaster3541]

Heck no, I'd give it to a bucket fisherman to take home to eat!

Now seriously, I guess I'd feel a little stupid/unlucky/whatever for not knowing the rules. After about ten seconds, I would simply accept the fact that rules are rules.

And I have not only read stories about record setting catches, but knew what needed to be done to establish a claim for a state record catch. In the 1960's this state added a whole bunch of new salmon species swimming in our Great Lakes. A lot of people dreamed of catching a state record King, Coho, or Atlantic Salmon. A#1 on that list was a certified scale had to be used, which with a little thought should be easy to find if you have ever visited a meat market as their scales MUST be certified by the State Dept of Agriculture. As far as a witness from the state, there's a conservation officer in every county, many of whom would gladly come to help out.

The Bottom Line - The things this fisherman did wrong far outweighed (no pun intended) an IGFA rule that was in effect long before he ever hit the water that day. If he or anyone else wants to take it personally, then I can't cure that either.

What meat market are you going to where they 1) are going to let you weigh a nearly 70lb (possibly alive) striper on their scale in the middle of business hours and 2) if they even will let you, have a big enough scale to weigh a nearly 70 lb striper.

And as far as taking it personal you seem to be the one with an exagerated problem with it, He caught a fish on a rig that is legal in his state, and weighed it and submitted it, he didn't do anything illegal or in any form cheating. Since when is it a crime to submit something and have it turned down? He did nothing wrong, the only person he hurt was himself

[NoBassPro]

What meat market are you going to where they 1) are going to let you weigh a nearly 70lb (possibly alive) striper on their scale in the middle of business hours and 2) if they even will let you, have a big enough scale to weigh a nearly 70 lb striper.

Well I can answer part of that question. I do not know if the local meat market has a scale that goes to 70 lbs, but I do know the grocery store closest to me will let anglers weigh fish to be certified there during business hours. I've done it before, its no big deal.

[Loop_Dad]

Well I can answer part of that question. I do not know if the local meat market has a scale that goes to 70 lbs, but I do know the grocery store closest to me will let anglers weigh fish to be certified there during business hours. I've done it before, its no big deal.

Had no idea meat market let anglers weigh the fish. Interesting.

And I feel for the guy. Just a fisherman entered the contest, got the fish but the prize and record slipped away. Nobody to blame, rule is rule, but man I would also buy him a beer.

[Lund Explorer]

Well I can answer part of that question. I do not know if the local meat market has a scale that goes to 70 lbs, but I do know the grocery store closest to me will let anglers weigh fish to be certified there during business hours. I've done it before, its no big deal.

I know of several that have such scales. These aren't the ones sitting on the counter, but they are usually located in the back room and are used to weigh incoming shipments which could be as big as an entire side of beef or a whole dressed pig.