Releasing Record Fish - Right Or Wrong?

[cwscarber]

INDIANA STATE RECORD RELEASED RATHER THAN CERTIFIED!!

 

 

Angler opts to release 16 pound bass unharmed rather than freeze fish to await confirmation of species by biologist. The current record is 14 pounds 6 ounces. Did he do the right thing? I say yes. what about you?

[flyfisher]

there is no right or wrong thing here actually.  Most states do not require a fish to be killed to be certified and beating a record by 2lbs is pretty crazy and many scales are proven to be inaccurate so i am calling BS on this one..... 

[slonezp]

Depends if you caught it on a Mustad hook prior to Oct. 2012. I'd have that puppy dead in the freezer.

[tbone1993]

My friend released the possible state record small mouth bass this past year. 16lb is way over 14 lbs there is no mistaking that fish broke the record and that is all that matters. 

[roadwarrior]

I might release the State Record Smallmouth in another state, but not Tennessee!

 

 

 

[Bankbeater]

I say release it.  He knows he caught it.

[OkeechobeeAngler]

I'm glad he did.  I've release the 2 bass I've caught that were over 10. 

[JellyMan]

I released my 11 1/2 lber and felt great about it. It would be a shame to kill a bass that large for your own vanity. It overcame unbelievable obstacles in its life to get that big.

 

[OkeechobeeAngler]

That picture is the OP is photo-shopped. 

[Darren.]

If there was a possibility that I had a state record, I'd like to have it verified, certified, etc. Bass Pro is close enough that the fish could, if handled properly, plenty of O2, etc., be released in their tank.

 

I was told a local fisherman caught an 11+ pounder out of Harwood's Mill, had it certified at a local shop, but in the transport to BPS, the fish died. Not sure it was taken care of in the process.

 

If one wants to CPR the fish, then by all means! I don't eat bass, strictly CPR for me, so if there was a way to keep it alive and certify it, I'd do it.

[Greenstealth]

It's never wrong to release a healthy fish.

[Felix77]

I say hell yes. I wish there was a better way to authorize a record rather than killing the fish. In golf you don't need a pga representative to witness your course record or hole in one.

[Dwight Hottle]

Welcome to Bass resource. Your first post is a pot stirrer for sure. There is no right or wrong choosing to keep or release a record fish. It is the anglers choice.  

[WRB]

If your state requires a biologist to examine the fish to determine if it was caught legally, is the species claimed and weight including measurements, then keep the fish alive or on ice, depending on your personal beliefs.

Otherwise the catch isn't certified and only rumors will surround the catch.

California has a long list of both state and world record bass being released before being certified. Mac Weakleys Dottie 25.1 lb bass tops the list. I don't know anyone who has released a uncertified potential record bass that is happy about it in the long term.

Releasing a healthy giant bass that falls short of record size makes sense, releasing a valid record bass before it can be validated doen't make good sense.

Tom

[HeavyDluxe]

Totally up to the fisherman... In my opinion, within the bounds of the law, they can release or harvest as they please.  Obviously, I want people to generally practice CPR so that several of us can enjoy catching a big one, but if someone harvests a lunker once in a while, that's ok too.

 

I would CPR, I think... Unless there's some major cash incentive at play (see the Mustad comment earlier), fishing records are a little silly to me.  No one is looking at the list of names and saying "Whoa, that Dluxe was an awesome angler" or telling thrilling tales re: my skills.  Sure, my name is next to the weight, but so what?  (IMO)

 

Of course, if I was holding a 13lb LMB or something (I live in VT), I might feel very differently at that moment.  So, I reserve the right to change my mind.

[flyfisher]

Releasing a PB is different than a state record. I mean if I caught the VA state record I would do my best to keep it alive and call the dgif to meet me wherever so that fish could stay alive or at least make a reasonable attempt.

I think it's a troll post and I started the feeding....

[SudburyBasser]

Catch and release has gone to ridiculous extremes when even keeping a record fish is frowned upon.

[Teal]

I agree with flyfisher, its a troll post. and it does appear to be photoshopped.

But it is a good topic nontheless. I am a big believer in Catch,Photo,Release. But when it comes to a personal best, double digit or a regional/state/world record. It is completely up to the angler.

Me personally, i would exaust every thing i can to keep the fish alive and still get it certified. There are some great taxidermists out there that can make excellent replicas from photos and measurements. If i couldnt get a wildlife resource officer or certified scales or whatever else requirement without killing the fish, i think i would make sure i have several photos and release the fish. My hope is to return the fish so that someone else has a chance to catch it.

But who knows what ill do untill im there...

[GOOCHY]

If it's me and I have absolutely no way of keeping him alive to be officially verified he's going back in the water...

 

I got my pictures, and I know I have the state record catch under my belt.  That's good enough for me.

 

***Edit to say that I have more respect for an animal that is one in *billions* than I have a lust to have my name in some arcane record book.

[fstr385]

Ive let go of every bass Ive gotten, and I would too if I got a record unless I didn't have a way to record scaled weight, and all the measurements on video. I always have a phone or a go pro with a tape and scale on hand juuust in case. If not, Id bring it somewhere alive, hook a rope through its mouth or something, throw it in the water, and come back. Just a picture is nothing to go by, unless you only want to know it true for yourself. If none of that was possible, then RIP fish. If you don't have one or the other, ID call BS.

[BassmanDan]

If I could keep the fish alive and have it certified as a state record, I'd do it. Much harder decision if the fish would have to die, and I can't honestly answer that.

 

I'm from Indiana BTW, and that's an unreal bass if it's legit. Guess we'll never know.

[Bluebasser86]

The right thing? all a matter of personal opinion there. A fish that size in a central state probably doesn't have many years left anyways if he did keep it. In some states they have release records now, either they go off the live weight of the fish or they do length records if you don't want to keep it. I'd have a hard time killing a fish like that just to get my name in a book of records that very few people will ever even see. 

[SirSnookalot]

Your fish...........your business on what to do with it.

I wouldn't go thru the bother of trying to get a fish certified for a record, I don't care about those things.  I don't carry a scale or a tape and some of my best fish have never been photographed, estimates work fine for me.  I won't say I'm not curious and if someone is around with a scale and can take good pic, fine, but if not I won't be upset.

[aharris]

Are there any awards or recognition given away to someone who catches a state record bass? Just being curious. I know that guy who caught the world record got all kinds of publicity. Wasnt sure if catching a state record bass would be anything like that...to a lesser degree of course.

[senile1]

The right thing? all a matter of personal opinion there. A fish that size in a central state probably doesn't have many years left anyways if he did keep it. In some states they have release records now, either they go off the live weight of the fish or they do length records if you don't want to keep it. I'd have a hard time killing a fish like that just to get my name in a book of records that very few people will ever even see. 

 

I agree.  A fish of that size in Indiana, or my state for that matter, has already had a long life of reproduction and has very little time left.  I would not be upset if an angler wanted to keep it because it could not be certified any other way.  Many have stated they released their double-digit bass, but in the case of a state record, and especially a world record, I give the angler some leeway.