Fellsmere Reservoir produces first TrophyCatch Hall of Fame Bass

[TLHSS]

This may be old news, but I received it today via email:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nso123]

Definitely a nice one. 

[geo g]

Catch and release and plenty of bait fish, things should be good for the future!  Congrats on your monster bass!

[TLHSS]

55 minutes ago, geo g said:

Catch and release and plenty of bait fish, things should be good for the future!  Congrats on your monster bass!

 

It's not mine ... I wish it was .  Or maybe not since I'm a UL fisherman  

 

I'm on the email list for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the story of this catch was in their latest newsletter.  Here's the full story:

 

Fellsmere Reservoir (Headwaters) in Indian River County joined an elite list of Florida waters when its first Hall of Fame bass weighing 13 pounds or heavier was approved in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) TrophyCatch program.

 

Angler Doug Smith from Canada caught the 13-pound, 2-ounce bass while fishing with Captain Nate Shellen on April 6 and submitted the required fish-on-scale photo clearly displaying the fish’s weight to successfully verify his accomplishment with TrophyCatch. The fish was released alive in accordance with program requirements to continue reproducing and possibly provide a catch of a lifetime for another lucky angler.

 

Captain Nate with Shellen Guide Service said Doug’s catch was the “biggest of my career and I’m amazed and blown away that I saw it eat the bait. It was incredible!”

 

“Fellsmere has benefited from a number of enhancements that contribute to producing trophy bass including special regulations, habitat reclamation, vegetation management, and stocking,” said Regional Fisheries Administrator Scott Bisping. “It’s especially gratifying to see this fish come from one of our new Florida Trophy Bass Project waters.”

 

Over 150 Hall of Fame bass weighing 13 pounds or more have been approved into TrophyCatch since the citizen-science program was launched in 2012. The minimum catch weight is 8 pounds to participate in the program. Anglers are required to photograph or video the entire fish on a scale with the weight visible in order to qualify for prizing from fishing industry conservation partners including Bass Pro Shops, AFTCO, and Shimano.

 

Hall of Fame winners also score a free customized fiberglass mount representing their catch from Gray Taxidermy to commemorate the memorable event. Doug Smith landed an additional $50 Bass Pro Shops gift card by documenting the fish’s length, which provides more information to biologists about the health of this rare catch.

 

[Zcoker]

Headwaters isn't the only place producing bigs. There was a 13.10 caught over at Kenansville and recorded on trophy catch. 

[geo g]

A friend of mine, Bruce Cambell caught a 13+ at the Stick Marsh about 10 years ago.  He has had a bunch of double digits besides the big girl!

[TOXIC]

Odds are good that it was a live bait catch.  Trophy nonetheless.  February will be our 3rd year going down.  We only use artificials and have a blast. 

[crypt]

caught my biggest at Stick Marsh 14lbs. 2oz. on a Bomber square bill. Dec. 26th. 2013. I don't use shiners myself. will let my son and grandson use them when they are here. but for me I just don't like it. I don't even like using live shrimp when saltwater fishing......