what would you do

[gim]

If you caught a potential new state record fish?

 

Generally speaking, you need to have the weight certified and you need a witness, which kills the fish.  Additionally, you also need to disclose where you caught that fish too, which eventually becomes public information.

 

Someone here in MN recently caught a new state record crappie (by weight) and that information was just disclosed.  Its a small lake south of the Twin Cities.  That lake is going to be decimated now by both boats and ice anglers next winter.

 

If I caught a potential state record on a really big lake, then it wouldn't bother me as much.  But on smaller to mid-sized body of water, the sheer pressure after the result makes me think it just isn't worth it.  Say goodbye to that fishing spot.

[TnRiver46]

I’d turn it in, it’s just fishing. There are plenty of state record locations around here that don’t make a difference in amount of pressure. Really only the bass records would even raise an eyebrow. Somebody recently broke world record crappie in a farm pond in the middle of nowhere 

 

I’ve really never had a fishing spot all to myself so what’s the difference ? Records seems pretty cool to track , I’m jealous of places that keep track of lake records, those don’t exist in TN 

[A-Jay]

First off, the chances of this happening to me are wicked remote.

Doesn't mean I'm not ready for it or haven't given it a bunch of thought.

Being honest, my thoughts on what I would do have waivered and changed a couple of times

the past few years and there's a couple of reasons for that.

Pre-spawn is a great time for big fish catches for me but local regs demand C & R,

so there's no way I could actually or legally consider 'registering' such a bass

(and it would be a brown bass) with the State of Michigan.

Which I'm fine with.

Late summer is usually my next best chance at plus size fish and that's a whole different ball game.

I can keep such a fish then.

At this point, I feel like hiding in plain site is my best course of action.

So I think I'd just move to a different part of the lake,

take a few killer photos/videos of her,

and then post it up here with the thread title

"Guess the weight".

In the past 8 years I've landed 2 over 7 lbs, the state record is almost 10 lbs.

So like I said above - Remote.

A-Jay

 

[Team9nine]

I’m with @TnRiver46 - I’d submit it if I knew for certain it was a record. I’d also do what I could to try and not kill the fish in the process, if possible. One of my pet peeves is reading headlines and stories such as, “Possible state record fish released.” Every really good “under the radar” fishery is just one catch/fish away from being ruined. You never know when it might occur, so you might as well take your 5 minutes of fame if it just so happens to drop in your lap. 

[Bluebasser86]

It’s just a state record? I’m taking pictures and measurements and turning it loose. If it’s a world record? I’m going to have to turn it in. So few people care about the state record fish, I’m not blowing up a lake to have my name in a book nobody cares about.

[Mike L]

World record?? Me too, I’d turn it in

 

The vast majority of the lakes I fish are at the very least locally known already, while most are Nationally famous especially my home lake (Okeechobee) where I spend the most time. 
 

Wouldn’t really notice an increase 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike
 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Arguably the best part of catching a big, special fish for me is watching it swim away.

 

I don't care if she was "old", "only had a year or two left", "was done spawning due to age", etc.......at the end of the day the last thing I want to be a part of is killing a fish that has somehow managed to defy the powerball lottery odds against her.    

 

Broke my heart when recently a big DD SM was killed on Erie.   So stupid the State required that massive, incredibly old fish was killed.   Then they come out and say "she was done spawning", "she was gonna die soon, she was really old", etc.     

[Zcoker]

I've often thought about it because it's very very possible here in Florida, especially in the places that I fish. Problem is, what do I do with a record fish way out in the everglades aboard a kayak at 3am in the morning? Only thing that I can think of is to stringer it or put it in my net and then call the 24 hour FWC emergency operator. Whether they come out then or wait until morning would be another story. They'd probably tell me "for wildlife emergencies only." Either way, I'd be stuck with a record fish fending off the gators until someone arrived to verify whatever they verify. I've heard here in Florida that a fisheries biologist needs to be present to take samples of potential record fish, something along those lines. They'd no doubt need their breakfast and coffee first. Most likely I'd be hanging out for a long, long time because they'd also need to source an airboat. Wish they had specific record-catch instructions and contact information. Maybe they do and I just don't know about it.   

[Jar11591]

For a state record, I couldn't care less about recognition. I do care about keeping my fishing spots my fishing spots. They already get busy enough. I’m turning the fat girl loose and immediately having an asthma attack. 

[Skunkmaster-k]

When I catch the lake record I’m going to make it official. 

[gim]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

At this point, I feel like hiding in plain site is my best course of action.

So I think I'd just move to a different part of the lake,

take a few killer photos/videos of her,

and then post it up here with the thread title

"Guess the weight".

 

Not the answer any of us wanted to hear.  I was really hoping to finally get a decent location on Lake Menderchuck. 🤣

[Rockhopper]

I could care less if the public knows how big of a fish I caught.  Bragging rights with family and BR is good enough for me.

[Tennessee Boy]

If I catch a state record I’ll turn it in.  The lakes I fish are large and the impact fishermen have on healthy fisheries is minimal.  My biggest concern would be that it would go to my head and I might lose my humility.  My humility is one of the things I’m most proud of.  😆

[Fried Lemons]

Imo it's not worth blowing up a small lake for five minutes of fame. In my tiny state all the lakes are pressured and it is a grind trying to get on big fish. You learn the hard way to keep quiet about bites. I'd take enough photo and video evidence to prove beyond doubt the size of the fish but no way would I make it official.

[2tall79]

Any local grocery store has a state certified scale....and a witness.  I don't think the fish necessarily has to die.

[T-Billy]

I'd register it. No worries about blowing up the lake. Our little lakes here in OH get pounded mercilessly anyway. My favorite lake is just over 1000 acres. Every point, cove, flat etc. gets worked over daily for both bass and muskie. Multiple times on the weekends. There are no secret spots, and there are no empty parking spaces shortly after sunrise. 

 

[Woody B]

33 minutes ago, 2tall79 said:

Any local grocery store has a state certified scale....and a witness.  I don't think the fish necessarily has to die.

 

In NC (and I think SC too) the fish has to be examined by a biologist.  That doesn't mean it has to be killed though.  A decade ago a fisherman caught a 6.95 pound Bass in Lake Norman he thought was a new Spotted Bass state record.  Biologist examined the fish, including take a small clipping from a fin and determined it was a hybrid between a Largemouth Mom and Spotted Father.  It wasn't allowed for the record, but reports say the fish lived out the rest of it's life in the aquarium at Bass Pro in Concord NC.  

If I caught a state record anything I'd turn it in, but I'd try to keep it alive.   NC's state record Spot is 6 pounds 5 ounces.   I believe that record is breakable.   I've caught one over 5, and several over 4 pounds.   

[Smokinal]

Ok, so as far as the fish dying...if she's that big, she's already got one fin on a banana peel.

If a state ercord, I'd definitely record it and kill the fish if necessary; again, she's going to pass anyway.

 

As far as location, I've seen records say "Undisclosed Location"...so I'd just tell the authorities to keep it disclosed.

 

My .02

[Susky River Rat]

I wouldn’t care at all. I’m not in fishing for recognition or bragging rights. I’d take some pics release it and be on my way.

[Craig P]

I had this situation with a Flathead Catfish a few years ago.  Ironic but not totally, it came from the same body of water that the prior record was held.  I had no desire to go through the process even though I hate what a flathead can do to other fish populations but what gives me the right to kill another creature?  If for sustenance, I’m ok with that but for a certificate, nah, I just can’t do that.

 

Another ironic part to the story, the prior record was beat a year later, which I know would have beat mine so nothing lost.

[king fisher]

I would weigh it on a questionable scale, take only one lousy blurry picture, make sure no one else gets a good look at the bass, then eat it.  That way anglers can argue about it for a few decades.

[scaleface]

I may have caught the Missouri state record white sucker and released it. If not it was close. I didnt know it until I looked it up. 

[WRB]

It’s a lot easier today to validate a catch then it was decades ago.Smart phones take excellent photos and digital scales are small and accurate.

Being prepared helps a good deal. Read the IGFA rules, have a application form handy, a tape measure and certify your scale.

IGFA just opened 2 new bass species for record consideration; Florida strain LMB and Alabama strain Spotted Bass for line classes.

Tom

[gim]

1 hour ago, Smokinal said:

As far as location, I've seen records say "Undisclosed Location"...so I'd just tell the authorities to keep it disclosed.

 

Perhaps it depends on the state.  MN now has 3 state record statuses: official weight, C & R length, and historical.  Every record prior to 1980 has now been classified as historical because no witness, weight, length, body of water, or photos were required.  Tell me that isn't sketchy.

 

The C & R length category is a full release category.  The official state one is by weight and the fish will die.  For either one of these, I looked up the form and you have to fill out the body of water, county, and nearest town.  Leaving them blank disqualifies the catch.  Some might say "well just write in a fake lake name" but that's illegal given it's a government document with your signature and the signature of a witness.

 

There seems to be a number of people here that already fish highly pressured waters and it wouldn't make much of a difference if a big fish was caught there.  But for others, including me, several of the lakes I fish do not necessarily receive a ton of pressure and I don't need to be broadcasting where I caught a record fish to anyone other than my family and BR.

 

Referring back my original post, the lake in question is within 30 miles of the Twin Cities and its only 67 acres in size.  That lake is going to be annihilated.  Every inch of that lake will be crawling with ice anglers come December.  Here is the fish.  He also holds the current state record pure strain muskie which was caught in November 2021.  I assume @Team9nine approves of this slab.

 

 

 

 

 

[Team9nine]

16 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Referring back my original post, the lake in question is within 30 miles of the Twin Cities and its only 67 acres in size.  That lake is going to be annihilated.  Every inch of that lake will be crawling with ice anglers come December.  Here is the fish.  He also holds the current state record pure strain muskie which was caught in November 2021.  I assume @Team9nine approves of this slab.

Lol - I read the story of the record crappie catch a couple days ago. I certainly approve of that slab. Kind of freaks me out a bit that I’ve caught two that size already this year. Always hoping for a bigger one, but the party won’t last forever. It never does.