What would you do if.......

[Guest avid]

More and more really good bass water is being designated as "catch and release" some of it is a state regulation, other times it's private water and those are the rules.  what would you do if you caught the new world record bass in a "catch and release" lake?

[abelfisher]

First off.  Always take a camera whenyou go fishing. I take one of those "disposable" cameras.  

Always take a small tape measure and decent scale.  But to answer your question.  I would try my best to find a witness, measure, weigh, take a bunch of pictures.  Maybe even call the DNR and see if one of the boys would come on down and take a look.  It would probably help to have one of those guys witness it.

[Will]

I would first make sure its secured in a net, trap, cooler, or if I had to a stringer. Like ablefisher said look for a witness, and take some pictures. Then I would call some kind of authority to verify the fish and to take to some certified scales. After that more pictures and a safe release.

[Axis]

I would make sure I got credit for it

[Minuteman]

Call 911!!. Seriously, I would call the State Game commision and get advice first and then local newspaper all the while doing what others have said. Witness's pictures etc.. At least in my area the newspapers eat stories up that have a great picture to go along.

Of course then everyone within 200 miles is going to be fishing that spot for years.

[flyphisher #]

Put her in the cooler under the beer ;D

[Guest avid]

Put her in the color under the beer

;D ;D ;D

[Yankee_Bassman]

One problem is some regs specify "IMMEDIATELY release".....

[Guest DavidGreen]

If you know that there is a good chance of catching a world record fish, on a particular body of water your fishing......;D

I would contact the authorities in charge of the rules before fishing the body of water, and ask what the rule/s would be if your lucky enough to catch a possible world record......;D

If you wait until you have a potential world record on your line, the time wasted contacting the proper authorities could be detrimental to the fish.  Especially if no certified scales are anywhere close at hand.....

Tight Lines!  

[Ben]

Let me ask this, would you throw several millions dollars in a lake just to keep from paying a small fine?

I would make evey effort possilbe to keep the fish alive so it could go to a state hatchery. I'm sure Florida, Texas, California or just about any state, would pay mega bucks to have it, since they are all in competition to produce the next world record but just to release it, ain't gonna happen.

I guess it should go without saying, I'm sure if your fishing waters that have the potential to produce a record, you would have your ducks lined up before getting into that situation.  

Several years back an idividual tried to claim the record but was not allowed, for one, they found he was cheating and two, the fish was not legally caught so they said it would not have been considered had he not cheated.

[Matt Fly]

I never leave home with out the parks and wildlife phone number.  Have a seamstress measuring tape to measure girth and length.  Pictures at different angles.  Take a picture of the measurements.  Know what boat marinas have certified scales.  On lakes that have restrictions, email the governing board, wild life agency, how to certify a possible record.  What steps are needed on a lake that said "release immediately".  If you got time to be on the forum, you got time to make those emails.  

[Matt Fly]

The only way that fish is worth a million bucks is you are in a state where bass fishing dominates,  the state record you broke means something.  I don't know the NY state record, but if you caught a 13lber in NY for a new state record, is it worth millions?   Now the world record bass would be.

In Texas, I think a new state record would be worth some money.  We have 2 BPS and a third one opening up in the spring of 2006.  I think BPS would lease the fish or buy it for a good price.  

Let me ask this, would you throw several millions dollars in a lake just to keep from paying a small fine?

You could take the fish illegally, maybe a polygraph test to certify the correct waters.  If found illegal, not only would you get fined, but no credit for the catch.

And for the guy who said put it in the cooler.  I am a firm believer in that people use to fish for supper before catch and release ever started.  Its okay to eat what you catch.  But your advise on that catch and release lake only,  "is illegal".  

Ben, you aren't going to get paid for cheating.