Some of you guys have no clue!

[Matt Fly]

Ok you guys make a big deal about a $1000 offer. If they were unsportsman like they could have crowded Kyle and fished for the same fish but of cource they didnt. I would have offered him what ever money i had too.

Every body talkes about the million dollar fish. SAYS WHO!!!!!!!!!!!!! you think people are going to come running with money in hand and start throwing it at them. they may get some indorsments but they would have to work very hard to get any whare near a million for it.

Ok now here is the big one.......Pay atention..........Its not about the money. I dont care about the $1000 offer that means nothing. Its about prestige respect and clout. Who ever catches the biggest fish is king. Those guys work at casinos and make alot of money. They are not in it for the money its all about who catches the biggest bass. A lot of trophy hunters(myself included) dont fish tournaments. Our way of competition and reward is being known for the big fish we catch. That is the mindset.

I wish you guys would leave the guy alone. He just caught the biggest bass in recorded history and let it go because he foul hooked it. Imagin how heartbreaking that must have been to see that fish come up with the jig outside the mouth. He knew what he was fishing for. He knew how to make it bite. He just misjudged it.

I'll quit beating the dead horse, but obviously, you guys know I monitor big fish and always have.

Matt said its not about money. Read the bottom article of one of the anglers who said he's contacting all the tackle companies for products and money.

And the last piece of info is: In 2003, this same fish we are talking about with the dot was found dead shortly after it was caught in April 2003, in NOV.

Mattlure spoke up about their passions and this articles said different, so until the real guys should speak instead of having someone else speak so they don't get bashed as we have b een accused.

http://www.seewald.com/california_state_record_largemouth_black_bass.htm

[bobo]

what do ya mean I kill you? The first day, i gave him the benefit of the doubt.. Since then his actions have showed otherwise....so until something dramatic happens it's to shady... How much plainer could I be, I he caught it, i believed it. after his actions I went to the thinking he was shady, end of story. This is all about timeline.

If anyone is killing one, it's you guys, I mean, heh, I mean praising this guy for nada... No one is trying to take his glory, he caught a big fish, that won't be official.  

If he caught a fish tomorrow that broke the record. First thng I'd ask is was there a witness, (beisdes budies), if none, i'd give him the benefit of the doubt. But after this fish, his story better be solid.

[Vermonster]

Actually Roger, there is some talk by Mike Long that he found a floater that he believes is his original fish with the black dot......

[Guest avid]

Hey t-Mike - Make up your mind.

In this post you have the wr being caught by a chinese guy with a bobber.

In another post you have a mexican with a cane pole

what's next - an armenian with a hand line?

we can all come up with possible ways the wr fish could be caught and not make a dime for it's catcher.

How about a mentally challenged woman who catches the wr while on a recreation outing with her group home?

So can we get real now?

The typical bass fisherman is an american guy who has some education, some common sense, uses store bought equipment, and fishes from some kind of boat.

I know that YOU know, he will make a ton of money.

[Captain Cali]

Actually Roger, there is some talk by Mike Long that he found a floater that he believes is his original fish with the black dot......

Rumors...It's also thought that Mike was trying to get peoples minds off the lake. It probably worked too.

So what now?? They used a marker to place the birthmark on the fish since that fish was found dead and did not exsist anymore?? Give me a break!

[Vermonster]

Actually Roger, there is some talk by Mike Long that he found a floater that he believes is his original fish with the black dot......

Rumors...It's also thought that Mike was trying to get peoples minds off the lake. It probably worked too.

So what now?? They used a marker to place the birthmark on the fish since that fish was found dead and did not exsist anymore?? Give me a break!

Dude, you're getting a little hostile here.  I was actually on your side in most of this, but you're getting a little too wired.

Now, as much as you can say that's the same fish, you can't prove it.  You think there is only one bass out there with a black mark on it's gills?????  Hardly.  I really don't care if it is or isn't.  It would be neat if it was, to use it to track a fishes development over the years, but it's not stone-cold proof.......

Besides, what's all the fuss over about this being the same fish or not.  It's a HOG either way, whether or not it was caught before.......

[Captain Cali]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean that post directly at you and that was hardly being hostile. I apologize if you took it that way. It's just with all of these conspiracy theories it's getting old.

[Vermonster]

I agree, the conspiracy theory is getting old.  The guy snagged (Intentional or not) a HUGE fish, threw it back, and the legend grows....  

[Hula Popper]

I agree with Vermonster and Roger310. The conspiracy theory is getting very old!

[Mattlures]

Avid. Of cource I think there would be money to be made but you would still have to market it. My point was its not gauranteed and depending on who or how the fish was caught would make a big diference in how much money the catch was worth. Everybody always says a million. Well its posible under the right surcomstances but its also psoible it could be worth a lot less.

My main point was pursuing the record is not about the money for these guys. I am hunting it too. I dont have the time to put into it so i will probably never even get close but at lease I am targeting it. The money is not why i want to catch it. I want to catch a bigger bass than anybody else. Thats why. Now after the fact is when the money factor might set in. I dont know what i would do or how I would act but I do know I would have to be squeeky clean and so did they and they did the right thing by releasing the fish.

BTW when I said Mexican I meant Mexican, like sombody in Mexico catching the fish. If I was talking about someone hear in the states I would have said Hispanic.

And one more thing Avid. If the record was caught on my bait I couldnt sell any more baits than I already am. I am backed up on my stores and I have no idea when I will ever get caught up. I think if that happened I would try and sell my company

The clueless thing was about people thinking they are only in it for the money.

[Cajun1977]

I agree with Matt 100%. He made a very good example if a hispanic person caught the fish fishing with a cane pole. IS he an instant millionaire?? I seriously doubt it. Now if KVD caught it with his marketing abilities you bet he'd be in the chips. Another thing. Takahiro Omori won the Classic 2 years ago. He didn't benefit nowhere near 1 million bucks. It's all about marketing. Yes the chatterbait guys and sweet beaver guys would benefit but if the hispanic guy can't speak english or even worst can't market himself he's not going to get much of squat. Theres a HUGE difference between marketability and catching a WR fish.

T Mike

hey   mike ever been to japan since takshiro won that classic   well i have and ill be damned if his picture isnt in all of the fishing stores i went to   the japanese have sponsored the hell out of him over there and they pay pretty good so im sure hes cleaned out over a million bucks here and there

and why  are some of you crying about not knowing what a true trophy hunter thinks  cause you dont even know i doubt if that guy called you personally and said hey this is nwhat im thinking about   everyones entitled to there own opinion  but get off the mans  n@#s  hes not a god hes a human whos capable of good and bad things just like the rest of us  so did he or didnt he who cares

good fishing to al

[Rattletrap]

I've got a clue, i've got a clue. I know which state still owns the WR LMB.

[KYbass1276]

I'm with avid on this one. My opinion is if a hispanic caught this fish on a cane pole that fish would have been ate and nobody would have even known about it in the first place. It's right there in the history of the current world record when the bait company that produced the lure that george perry caught his on advertised there lure caught the world record bass. Whoever catches the next offical world record bass is going to be makeing money, even the angler who fishes once or twice a year is going to be smart enough to see a money making oppurtinity with a fish like that.  Sorry guy's I don't buy it. they are not just doing it for the prestige of it there in it for the money as well   Lets see here market my catch for every penny I can or just keep working for all my money hmmm I think I'm going to milk it for every dime I can.

[tennsopher]

Im all for the Chinese guy with a bobber.At least he wouldnt be birdogged onto a fish he could pester untill it was foul hooked protecting its nest.Why even bother to fish outside the spawn if you want that elusive trophy?Sorry,thats just my opinion on his catch.

[Rattletrap]

The clueless thing was about people thinking they are only in it for the money.

The most bogus statement out there is"I love my job, I'd keep on working even if I won a million". Liar!!! It's all about the money. That's the facts. Mac was out in the boat discussing if he could get that bass to pass an IGFA inspection. He turned the fish back in because there were too many witnesses that saw him snag it. That's the facts....The fish would not take the lure, so he snagged it. What's so hard to believe about that. $$$$$$$$$ make some people do things they normally would not do. Remember. IMO.....

[Mattlures]

Oh you must mean how Perry lied? That is a fact too! You dont know these guys. You dont know what they said or what they were thinking. YOUR OPINION IS NOT FACT!!!!!!!!  I dont know how much money they make but they get to fish pretty much every day. They drive VERY expensive cars and have high paying jobs. Is it so outrageouse to believ they like thier jobs. I dont doubt they were talking about what they should do in the middle of the lake. I think I would have been discussing all my options at that point too. Who knows maybe they were tempted to say they caught it the mouth, But guess what MR FACTS. They didnt. They did the right thing. they let the fish go and didnt even submit it for the record. Why dont you watch basscenter this saterday. they were their interviewing everybody including all the wittneses.

You say they only let it go because people saw them foul hook it. Well they knew that the second the fish was in the net and everybody was watching.

They knew it wasnt right for the record to be caught like that.

It doesnt even matter what you say because it is the biggest bass ever caught.

[buzzbaitfool12]

Come on guys..you all are about as naive as my first prom date when I told her I loved her for the big prize ;D..I am sure these guys love to fish, but you are telling me if they caught and not snagged the fish they wouldnt want to collect on the handsome reward that someone would receive if the wr bass was caught and not snagged would bring in..Come on..These cats want to get paid..Roger you keep making the guys to sound like some knights in shining armour but the bottom line is if they were so knowledgeable about being trophy hunters, they would have had everything in place but they got nervous when they to me intentionally snagged this fish..They panicked and made mistakes and wanted to put back in so they could really go back and catch the fish and not snag it..I have read in the last two years in major fishing magazines about the big bounty someone would collect if the wr bass would be caught..I am going to listen to the people behind the lines about this because I think if you caught the fish you would be like the subway guy jarrod that made millions for losing weight..YOU WOULD MAKE CLOSE TO A MILLION>>We will have to see about this when the record is caught and not snagged..Buzz

[Captain Cali]

I might be making them seem like knights in shining armor but a lot of others are so quick to trash them. It goes both ways. I could call out a lot of people on this forum for trashing them. I think what they did was right so I will defend their actions.

The fact is they caught the bass, it was foul hooked, they discussed their options, weighed and pictured the fish, then released it.

I've read post from others, not necessarily on this site, that say they would have killed the bass so they could mount it. Regardless if it was foul hooked, illegal to keep, and wouldn't have been the WR. I would be the first person all over that guy for doing something so stupid.

Give them credit for ultimately doing the right thing. Don't speculate on the details in between that only the few people that were there will ever truly know about.

[Mattlures]

You guys must not read the whole posts. Just because sombody wants to get paid after wards doesnt mean thats what drives them.

here is my point I want to catch the WR because I want to catch a bigger bass than anybody else period.

That is my #1 reason.

My #2 reason is I feel the current WR is a disgrace. I think it is the biggest frad in fishing history.

Now see if you can understand this. I honestly would be happy with just those two thing and thats what drives me to throw big swimbaits all day insted of worm fishing.

BUT of cource I would try to get paid if I caught it. Can you guys understand this. just because sombody tries to make some money AFTER the fact doesnt mean thats why they did it in the first place.

Like I said before. Its about the recognition.

I have fished Dixon many times and I have bed fished there. The big fish are spooky and just because the water is clear doesnt mean you can clearly see whats happening on the bed. There is wind chop and that particular day it was overcast and misty.

here is another thing some of the haters fail to realize. You say they intentionaly snagged it and then realized people had seen them so the panicked..WRONG people were watching them the entire time they were fishing for that fish including the ranger and they new that. Mac made the fish bite a few times and missed. It is verry common for a bed fish to inhale and exhale a bait in less than a second. They rarly hold on to the bait for longer than a couple seconds. The fish went down and it looked like it bit (maybe it even did bite ad spit it) so Mac swung. With 6 witnesses watching his every move. He knew it was the WR there is no way he would intentionaly snag it. he believed that the foul hooking disqualified it so he released it.

It is my opinion(not fact) that they were hoping it would go right back to the bed so they could catch it the right way. As of today it has not returned yet.

[bobo]

Matt, are you saying money might factor into a guy doing shady things but fame, (recognigition) wouldn't?

Here is the main thing for me. Give him a pat on the back, say , Good job, tough break. But defending this guy to those of us that things went on  that may question him throughout this, doesn't make much sense to me anyway, but to each his own.

To me, there just seems contradiction. Each day that passes I have more questions and more uhh, huh? heh

Like why not call the game warden down there and clarify rules on the spot? Why not go through the motions you'd expect a self-proclaimed WR bass hunter to do, to certify this? Why wait a couple days and one day start getting ready to apply and the next withdraw?

Anyway, all the answers to just those few questions brings up more questions and then that is where I feel the contradiction comes in.

I think they are pretty legit, I don't think it's trashing the guy at all... I mean I could ask alot more questiosn than those, and maybe the answer is to them all can be "mistake".  But then that brings up the big fact this guy is a WR bass hunter, and that drives me to think it's very unlikely so many mistakes could have been made. And then wonders in the thought of intent.....shady intent.... Now if that is to be considered trashing the guy.... I guess I'm guilty to I figure out the answers or they get clarified. heh

[tennsopher]

The biggest problem I have with the "catch" ,is the whole bed fishing deal.Matt, you said the fish had not returned to the nest.My thoughts are GO FISH GO AND DONT LOOK BACK! Seriously,if the lake is as small as stated,with renowned trophy hunters after her,she will be caught.Hopefully in a more sportsmanlike manner.I dont think any of us were around to witness Perrys catch either,but I dont believe it was a bed fish.Heck,if we could find Osamas bed I bet we could catch him too!

[cart7t]

I find it somewhat amusing that these guys are self proclaiming themselves as World Record fisherman.  In the less than a week since this has happened these guys have basically come off as 3 noobs who accidently (maybe, maybe not) snagged a bass of world record proportions and seemingly didn't seem to understand the rules or significance of the catch.  

And as for what great sportsman they are for releasing the fish...  :

A real sportsman would've realized the minute that bass came up boatside, foul hooked, that it was a non-catch per the rules of the state of California.  Removed the fish from the water, taken some measurements, pictures and then released it back into the water, NOT drug it back to the dock, string it, go out in a boat and hold a secret meeting on what to do next, then come back, weigh and take pictures and THEN release the fish.

All you've done is stress that very old bass out.  Not only are the odds of that fish spawning successfully diminished due to the undue stress but that bass maybe dead at the bottom of the lake right now.

I have a feeling had there not been witnesses to verify the fish had been foul hooked, we'd have 3 guys trying to pawn off that bass as the next world record with a lot of questions and controversy as to how that big gash got into the top of the fish by the dorsal fin.

JMO of course.  

[Guest avid]

As far as the money situation goes I think different people have different motivation.

For example, I have a couple friends who are MD's.  One of them is very dedicated and truly went into the medical field to help people.  He is a great guy and a dedicated healer.  PS, he probably makes around 500k a year - Not bad for a dedicated healer.  Another doctor I know went into it for the money and prestige of being a doctor.  He too is an excellent physician who makes a ton of money.  I trust each of these men with my health and the health of my family.  Both are very good at what they do both make alot of money.  But one went into it for the money, the other for the satisfaction.  Does it really make that much difference??

[earthworm77]

the lady that had a weight in the fishes belly.

Sandy Defresno

I see this from both points. First, I am from the camp that believes Mac did the right thing and I can't fathom how anyone can question his integrity here. Right now besides being known as the guy who caught the largest bass in history, he is the new poster child for catch and release. It doesn't matter what circumstances occurred, who cares what he offered that guy to fish the spot, he caught and released the biggest bass in history. I guarantee one thing, Perry's official "record" hasn't garnered 1/10th of the interest as this one fish has for the sport and its only a few days old. And we all know that it is a true 25lb fish.

None of us know if he intentionally snagged this fish. Because his group is persuing a WWR, it wouldn't make sense if he did. Next, I do not care how high and mighty you think you are, how much of a staunch advocate of C&R that you are, if any of you caught that fish, you would be well within your rights to celebrate for 15 minutes with the fish in tow. AND DON'T THINK THAT YOU WOULDN'T. As a former TX director, I take extreme measures to release every fish I or anyone on my boat caught. That said, Mac is a better man than me because that sow would have come home with me or at least gotten weighed and certified the correct way.

Now, from the perspective that knows a little bit about Mac and his crew, I can't understand why they were so unprepared. I mean they went to extremes to make sure they got on the water before everyone else, they had the right equipment. Why the heck wouldn't you have some type of livewell for this fish....50qt cooler? Has to be better than a stringer.

I like the way that many of you guys second guess the situation. I've read some pretty moronic statements regarding this incident. All some can do is speculate because you are likely never going to haver to worry about catching a 25lb + largemouth.

Mattlures, the only point I disagree with is that any large lure manufacturer who learns that this fish was taken on their bait will offer a payday to make that info public. Imagaine a Scuppernong Berkely Power Giblett is the bait that does it, their already signing the blank check.

And guys, for those of you who think there guys are inexperienced, read Sowbelly, each of them has a decent write up in that book. 2 of the three of them currently hold tbass in the top 15 of all time. I guess we can argue that now they all do. They may not have the experience that Mike Long and John Kerr have but they certainly have been dedicated to catching a record, despite the mistakes that they made. They didn't start at this a week ago.

Look at it this way, normally a mistake costs the angler the fish, these guys are guilty of not having a plan once the fish is landed, can I state that all of us would likely be unprepared to some degree as well, after all, none of us has handled a fish like that. It is easy to sit behind a keyboard and chop at someone without sticking your neck out on the block.

My #2 reason is I feel the current WR is a disgrace. I think it is the biggest frad in fishing history.

You get an amen from the congregation on that. The only photo of Perry with a fish was a 13.4lber that won the following years fishing derby at Field and Stream, the only thing was that the fish in the photo was clearly only about 6lbs. But not having any valid proof of the current world record is ok and sits well with many of you guys. That's great. I'm only 250 miles away from Georgia and I know its a scam. Viva California bass!

[bobo]

Yup, no doubt about poster child for catch and release. Just put my lawyer's number in the cell to instadial before I release my next fish.... heh

The fish was oustanding, I don't care if he foul hooked it intentionally, or out right cheated. He caught the biggest bass EVER, regardless. It's pretty remarkable. If a guy caught a 24 lb bass tomorrow and was certified, and not one bit of controversy, I'd still see it as the second biggest bass ever caught.... It just the biggest is unofficial... that dont mean it didn't happen.

I just can't get over guys are praising these 3 heh, i'm starting to feel bad for em.