18.5 lb bass

[GonzoFishing]

Sounds to me like the weight was this guys opinion/guesstimate and we all know how "off" we can be with that.  ;D Hey Cart7t, nice pics! Those are some true monsters  

[5bass]

I feel sorry for the bass in the Satilla River....they're going to get hammered in the next few days and weeks.

The first pic that cart7 posted doesnt look like an 18 pounder....huge head, slender body. I think Otis has that one beat.

[Eddie Munster]

18lber from Florida

some dude named fish chris with another 18lber.

an 18-3 from Bacarrac.

I dunno. There are a few things that can distort visual perspective in a photo. Distance from the lens and the actual lens itself. A wide angle lens tends to distort images to be larger than they are the closer they are to the lens. Looks like a really cheap camera was used to take that photo.

Picture #1 seems pretty obviously photochopped. The guy's hands don't even line up; his left hand is holding this fish how?!!!

Picture #3 seems photochopped. The guy's right hand fingers are HUGE and he's not even holding the fish out to the camera fully (his right elbow is near his body).

[Muddy]

How to get a pic accepted by the BassResource.com Membership

Your mother must sign an affidavit

Priest,Rabbi or preacher must hold the Bass

You must take picture next to a yardstick

You must have a CPA who witnesses a State Lottery there to verify

I am glad I live in the land of 3# fish, no one doubts them :

[Branuss04]

How to get a pic accepted by the BassResource.com Membership

Your mother must sign an affidavit

Priest,Rabbi or preacher must hold the Bass

You must take picture next to a yardstick

You must have a CPA who witnesses a State Lottery there to verify

I am glad I live in the land of 3# fish, no one doubts them :

I still doubt you... 3# fish and all  ;D

[I Love BassResource]

How to get a pic accepted by the BassResource.com Membership

Your mother must sign an affidavit

Priest,Rabbi or preacher must hold the Bass

You must take picture next to a yardstick

You must have a CPA who witnesses a State Lottery there to verify

I am glad I live in the land of 3# fish, no one doubts them :

Truer words have never been spoken, lol

Don't forget the certified Missouri scales

I know its tough for most to believe, but some people couldn't care less of fish mounts and/or pretty certificates. I have no idea if the fish is a legit 18lber, but I'm pretty positive Otis made one helluva sandwich....

[Z06-VETTE]

No doubt Oddie's fish is a beast,but 18lbs? I give him 14 tops.

[cart7t]

18lber from Florida

some dude named fish chris with another 18lber.

an 18-3 from Bacarrac.

I dunno. There are a few things that can distort visual perspective in a photo. Distance from the lens and the actual lens itself. A wide angle lens tends to distort images to be larger than they are the closer they are to the lens. Looks like a really cheap camera was used to take that photo.

Picture #1 seems pretty obviously photochopped. The guy's hands don't even line up; his left hand is holding this fish how?!!!

Picture #3 seems photochopped. The guy's right hand fingers are HUGE and he's not even holding the fish out to the camera fully (his right elbow is near his body).

Picture 1 is on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation commissions webpage. It's also on Fish Chris's webpage.

http://www.trophybassonly.com/index.htm

Not sure they'd allow a doctored photo on a state sanctioned website.

Picture 3 description.

This magnificent 18.3lb Bass was caught by Mike Hutcherson of Plainview, Texas, while fishing Lake Baccarac in Mexico on the afternoon of 13 February 2005. The Bass took an 8" watermelon Lizard in 14ft of water.

Rene Salazar (a local guide and lodge owner) is holding this fish for Mike.

Click on the pic for a link to Lake Baccarac where the lake record Bass is 19.1lb

http://www.bigbass.co.za/

[The_Natural]

If that is an 18.5lber....the old pic of the huge bass taken in Georgia is 50lbs.  The old Georgia bass pic shows a fish that looks twice as big, that is twice as far away from the camera.  I've never seen a bass bigger than that....

[SirSnookalot]

I've seen many 8# fish shrink to 3 once they have been weighed.

[Mattlures]

Look at Ottis's hand thats holding the fish. His hand is not huge. It looks about the same size as his left. He is not sticking that fish out. That fish is LOOOOOONG. I have personaly caught 3 fish over 15lbs and weighed and photgraphed them. My opinion is that 18 1/2 lbs is within reason.

No of course I feel he has done a horrible thing by keeping it even if it is his right.

That right there is why CA. produces so many more giants then anywhare else. If Otis were to keep and eat that fish in so cal, he would probably get his tire slashed and many other bad things. I aint saying its right and I wouldnt do it but I wouldnt be suprised either.

If I saw him catch it I would offer to buy it from him and take his picture with it and then release it

[Muddy]

The attitude of resentment towards people who keep fish, caught legally and within creel size is arrogant and really repugnant at times.

POersonally I have only killed but a couple of gut hooked fish in many many years. My partner regularly takes home some for him and his wife to enjoy. God bless them. I do not pay my licence fee to make sure you fellas enjoy the sport I work, I spend my money so I can enjoy it. As long as it is within the law it is my busineess and not yours. I feel as pizzed off about this as threads on how much other people are spending.

[Mattlures]

I got no problem with keeping bass. They are good eating keep the small ones. I do think all trophy bass should be released though. Like I said I wouldnt do anything bad to the guy. I just know that sombody else would. Muddy your a good example of why attacking the fisherman doesnt work. If you act like a jerk, he will keep the fish just to spite you. If offer to take the mans picture and maybe give him a lure and try to edjucate him on how important or rare a gaint bass is, there is a chance he might release it. I am all for having the right to keep fish and I pay for my licsence just like everybody else. I understand that fish are good to eat but a little common sence goes a long way. Keeping a huge bass is an extremly selfish act. you wanna brag? take pics. You wanna mount it? get a replica, they are superior in every possible way. You wanna eat it? go cathc a few smaller fish.

here is what you do with a huge bass

[Z06-VETTE]

Ok I'm gonna give ottis the benefit of the doubt.If the fish is 18.5 thats just goes to show that giants are among us.Seems like people refuse to believe that big fish are here in the southeast.Like I posted before know one knows whats at the bottom of ponds/lakes.Just to play into the Perry myth.Why is it so hard to believe that oddie's fish with 4 more yrs can't hit 22lbs. Just because you've never caught one doesn't mean they are not out there.

[Mattlures]

Thats eactly why huge fish should be released. Ottis's bass may have had another couple years of growth to it. who knows how big it COULD have gotten.

The fish in my picture went 15.1 I comparred pictures from last year and I belive its the same fish a friend of mine caught. she was a high 12 and empty. I would have never caught her if he would have kept her. Now she is still swimming and the next time she is caught she will probably be a high teener.

Just becuase there are laws and limits does not mean its the best choice. I like having rights and freedoms but I also think we should police ourselfs. The whole reason we have laws and limits is because too many people cant police themselfs.

[Muddy]

I got no problem with keeping bass. They are good eating keep the small ones. I do think all trophy bass should be released though. Like I said I wouldnt do anything bad to the guy. I just know that sombody else would. Muddy your a good example of why attacking the fisherman doesnt work. If you act like a jerk, he will keep the fish just to spite you. If offer to take the mans picture and maybe give him a lure and try to edjucate him on how important or rare a gaint bass is, there is a chance he might release it. I am all for having the right to keep fish and I pay for my licsence just like everybody else. I understand that fish are good to eat but a little common sence goes a long way. Keeping a huge bass is an extremly selfish act. you wanna brag? take pics. You wanna mount it? get a replica, they are superior in every possible way. You wanna eat it? go cathc a few smaller fish.

here is what you do with a huge bass

The real issue is here; The big bass guys from California  are the ones out for the brag, so they want the rest of us to join in their party. If I catch any fish over 10 lbs in my life, it's going on my wall, a real not replica mount. I have felt thisway for 30 years, I dont hunt big bass it would be a huge mistake if I ever caught one

There are folks on this board, from Cali, claiming bass that would be in the top 25, and are on no lists,  but they have a pic with them holding a replica nd we are asked to take their word for it.so bragging and replica posts seem big among most of the hunters. I do not fish for them I fish for me.

I obey all game laws and alaways have current licences in 3 states, so to everyone else MYOB!!!!!!!!!

Your interest in this would be you sell a lot of high priced lures to these fellas and your business sucess depends on it.

[Catt]

It is close to impossible to tell a fish's weight from a photo; does this look like a 15# bass?

ShareLunker No. 461: 15 pounds, length 25.75 inches, girth 22.75 inches

Photo courtesy Calliham Store

[CODbasser]

while keeping a few small bass wont hurt anything i think people should practice catch and release..especially when it comes to trophy bass..the genes of those fish need to be passed along, if someone is out catching fish to eat, why would they fish for bass anyway? there are plenty of fish out there that are better to eat. bass anglers have done more for the population of bass than anyone, we catch and release, fish are stocked at big tournaments, and we have alot of conservation programs out there..these are all to make the sport better for everyone. If you want to keep your fish, your right, that is your business, but if every bass angler had that attitude, bass fishing would not be what it is today. Its just being considerate to the resources and the efforts others have put forth to make the sport better.

[Muddy]

Bass fishing has gone from a sport to biug business I am no friend of big business. If I keep one bass over 10lbs in over 40 years of fishing and ruin bass fishing, that better be one hellva fish, geez!!!!!

[Z06-VETTE]

Bass fishing has gone from a sport to biug business I am no friend of big business. If I keep one bass over 10lbs in over 40 years of fishing and ruin bass fishing, that better be one hellva fish, geez!!!!!

Have to agree on this one.The person who lands the magic 22.5lb brute is a instant millionaire. Every bait company/line company from here to x-mas will be calling.

[tyrius.]

Bass fishing has gone from a sport to biug business I am no friend of big business. If I keep one bass over 10lbs in over 40 years of fishing and ruin bass fishing, that better be one hellva fish, geez!!!!!

Your one single fish isn't going to have much of an affect on bass fishing.  However, if all bass fishermen kept all fish that they caught over 10 lbs then you'd see a dramatic effect on the catch rate of bigger fish.

I'd probably keep a state record fish though.  

[Mattlures]

Muddy I understand your point about not believing and having proof. Take a bunch of pictures and have your fish weighed at the dock or take a pic of the fish on the scale. If its that big they will write an article in the paper and save the clipping. Having a skin mount doesnt prove anything either. You can buy them on ebay everyday.

As for it being about buisiness with me? No, I have always know it it the right thing to do to rlease big bass well before I made my first bait.

AND if you had an open mind (BIG IF) and did some research on skin mounts vs a replica there is no way a reasonable man would choose a skin mount. They are soooooo inferior to a replica.

The real issue is not buisiness or money. Its common sence.

[DINK WHISPERER]

Muddy I understand your point about not believing and having proof. Take a bunch of pictures and have your fish weighed at the dock or take a pic of the fish on the scale. If its that big they will write an article in the paper and save the clipping. Having a skin mount doesnt prove anything either. You can buy them on ebay everyday.

As for it being about buisiness with me? No, I have always know it it the right thing to do to rlease big bass well before I made my first bait.

AND if you had an open mind (BIG IF) and did some research on skin mounts vs a replica there is no way a reasonable man would choose a skin mount. They are soooooo inferior to a replica.

The real issue is not buisiness or money. Its common sence.

I couldn't agree with you more man(love your lures BTW)! My love for the sport makes me release all fish. Because i want others to have the chance at the fish i caught and because i couldn't bring myself to kill one either. IF I WANT TO EAT FISH, I WILL GO TO THE STORE/RESTARAUNT AND BUY IT(not bass though)!!!!!

[wisturkeyhunter]

If he wants to keep a big bass good for him its only hurting his chance of catching it later when even bigger. Really don't care if people keep a big bass other places won't affect me. You come to the places I fish and keep a big one I might get a little pizzed but I won't lose any sleep. Wish somebody with the taste for bass would come and keep a few hundred small males from the ponds I fish though.

[WRB]

Having been blessed to have caught a few bass 18+lbs and pursuing these rare giant bass for over 40 years, the first thing you look for in a photo is girth to length ratio. Any bass over 18 lbs, the girth will nearly equal the length; 90% to 100%. The bass shown in the photo isn't close to that; it's about a 75% girth ratio bass.

Bass are not round bodied, they have flat shaped bodies with round bellies. This is why you can't use the IGFA formula to calculate bass weight and why I came up with the formula; L X L X G /1200 = weight in lbs.

The bass in the photo would need to be over 30" long to weigh 18+ lbs. The Florida photo bass has a big head and body less than 80% and is a very questionable 18+ bass, IMO. Surprised that Florida would use a photo of a bass on literature that exceeds their state record.

WRB

* length = mouth closed measured to center of fork in the tail, not mouth open to tip of tail.