If you caught the World Record Bass...

[PaJNS]

What would you do....Keep it or release it?

I usually have a camera with me when Fishing. I really think I would take alot of pictures and release the Fish. Hoping a Kid would have the chance at landing that Fish.

[JoeW]

Nope, I', sorry, but I think I'd have to keep it for several reasons:

#1 Would a released fish, with pics qualify for the record books? I think it would have to be weighed and witnessed on certified scales so I think it would have to be a keeper.

#2 A fish that big is probably near the end of it's lifespan anyways

#3 You would probably have to keep it to qualify for the supposedly $1M in sponsor money.

#4 I'd stare at the mount of it for many years! Although a glass mount would serve that purpose.

#5 I don't often carry a camera (dropped too many of them in the drink!)

#6 I wouldn't believe it myself unless I dragged it home!

Boy, tough question, and these seem like pretty flimsy reasons to keep it. I usually (almost always!) release my fish, even if "wall size"! But a World Record... I'd probably keep, and I'm a bit embaressed to say so.

Hey PaJns-- this might make a good poll, too. I'd like to see other's opinions, maybe to make me feel better about my choice:(! Best---- JoeW

[PaJNS]

Sure is a tough question JoeW and a very debatable one.

[lip ripper]

I think that I would take lots of pictures and measurements, lie about where I caught it and what I caught it on. If that still was not enough I would get a good boat with a live well and tell the warden to wait for me go back catch it again, weigh it on a certified scale ( I am lucky my lake has one there) then hurry back to where I caught it and release it and make sure no one saw me. :cool:

[fish-hook]

A great question! Poll has been added.

[PoppaBear]

I would release it, because my son would probably want a chance to catch it. Now if it was a trout it would be another story.

[dugger]

its going for a truck ride , but really it would be hard to do, to kill that big a fish would scar me Im sure!!

[sil80s13]

thats a million dollar fish, u know fishing aint cheap.

[bass or bass?]

JoeW's response sums it up well. Yep, even though I release nearly all my catches, I'd have to keep that baby.

[dbarnett1]

I too agree with Joe. I would have to keep it unless I was fishing a place where I was asked to return trophy's.

[crappypappy]

I think that JoeW made a very good argument for keeping the fish most espicially number six. No way I could belive it otherwise. Feel good for your choice Joe.

[Razor]

I'd eat it.... its still going to die anyway!

[bdpeters]

I would have to say I would keep it. Joe made some real good points there. If there was an easy way to get it on a certified scale where I was fishing at then I would likely let it go but who knows for sure until it actually happens.

[PaJNS]

There was alot of good replies to this question. Since we have had a large number of New Members join I figured I would bump this thread up and see what other replies we would get.

[creektroll3]

A fish of a lifetime and it be going home with me.

[sharps4590]

After pictures and measurements I'd throw it back. The memory is all in my head anyway. As I fish mostly by myself it's a fairly good chance no one else saw me catching it. I have no problem with those who would keep it. As has been said it's probably near the end of its life anyway and I'm fairly certain a new world record would be quite valuable.

[repair]

Anyone ever hear the story of the guy that eat a world record?
Some body caught the record Crapy, weighted and measured Took it home and eat it , then decided to look it up to see how big the get and how big the biggest one was ever caught, turned out he was 6oz above the record.

[sllloyd]

Nope, I', sorry, but I think I'd have to keep it for several reasons:

#1 Would a released fish, with pics qualify for the record books? I think it would have to be weighed and witnessed on certified scales so I think it would have to be a keeper.

#2 A fish that big is probably near the end of it's lifespan anyways

#3 You would probably have to keep it to qualify for the supposedly $1M in sponsor money.

#4 I'd stare at the mount of it for many years! Although a glass mount would serve that purpose.

#5 I don't often carry a camera (dropped too many of them in the drink!)

#6 I wouldn't believe it myself unless I dragged it home!

Boy, tough question, and these seem like pretty flimsy reasons to keep it. I usually (almost always!) release my fish, even if "wall size"! But a World Record... I'd probably keep, and I'm a bit embaressed to say so.

Hey PaJns-- this might make a good poll, too. I'd like to see other's opinions, maybe to make me feel better about my choice:(! Best---- JoeW
i know a guy that caught a record musky up in canada he took pics of it and released the fish and he still got the credit for it (it was 59 inches cant rember the weight but he got it on 17 lbs test mono

[AZAllen]

I would also have to go with Joe. I also think it is a shame that more states don't have something like the Texas "Share a Lunker" program.
California has a program bassed on its stocking of Florida bass and then spreding them around to other lakes in the state. A record was caught an released in San Diego county because it was foul hooked. He believed (right/wrong???), that it wasn't eligible for a record. There was some question on that. It was a fish at or near the climax of its life--when it was found dead a couple of years later, it had lost a couple of pounds.

[John T.]

I would have to say that fish would be hanging on the wall some where

[FISHERMAN154]

I would get the picture of it with a reference behind it and weight it myself and release it. Im not big on being worried if its a record or not knowing that i caught it would be all i needed to know. No offense to anyone

[Pork]

Keepr.
If for no other reason than the money involved....
I bet you could get a pretty good bidding war going between Bassproshop & Cabelas. ;)
sorry if that sounds greedy, but it is what it is & it will be replaced by other fish.

Here's a link to the US record... he ate it. :)http://www.mrlurebox.com/GeorgePerryBass.htm

and a short one on the current (tied) world record...(from japan)
http://fishing.about.com/od/bassfishing/a/world_record_bass-Japan.htm

Just my My two cents

[PaJNS]

Another good thread and question with many good replies. Tough call.....LOL

[mo65]

I'm with Pork...that's one fish that ain't goin' back in the water:D...ahh...the fame and fortune...:cool:

[gusser]

Breaded and fried.:D

[barresi]

JoeW has summed it up best...I'd have to keep it for record book purposes. I don't think a pic and unofficial weight qualifies for the record books and or prize money such as Mustads "Hook a million sweepstakes". It's a tough decision..I'd want the fame and glory! LOL

[Bassman1]

i would have to keep it

[tholmes]

I've been following this thread since its beginning and I'm still conflicted as to my answer. Part of me would like to keep the fish and collect all of the fame and fortune that it would bring. Another part of me wants to avoid all of the hoopla like the plague.

The first option would probably win out in the end.

Tom

[sllloyd]

i would keep it cause a glass mount just isnt the same

[basbandit]

I would relese the fish,but only after having it weigthed and measured on a certified sacle. Take pictures of the fish and have a replica made for the wall. Big fish reproduce big fish. If you have a skin mount made look at all the future big fish that would never be.

[Mr. Blank]

I'd keep it so it could be official, money ain't cheap ya know. But I would make sure to do my best to make sure she survived so that I could put her right back where I caught her. I have no desire to kill the fish to get my money if I can help it.

[wparker]

Like most of you, I don't keep certain fish and one of them is Bass. This however, if not being able to take credit for it any other way (and I'd try like heck to get the DNR to qualify her without destroying her), sorry Bass but you had your day.

[Bruce]

I would want to release it to give someone else a chance. Knowing it's there and I can catch it again, makes it even more fun. But I would make sure I got plenty of pics and great measurements. Of course I would be calling to see if certified scales were close, just for legal weighing.

[LCT]

I would also release it. ...that is after taking MANY pictures, and videos, and pinching myself a few times- and there would not be anyone there to take pictures for me because catching the record and actually having someone in the boat with me to witness it, would be against Murphy's Law, ya know. :)