Is there anyway to have a state or world record bass certified without killing it and still receive credit for cathing it ? Maybe it's just me and perhaps I'd feel different if I actually caught a bass that broke a local or state record, but a bass that big has to be extremly special to have survived that long and avoided being caught.  I realize it would be worth lots of money but I think deep down inside myself I would feel sick if I were to kill it while taking it to where ever it would have to go to be certified as a record. While being born and raised in south Florida I have caught  hundreds and hundreds of Snook, snapper, dolphin and other species and would have no problem killing one if it meant having it classified as a record but for some reason my passion for bass is different.  Perhaps if bass in the 19lb plus range were comman in my area (South Florida) then I may not think twice about killing one to have it certified as a record. Like I said, perhaps I'd feel different if I actualy caught one but I'd like to think I would just take a picture and weigh her on my portable scale and let her go rather than killing it trying to have it certified and count my blessings that I'm fortunate enough just to being able to fish.  Anyways, how do you have on certified as a record ?

Go to th IGFA website where the rules are posed and a form is available to download and print.

Basically, you need a certified weight, pictures, measurements, witnesses and a sample of your line.

I dont know about fish but my freinds have been tryong to get me certified for years

I dont know about fish but my freinds have been tryong to get me certified for years

Muddy, ya beat me to it...I knew there had to be a joke in here somewhere

Having a video camera around to get everything on tape probably wouldn't hurt.

Perhaps of interest:

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/certify.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/Record_fish.html

I have said this before and still firmly believe it.

If you catch what you believe to be a state or (Oh ma Gawd) the world record.

Unless illegal to do so, KILL THE FISH IMMEDIATELY and put it on ice.

In case you haven't noticed, there is tremendous controversy surrounding the current world record.   In fact most records have some level of controversy around them.

Also if the fish is kept alive the likelihood if it loosing precious ounces is virtually guaranteed.

I am a staunch conservationist and C&R guy. Not to mention I pick up other peoples garbage at the ramp or in the lake.

But for a state or world record I would not hesitate to kill the fish quickly and humanely.

Believe me.  Any fishery that would be damaged by harvesting this female is a fishery that is already in trouble.

I have said this before and still firmly believe it.

If you catch what you believe to be a state or (Oh ma Gawd) the world record.

Unless illegal to do so, KILL THE FISH IMMEDIATELY and put it on ice.

In case you haven't noticed, there is tremendous controversy surrounding the current world record. In fact most records have some level of controversy around them.

Also if the fish is kept alive the likelihood if it loosing precious ounces is virtually guaranteed.

I am a staunch conservationist and C&R guy. Not to mention I pick up other peoples garbage at the ramp or in the lake.

But for a state or world record I would not hesitate to kill the fish quickly and humanely.

Believe me. Any fishery that would be damaged by harvesting this female is a fishery that is already in trouble.

   What he said. If the fish is that big its most likly very old and its made its contubusion to the gean pool in the lake.    

 

I remember an article written by a lawyer/fisherman many years ago. He made a couple of interesting points. If you should catch a prized record fish, you should keep quiet about it untill you have it certifed. He recomended doing the certification process twice, with different witnesses, scales, etc. in case the process was called into question. If you go back to the dock and hold up the fish and pose for pictures, you become a "public figure" like a politician and lose control of who can profit from your pictures, etc.. You don't want to become famous before you become a 'for profit' company. Also make a carefully documented record of everything with 10' of you when the fish was caught with their brand names model #s, including clothes, snacks, TM, cigars, the razor you shaved with that morning and anything else you can identify. All of the companies on the list will be glad to pay $ to claim a part of your success. Just something to think about.

Ronnie

I remember an article written by a lawyer/fisherman many years ago. He made a couple of interesting points. If you should catch a prized record fish, you should keep quiet about it untill you have it certifed. He recomended doing the certification process twice, with different witnesses, scales, etc. in case the process was called into question. If you go back to the dock and hold up the fish and pose for pictures, you become a "public figure" like a politician and lose control of who can profit from your pictures, etc.. You don't want to become famous before you become a 'for profit' company. Also make a carefully documented record of everything with 10' of you when the fish was caught with their brand names model #s, including clothes, snacks, TM, cigars, the razor you shaved with that morning and anything else you can identify. All of the companies on the list will be glad to pay $ to claim a part of your success. Just something to think about.

Ronnie

  Yep thats right

  Right after I shaved with (put name brand here) I hooked into a 25lb bass

couldent off done it with out (insert name here)

  But Ronnie's right if you do hook into that bass keep it all under wraps until you get it waid and certified or it will be all over the net and all them people will have it      

Thanks for all the tips..