Hypothetically speaking...  

I just caught the biggest bass in my life, looks like a new state record.  I'm at XYZ pond and now I have the fish at the shore.  What are the steps to getting the fish officially weighed and certified.  Also if I don't want to kill the fish, what should I do.  Who should I call?  Also if the fish was caught during a certain period, where all fish must be released, how can I get my fish in the record books if I have to release it.  Also, what type of value does a state record hold...like sponsorships, endorsements, money, ect.

I just went through this with a catfish (false alarm though, wrong species).  In NC we have to have the fish weighed on a certified scale with a witness that we aren't related to.  There must be a side-view picture of the fish.  And, it must be positively identified by a state biologist (either by photo or in person, but person is better).  There is also an application that must be filled out.

My advice is to find out who your district biologist is, call him and ask him the steps you must take in your state, and keep his number on your cell phone for when you catch it.

As for benefits, you get the satisfaction of catching the state record bass!!!

I'd PM Fish Chris and ask him too.  He's got a lot of knowledge about this kind of stuff

In Illinois the state DNR web site has all the info and forms you can download.  I'd start there...

FishingFrenzy, I would invest about 5 bucks and buy a stringer to carry with you. This way you don't have to worry about killing the fish if you don't want to.

C&R is great but if I catch what I believe to be the state record bass I will kill it immediately and get it on ice as quickly as possible.  Then I would call fish and game, and friends to come with their scales and lots of camera's.

It may seem like it's against the principles of catch and release to kill a huge female, but catching the state record LMB in Florida would be quite an achievement and a clever guy would me would convert it to fame and fortune.  (well at least an interview or two and maybe a day on the lake with roland martin)  ;D

Seriously,  by letting the fish live it will surely loose weight.  Stressed fish will often regurgitate stomach contents.  those few ounces could mean all the difference in the world.

Your other question is more complex,

If by "if the fish was caught during a certain period, where all fish must be released, how can I get my fish in the record books if I have to release it" you mean that you caught the fish out of season, then it's a tough call.  A fish caught out of season must be released immediately.  By keeping the fish, enen if alive and releasable, for a weigh in and certification, you are technically in possession of an out of season fish.  This would constitute a violation and could cause serious problems.  No doubt the local bass fisherman would raise all kinds of hell and demand your head.

but then you look at the Weakley bass.   He was in possession of an illegally caught fish for over an hour or more.  He decided to finally release it, but never got a ticket and has been invited by IGFA to submit the fish for the world record.

It's a strange world.  If you should ever find yourself in that interesting predicament all you can do is what you think is the best thing.

Catch and release law does not alter what is a legal or an illegally caught fish. An out of season fish is an illegally caught fish.

For a state record the fish must be a legally caught fish.

The operative requirement is the fish must be legally caught.

Killing the fish could make the catch highly contestable because you could have found the fish floating dead.

Your state DNR can supply you with requirements for submission.

IGFA can supply you with requirements for submission.

Killing the fish could make the catch highly contestable because you could have found the fish floating dead.

C'mon George.  You telling me that you can't tell the difference between a fresh caught and killed fish as opposed to one that's been floating around dead?  

Using your logic, a live bass could have been caught in a cast net.  We both know that guys will do this to catch big bedding females.

What your really saying is that any bass claimed as a record is going to cause controversy no matter what you do.  And to that statement I agree 100%

could have been caught in a cast net. We both know that guys will do this to catch big bedding females.

Seriously?  I must be really naive.  I've never heard of this nor would I have ever thought of it.  To what end?  Bragging?  Food?

I'd keep it alive, in my live well, and / or on a stringer, while I got some Dept of F&G officials to come to me and the fish. Maybe they could even bring a transport tank truck, if they wanted to check it out "alive" back at the shop..... but only if they promised me that it would be released back to the same lake shortly thereafter. I also have my own certified scale, and with Ca DFG as witnesses to the weighing, maybe this would be enough.

Remember, our Ca state record is so close to the world record, that it would be hard to catch a state record "without" getting a new WR. Personally speaking, I'd let the Ca DFG look at the fish, but I wouldn't kill a 22-2, just to have a Ca state record, when I could have a really good shot of catching that same fish the following year, when she weighs over 23 lbs, and was the new all time, all tackle WRB !!!

Peace,

Fish

I just went through this with a catfish (false alarm though, wrong species). In NC we have to have the fish weighed on a certified scale with a witness that we aren't related to. There must be a side-view picture of the fish. And, it must be positively identified by a state biologist (either by photo or in person, but person is better). There is also an application that must be filled out.

My advice is to find out who your district biologist is, call him and ask him the steps you must take in your state, and keep his number on your cell phone for when you catch it.

As for benefits, you get the satisfaction of catching the state record bass!!!

I'd PM Fish Chris and ask him too. He's got a lot of knowledge about this kind of stuff

PA has a very similar certification process.

As I said: check with your DNR.

How To Certify a State Record Freshwater Fish

1. Angler must have a valid Florida fishing license or be exempt under provisions addressed in FloridaFreshwater Sport Fishing Regulations.

2. The fish must have been caught legally using an active hook-and-line method (bush hooks, ****** hooks, set lines, trotlines, etc. are excluded) in fresh waters of Florida.

3. If possible, keep the fish alive. If it is not possible to keep the fish alive, place it in ice water. Avoid freezing the fish, because it will dehydrate causing it to lose weight.

4. Before contacting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), weigh the fish to determine if a possible state record exists.

5. Make arrangements with the local FWC office during business hours to have the fish species certified by abiologist, and to have a FWC employee witness the official weighing, on a certified scale, and take measurements.

In most cases an autopsy wil be performed on the fish whether presented alive or dead.

could have been caught in a cast net.  We both know that guys will do this to catch big bedding females.

Seriously?  I must be really naive.  I've never heard of this nor would I have ever thought of it.  To what end?  Bragging?  Food?

Both.

In NJ, between April 15 and June 15 all bass must be released.  During this time though, people all know that female bass will be heaviest, from being filled with eggs.  This is one of the best times to catch a fish, especially if in record contention.  

By keeping the fish, enen if alive and releasable, for a weigh in and certification, you are technically in possession of an out of season fish.  This would constitute a violation and could cause serious problems.  No doubt the local bass fisherman would raise all kinds of hell and demand your head.

So what I'm being told, is that if I catch a bass thats of record size and don't immediately release it, thats is considered illegal.  I thought that as long as the fish returns back to its body of water, it isn't considered actually keeping/harvesting it.  For those of you that disagree with me, many many tournaments occur when fish have to be released.  If catching a fish and sticking it in your livewell all day, then weighing it afterwards isn't then considered illegal, then what is?  I see no difference between this and having it examined for the record books.

In NJ, between April 15 and June 15 all bass must be released.  During this time though, people all know that female bass will be heaviest, from being filled with eggs.  This is one of the best times to catch a fish, especially if in record contention.  

By keeping the fish, enen if alive and releasable, for a weigh in and certification, you are technically in possession of an out of season fish.  This would constitute a violation and could cause serious problems.  No doubt the local bass fisherman would raise all kinds of hell and demand your head.

So what I'm being told, is that if I catch a bass thats of record size and don't immediately release it, thats is considered illegal.  I thought that as long as the fish returns back to its body of water, it isn't considered actually keeping/harvesting it.  For those of you that disagree with me, many many tournaments occur when fish have to be released.  If catching a fish and sticking it in your livewell all day, then weighing it afterwards isn't then considered illegal, then what is?  I see no difference between this and having it examined for the record books.

This might vary by state or perhaps the tournaments apply for a waiver, but as far as I nkow this is generally correct.  The fish must be immediately released if it is out of season.

I live in Georgia ,so if break the state record ,I'm Rich B_ _ _ _h!

I would get one of those shirts with patches all over it.

Most state Fish and game depts. do not use the term "keep" they use the term "possess"

clearly, not releasing an out of season fish violates the "possession of a species outside it's open season constitues a violation" clause of most state regs.

Life would be much simpler if all laws and regulations were clearly understandable and never wavered.

But this is not the case.

I cited as an example the Weakley WR LMB.  It was an illegally caught fish.  It wasn't out of season, but it was hooked outside the mouth, technically speaking that's a snagged fish, and California regs prohibit possession of bass caught anywhere outside the mouth.

Pretty straight forward right?................NOT!!!

Because of it's size, Weakley had it paraded around and photo'd.  Held council with his buddies and was in possession of this illegally caught fish for quite some time before releasing it.  Apparantly there were many witnesses including state officials.   Yet, he was NOT ticketed, and the IGFA has invited him to submit the bass for WR status.

So while you incurr a risk anytime you violate a regulation, it is clear that a record fish is an extraordinary case and will be given special consideration (maybe).

Hence my statement "You do what you think is best"  

So long as this "out of season" fish is returned to the water and lives, I don't think you would get in trouble for being in "possession" of it long enough to have it photographed, weighed, and witnessed.

It's doubtful that your state would honor it as the new record, but you would have braggin' rights ,and who knows, you could get into the record book with an asterisk a la the baseball hall of fame.

It's kinda like this, when someone says the rules are "etched in stone" ............. they ain't.

, many many tournaments occur when fish have to be released.  If catching a fish and sticking it in your livewell all day, then weighing it afterwards isn't then considered illegal, then what is?

If New Jersey is permitting bass tournaments to be held during the closed season, then it is not a "closed" season, it is a catch and release season.  This gives you a very strong case for having your hypothetical state record bass certified as a new record by the state.  Just make sure you keep it alive so it can be released.  

If a state official takes possession of the bass for whatever reason.  So long as it was alive when they took it you should have no problem.

Now I know why Tony Soprano chose to live in New Jersey.  ;D

they do not have bass tournaments in NJ during closed season. what i mean by this is they are not allowed to put the bass caught in a livewell. they are called paper tourneys and they only record measurements and then tally up at the end for fun. nobody puts bass in livewells now

they do not have bass tournaments in NJ during closed season. what i mean by this is they are not allowed to put the bass caught in a livewell. they are called paper tourneys and they only record measurements and then tally up at the end for fun. nobody puts bass in livewells now

Like I said it's a catch and release season.

In states where they are serious about closed seasons it is illegal to "target" any species out of season.

Cleary a bass tournament is "targeting" bass.

Michigan goes so far as to state "catch and immdiae release" for our catch and release season.  So it wouldnt matter.  If a state record fish was caught during the C&R season the best you'd be able to do is take a picture of it on your personal scale and put it back in the water immediately.  You'd be legal in that regard but would you be able to get it certified after the fact?  Probably not but it's possible.

B

could have been caught in a cast net. We both know that guys will do this to catch big bedding females.

Seriously? I must be really naive. I've never heard of this nor would I have ever thought of it. To what end? Bragging? Food?

Like Avid said both , I have seen the illegal aliens / mexicans catch big bass here in Florida in a castnet and take them home , Thats what most of them fish with in places they are allowed to catch tiliapia in a net  but they aint gonna throwback a bass .

Florida has immidiate release laws as well , Florida has good bass regulations but I think an exception would be made for a record , If I was to catch a state record I try to keep it alive and would take it straight to the scales and the FWC

Michigan goes so far as to state "catch and immdiae release" for our catch and release season.  So it wouldnt matter.  If a state record fish was caught during the C&R season the best you'd be able to do is take a picture of it on your personal scale and put it back in the water immediately.  You'd be legal in that regard but would you be able to get it certified after the fact?  Probably not but it's possible.

B

If it's legal to catch, it should count.

Like it or not, record fish are special and the evidence clearly shows they are treated as special.

I would keep the fish alive, and start calling.

First would be the DNR to report, they may be very interested in you keeping this bass so they take scale samples and other data. If I was told to release it immediately, I would ask to speak to the senior officer on duty.  But I would also call everone I know, try to get a certified scale and lots of pictures.

I would have absolutely no concern about how other bassers would view my attempt to certify the record.  Any record fish will cause controversy.

Remember, this fish was caught in a totally legal manner.  Why should it not count as the new state record?