Mount it and get a picture of her with whatever *** Product I caught her with , then go fishing in Tahiti with Brett ;D

LOL Brett's buisness would hit the roof!!!

1" craw  They're just do friggin' cute!  ;D

I would be prepared first.  You don't get a 2nd chance with this one, so I'd follow the guidelines outlined here:

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

and here

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

And then I would do what LBH outlined.  

Keep it alive long enough to get it to the local biologist. A fish that big is probably toward the end of it's life anyway.

The first thing I'd do is probably poop in my pants!  

The first thing I'd do is probably poop in my pants!

HAHAHA Well I guess you need to always have an extra pair or drawers with you at all times

The first thing I'd do is probably poop in my pants!

** Of Topic **

The World Record striper was caught and killed at Cordell Hall a few days ago. I can't seem to find a link, but check it out!

8-)

I think the eggs from a bass that grew that large would be a valuable resource in growing more lunker bass, so I would do my best to get it to my Game and Fish people (Georgia) for hatchery use.  I would also do my best to get it documented and submitted properly to the IGFA for the world record title.  I would also not turn down any financial offers that met my standards either.

I think the eggs from a bass that grew that large would be a valuable resource in growing more lunker bass, so I would do my best to get it to my Game and Fish people (Georgia) for hatchery use. I would also do my best to get it documented and submitted properly to the IGFA for the world record title. I would also not turn down any financial offers that met my standards either.

And for my standards that would be anyone with a big fat check!  

In regard to the eggs, I thought about this too after reading an article here about some auction of 1,000 fingerling LMB going for $20,000.00   Amazing.

SHOW ME THE MONEY!

SHOW ME THE MONEY!

Couldn't have said it better.

Although I'm skeptical of a WR swimming in Texas, a state or world record would be donated to the State fish hatchery in Athens Texas.

  Its open 6 days a week for tours, and this would be a way for them to generate some extra revnues for the Hatchery and the Share-a-Lunker Program  that they maintain.

   As for self monetary gains, I'd hope that would come from some tackle endorsements.

         

1st I would have to agree with risk kid and then with the reasoning and logic of LBH. I would have to say the more MONEY the better!

SHOW ME THE MONEY!

Amen to that.

I'd keep that bad girl, "donate" her to Cabela's, and have a large amount of free stuff "donated" to me each month. A fish like that would certainly attract a lot of business to the store that has it in their tank.

now for a question of ethics. would you let people know that you caught it on a $1 walmart spinnerbait and a berkley lightning rod, or would you pose it with that lucky craft crankbait you got as a christmas present and the loomis rod belonging to your boat partner? i'm guessing most would rather have a sponsorship with loomis than with berkley...  

Good point; I'd wrestle with it but ultimately I believe karma/fishing gods would smite you for being deceitful.  

I would submit the fish for world record purposes. Cash in on the benefits of the catch and then set out on trying to qualify for the Elites.

I would not CP&R this fish for many reasons. First, I would not want to be relentlessly ridiculed/ called a lier for releasing what would have been a record fish. Secondly, I agree with LBH this fish would have to be very near the end of her life or would more than likely be on the decent (like what happened to "Dottie" in California) and could very well be getting lighter in weight.

I would take the large amounts of money and pay it forward somehow (After showing the Bait Monkey some much needed love of course ;D )

I would take photos and lots of them but toss it back.  That carries a certain "I'm the man" air about it.

i'm guessing most would rather have a sponsorship with loomis than with berkley...

I think Berkley has deeper pockets that Loomis.

I would get it certified and then donate it to Bass Pro.  They have a program where if you donate them a trophy fish for their tanks, they will give you a replica mount for free!!! (I think I saw this in the beginning pages of the 2008 master catalog)

I would definitely do things this way.  Those fish are definitely pampered and I believe I would be leaving it in very good hands.  Plus, I could visit whenever I wanted.  

i'm guessing most would rather have a sponsorship with loomis than with berkley...  

I think Berkley has deeper pockets that Loomis.

Then you could say you caught it using Berkley 100% fluorocarbon on a G-Lomis rod  

Said it before and I will say it again I hope the next WR is caught by some kid using night crawlers and a Zebco 33 combo! :

I would take photos and lots of them but toss it back. That carries a certain "I'm the man" air about it.

lol yep; the 'I'm the man who threw thousands of dollars right back in the lake' air.

Sure money isn't everything but it does help keep the 'bait monkey' off my back.  

Said it before and I will say it again I hope the next WR is caught by some kid using night crawlers and a Zebco 33 combo! :

Wouldn't that just be soooo great!!!! >