I'm guessing this is going to be a big ol' can of worms, but what would you do if you caught a state record fish?

If I caught a bass that would break the VA state record, I would get a couple pictures and put her back.

I have come close to a record 'gill and Redear a few times, and I would probably claim the record for that.

Flathead or Blue, I would definitely claim that one, too.

Crappie, I would throw it back.

Now, if I caught a WORLD RECORD, I would take a couple pics and release her too!

On the miniscule chance that the world record bass is swimming in the northern VA area...

I would totally keep it.

I would keep the fish alive and make sure its comfortable and not being too stressed out. Wait for fish and game or whoever gets there and let them weigh her. Then send her on her way. Ofcourse I would take a bunch of pictures and maybe get a video.

If I caught a record bluegill/crappie I would eventually release it after proper verification and some pictures.

I would defnitley get some measurements of the fish so I can get a replica of the fish made.. but I dont like the idea of killing trophy freshwater fish. Release it so it can be caught by another angler one day

I would go change my pants

I would go change my pants

For the pictures?

World Record, State Record, Lake Record...it ain't going back in the lake if it's on the end of my line. You can take all the photos you want but without the actual fish someone is bound to dispute it.

-Finz

World Record, State Record, Lake Record...it ain't going back in the lake if it's on the end of my line. You can take all the photos you want but without the actual fish someone is bound to dispute it.

-Finz

"bound to dispute it."

That's what I was thinking, and that's what would make it so funny. If you had a picture of the scale SAYING however much it weighs...people would still fight and argue. You could just sit back knowing the truth.

I release every fish but if I landed a bass over or close enough to justify the efforts required by the This state's DNR, I'm keeping it and following the guide lines verbatim.

State records are recognized by weight only. To qualify for a state record, your fish must exceed the current listed state record weight and identification must be verified by a DNR fisheries biologist. All state record entry fish must be weighed on a commercial scale (grocery store, meat market, etc) and record the business name where scale is located. If possible, attach weight slip.

Now that sounds like a chore to do, but the real tough part would be getting a lmb over 11-15 or a smb over 9-4 !

It's possible and I'm ready for it if and when I may tie into something like that but I'm not expecting it to actually happen.

A-Jay

I would probably be grounded.

I would throw her back after taking a photo.

Then I would not be grounded anymore.

I'd like to say I'd release it after a few photos....after I call everybody I know.

If I actually run into that situation one day, who knows what I'd do.

"bound to dispute it."

That's what I was thinking, and that's what would make it so funny. If you had a picture of the scale SAYING however much it weighs...people would still fight and argue. You could just sit back knowing the truth.

Exactly. You could have it on video being weighed on certified scales and someone would still dispute it. I would never feel good about taking a trophy but what else can you do? I don't want to take a fishes life for a record but if it happened.......man that's something to be proud of, ya know?

-Finz

If I caught a Lake Record/State Record/World Record. TXPW is getting called and its getting certified. Almost any lake record will have to be over 10lbs. For Lake Austin over 16lbs. For the state record 18.18 from Lake Fork is current.

I'd like to say I'd release it after a few photos....after I call everybody I know.

If I actually run into that situation one day, who knows what I'd do.

You're right, there's no accurate way to know what we would do.

Exactly. You could have it on video being weighed on certified scales and someone would still dispute it. I would never feel good about taking a trophy but what else can you do? I don't want to take a fishes life for a record but if it happened.......man that's something to be proud of, ya know?

-Finz

I wouldn't remove it from it's natural environment, it's not our right to just take them out!

But I agree, there would always be the non-believers.

I'd make you take a picture of it with me, and we'd throw it in my cooler to take up to my work!

i would get her certified and donate her to my local bass pro shops aquarium so the none believers could go and check her out for themselves

I wouldn't remove it from it's natural environment, it's not our right to just take them out!

But I agree, there would always be the non-believers.

I understand that but honestly, catching it in the first place is "removing" it from it's natural habitat and molesting it. That's what fishing is, you may put it back but the fish would have been better off not being removed in the first place. It's kinda like the net/no net debate, some say that nets remove slime coat so don't use them, they increase the mortality rate. The other side says that letting them flop around on carpet or in grass increases the mortality rate, I've always said I'd like to see a study on the mortality rate of them have a hook shoved through their face. I'm not calling you out or picking but I'm just saying, you may think one way or the other on such subjects but there are deeper contradictions there. I mean, you can't be a vegetarian most of time, except for the occasional cheeseburger and when the McRib is back

i would get her certified and donate her to my local bass pro shops aquarium so the none believers could go and check her out for themselves

That's always what I thought I'd try to do, I could handle a replica for the donation. You honestly never know what would happen in such a situation.

I would like to think I would weight her, take pictures and release her. I'm not much on recognition, and IF that ever happened, I would just like to know for myself that I (would have) held the record, whether anyone else knows it or not! Who actually knows the name of the person who holds the record in your state without looking it up? I don't....

Jeff

From experience I would first educate myself on the records. Be it State or body of water. Then I would follow the guidelines set out by the state to get it weighed.

I caught a 4.2lb Redear on the Savannah river several years ago and I didn't find out that it was a River Record till nearly a year later. It would have beat the record by over a pound.

i would get her certified and donate her to my local bass pro shops aquarium so the none believers could go and check her out for themselves

Yeah that is a good idea. Except the closest bass pro is 3 hours from my house. But if you have one relatively close, then hell yeah thats an awesome idea

I'd prep my cleaning boards and electric knife

Bread crumbs and 350 degree oil.

i would get her certified and donate her to my local bass pro shops aquarium so the none believers could go and check her out for themselves

A couple years ago here in IL a guy caught the world record blue catfish. 124 plus lbs. It was shipped to Cabelas in Kansas to be on display. By the time it got ther the fish was so fatigued and stressed it died.

My friend Mike Long just caught a lake record out here in CA it was 19.3 and he took a few pics and let it go. He already has just about all the lake records for SO Cal but he didnt want to turn this one in. He told me if it was 20 then he would have turned it in. I have thought about this many times. I would probably turn it in but I am not sure.

I would snap some pictures and let her go probably. Then call all of my fishing buddies of course.

I don't know the number of fish and game in Ohio so I wouldn't know who to call to get it certified anyway.

Seldom carrying a camera and never toting a scale around the possibility of recording a record fish is remote and it doesn't matter to me, I wouldn't go through hassle.

Just knowing I caught a great fish is reward enough.