State Record Bass... What to do if you catch it?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cody Anderson on August 30, 2013 at 4:45am

I don't understand the need to just get your name In a record book. Get some measurement take a bunch of pics and let it go. No need to prove to every body that you cought the state record. Is that what the sport is turning in to?

Permalink Reply by Russ Kroeker on August 30, 2013 at 9:58am

Ever notice that when anyone posts a question at this website, the responses never answer the question?....brotha!  So, RP, I happen to think it would AWESOME to have my name in the record books for the state.  Sure, it's not really worth it to me to kill the fish, but if I toss it and it goes belly up...

I think the first thing that I would do is stick it in my livewell and aerate that sucker, than start making calls on my Smart phone for an answer.  If it weighed over 12, I'd pay someone to bring a scale down to the launch if I had to before just tossing it back on principle. This is a ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENT.  It doesn't require everyone to pat you on the back.   To be like 80 years old and have that proud memory to share with your grandkids would be awesome.  Especially if it was documented correctly.  I really think you should start calling the Game Dept. (for the rest of us) and get a real answer.

Now, if I didn't have a livewell, like in my 10ft boat, she would go back withing 60 seconds of catching her...after careful weighing and photos.  I've had Bass die within 2 minutes of being taken out of the lake.  There has to be hope for the fish's life or it's not worth it.

And...I think I should respond to Cody's question...YES this is what the the sport is turning into, and has always been.  It's about catching a bigger fish every year of your life.  It shows that bass fishing is NOT what the Slime fisherman think...That It's all Just DUMB LUCK.  It's about improving your skill level and catching more and larger fish every year.  I hope that's exactly what the sport is turning into ;)

Permalink Reply by Steve Hastings on August 30, 2013 at 2:30pm

To say you wouldn't care if you caught a state record, makes me wonder why you would carry a camera at all.  Hog wash I say.  Ask guys like Tag and John that haven been big fish hunting for a while. The current records in Washington were caught in 1966  smallie and 1977 largie.  So 47 and 36 years respectively.

Smallmouth - 8lbs 12oz  (Columbia River) Caught by Ray Wonocatt on 4/23/66

Largemouth - 11lbs 9oz (Banks Lake) Caught by Carl Pruitt  on 4/9/77

Here is the WDFW link for what to do. http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/records/ 

To prevent killing the fish I suggest keeping local field biologists numbers on your phone. I have read stories of them coming to the site to do their part rather than going to the office.    You may be able to get a cell phone in your local area if you get to know them well enough for weekends.

Download the application and keep it in your boat, Also print a copy of the phone list.  Check the map for the area you fish in.

A Certified scale is defined on the application item #3 at the bottom. It appears a scale that is used for commerce such as grocery, hardware store, post office etc.

Good Luck and Good Hunting for that Record,

Steve

Permalink Reply by Chris Ferry on August 30, 2013 at 4:18pm

I will wait until Tag replies on this because he has already been through this when he caught and released what would have been the new state record Largegmouth. But was not willing to sacrifice the fish in doing so. 

He can tell you that a "Certified Scale" is not certified once it has been moved so having one brought to the ramp makes it uncertified.

Also I hope Tag goes into detail about what he went through with Spring scales vs Digital and how they certify them.

Also you can not transport a live fish to a certified scale.

  

Permalink Reply by Kevin Lunde on August 30, 2013 at 4:27pm

Release it,, I don't need recognition for catching a fish of a record size as I just do it for fun..  

Permalink Reply by Matthew Kennedy on August 30, 2013 at 4:28pm

Ryan. If you caught and kept the record I would be stoked and proud and happy to know you. If I caught the record I would let her live another day. As for the improvement process I have no experience or wisdom to speak of. Seems an intelligent question....

Permalink Reply by Ryan Perrey on August 30, 2013 at 5:11pm

Thanks for replying guys. I was hoping this would spark more of a conversation along the lines of what Steve and Chris laid down. I respect everyone's opinion in the matter. This all stemmed from a fish I danced with for only about 3 seconds in April that would have been in the ballpark. I realized then I would have been caught w/ my pants down because I knew very little about what to do. That's all irrelevant though because even If I had landed her, I wouldn't be willing to kill the fish. My thoughts are if I was lucky enough to land a fish that size here, I would absolutely thrilled to have a state record under my belt. That's one of those things I would dream about as a kid fishing with my Dad on Lake of the Ozarks. More out of personal achievement than my name in a book. But the process is flawed in order for many of us to accomplish this due to the current regulations. Again the question... is there anything ''WE'' the bass fishing community can do to help improve the process?? Does Danny Garrett check this sight?? He had some interesting things to say, last time I chatted with him.

Permalink Reply by Ryan Perrey on August 30, 2013 at 7:43pm

I shouldn't say the process is flawed. It's just not in bass fisherman's favor to catch, document and release a state record bass. 

Permalink Reply by Jerry on August 30, 2013 at 11:33pm

I wouldn't think twice about releasing what I thought was, or what my scale showed as a record. Just me. A few pics and possibly some measurements. You always hear stories tho...hooked into, or saw a 13-15 lb. bass. I just smile and nod

Permalink Reply by Sparkles on August 31, 2013 at 11:56am

Invite you all over for a fish fry and beer!!

Permalink Reply by Daniel Caffrey on September 2, 2013 at 10:05pm

Yo RP if you catch the state record bass what i would do is jump up and down yellin wooo hoooooo! (for about 5 minutes or so) And then after my shakes went away I'd pull out Danny Garrets business card from my wallet n give him a call. I think that's exactly what ur supposed do. Oh and if u want his number I can give it to ya I'll PM it to ya. He's a pretty cool dude I wouldn't think he'd mind if an angler like you gave him a call.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Tag Watson on September 3, 2013 at 5:44am

Hey Daniel,

Does Danny Garret's biz card have his mobile number?  I tried for 2-3 hours to reach someone from the WDFW on a Saturday and it was impossible (at least it was 7 years ago).  I would have made more attempts that day, but I didn't know until a few weeks later when the IGFA got the results back to me from testing both digital scales I weighed the fish on, that it was 11 lbs. 13 oz.

To Chris Ferry's points earlier, (unless something's changed) you cannot transport a live gamefish without a permit.  I've also heard that if any laws are broken during the process, a potential record can become null and void.  Thirdly, once a certified scale is moved from the location where it was originally certified, it is no longer certified.

If I ever caught a State Record caliber fish again, I would keep it alive and healthy with additional aeration and go to the nearest grocery store with a certified scale.  I'd use a weigh bag with fresh lake water to transport the fish quickly to the scale to get a certified weight with multiple witnesses (ideally including Danny or one of his colleagues).  I'd then promptly return the fish to the lake where it was caught.  While it would be pretty cool, having my name in small print in a little paper book isn't worth it to me to sacrifice such an amazing fish.  I understand a fish this size is near the end of its life and has theoretically had many successful spawns, but I just couldn't bring myself to harvest it.  Watching them swim away is one of the parts I enjoy the most.

If I ended up receiving a fine for transporting a live gamefish without a permit, I'd either just pay the fine or challenge it in court and have Dana represent me.     

Daniel Caffrey said:

Yo RP if you catch the state record bass what i would do is jump up and down yellin wooo hoooooo! (for about 5 minutes or so) And then after my shakes went away I'd pull out Danny Garrets business card from my wallet n give him a call. I think that's exactly what ur supposed do. Oh and if u want his number I can give it to ya I'll PM it to ya. He's a pretty cool dude I wouldn't think he'd mind if an angler like you gave him a call.

 

 

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