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Posts: 393
Location: Kawarthas, Ontario | As the end of another muskie season approaches, the muskie message boards will soon turn to discussions of seasonal favourites like your 5 best baits, worst baits, best this rod, best that rod and of course the perennial world record debates. This got me wondering what would you do if you caught a world record fish? Would you keep it?
Before you impulsively give your answer, consider the following: assuming you have the correct gear to safely land such a large fish are you prepared to deal with the onslaught of abuse from the many message board users?
Many BIG fish get caught at this time of year and there is always a certain amount of angst displayed by message board users against the angler who caught and (usually) successfully released the fish. Either the fish wasn’t held properly, had too much slime removed, was out of the water for too long or other of a myriad of things that the angler did wrong. Much of the time, the accusers have little or no muskie fishing experience, yet because of the nature of these boards remain relatively anonymous. It’s no wonder that some truly large fish while maybe photographed are not displayed on internet message boards. Who wants the criticism?
This got me thinking, I’d almost (part of me, anyway) pity the poor soul who actually catches a fish big enough to be the next World Record. Would they keep it? Should they keep it? Can you imagine the abuse this angler will undergo? The banter will be that “They should have done this or done that or most likely they should have let the fish go”. Certainly it would end the current WR debates, but at what cost to the new record holder. Sure, there’s lots of fame and glory that would come from being the new record holder, but how much infamy would be generated to accompany the accolades?
I know it won’t be me that catches it; I don’t fish trophy waters for a number of reasons, but mostly because of geography. I’ll have no worries about the potential shellacking the new record holder would get, but what about you? Would you keep it? After all, it wouldn’t be a record if the world didn’t know about it. |
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | If I caught a true, for sure, no question World Record (not real likely, anyway), folks would hear the thump in Atlanta. But that's me!  |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | "THUMP!!" |
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Posts: 122
Location: Pittsburgh, PA | If I was sure, I would keep it. |
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Posts: 2089
| World or for sure state record.....BONK!!!!!! Steve |
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Posts: 1046
| CRACK THAT MELLON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As far as all the flack from all the other people,"could care less"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | I can't believe it! You guys are all cold, heartless........ahhh, who am I kinding, I'd thump that mother too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Posts: 1310
Location: Washington, PA | BOINK! |
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| Instead of planning what fish you would keep, be aware that if you keep up with this sport and fish good water that sooner or later you could unintentionally kill a big fish. That's the one you need to plan for.
When I was a rookie I intentionally killed the first big fish I caught. NO MORE intentionals. The WR would swim away from my boat if there was any chance for it to live. |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | I have no want or need to kill a personal record, lake record, state record or world record. It wouldn't really do anything for me to thump a fish. Personally, I think it would be a SWEET SWEET sight seeing that fish swim away.
If you did nail one around the 70 pound mark, you would get so much headache it just wouldn't be worth it to me. People would say you lied about where you caught it, what you caught it on, how much it really weighted, ect.... Simply not worth it to me.
Release 'em all, it's the only way to go. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | I agree with what Mike said... I think more headaches would come from keeping it than releasing it...and how sure could you be you even had the world record? just by length x girth formula...you'd probably keep one and have it be 5lbs short..but i don't disagree with those who would keep it..just my opinion, i would get a bigger kick out of seeing it swim away than having to "thump" it... |
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Location: Somewhere on the water!!!!!!!! | If I had the chance to catch a WORLD RECORD and there was NO DOUBT, that poor fish would have one hell of a headache. Now I know I don't have to worry about it since I don't fish waters that would hold a world record but if I did........BOINK OLA!!!!!!!!!
Like it was said, no matter if you let it go or keep it your going to catch SH!T for it.
I will probably get a lot of CRAP for saying this but let's remember guys..............IT'S ONLY A FISH, WERE NOT KILLING BABIES HERE.
Everyone on this board would kill a Pike, Walleye or panfish in a heartbeat. |
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Posts: 1769
Location: Algonquin, ILL | If it were without a doubt a new record You would hear TWO Thumps, One Me Hitting it's Melon, One Me hitting my melon on the floor of the boat after I passout
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Posts: 341
| I would release the hooks in the water and release the monster right away
Then I would come to my senses and gaff the fat bastard with out question!!! AND THEN I would wake up from the dream in a puddle with my wife asking me if I cheat on her in my dreams.
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| Boink it??? NO WAY!
once it's dead it's going to start gushing body fluids and that means losing weight!
keep it breathing in my custom installed 80" livewell with SuperOx aerator right up until she gets on that certified scale with the Presidents of the United States, Muskies Inc., Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, and World Record Musky Alliance all as witnesses.
then you'd hear the bonk of my head hitting the floor... |
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| Really guys.....those of you saying you'd release it.....GET REAL!! Have you ever seen a fish BIG enough to be a possible world record? When one is in the net, I am guessing it would be EXTREMELY hard to release it!!
BOINK........THUMP........YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posts: 502
Location: Lincoln UK | In all honesty it would go back to where it belonged in the lake/river and I'd be sure not to tell anyone about it for fear of one of the people who considered her "his" fish to come along and kill her. Sure I would take a picture and be over the moon with the capture and I would be over the moon that I might catch her again in future. Sorry I don't need people to know that I have to have some kind of recognition from them. Lets face it it will take the same skill to hook into a WR fish as it does a 30" fish, it doesn't make the captor a better fisherman. I may be overstating this but do the people who said they would kill a WR really need a slap on the back to make them feel good about themselves? |
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| Verify for sure it is 70 pounds plus, a musky with a 60 inch plus length and a 30 inch plus girth
Possibly shore land the monster
Keep the monster alive as long as possible
Bonk the monster when its time to transport it out of water
Call the MNR/DNR to meet me at the nearest certified scale
What a moment that would be  |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | I'd need two boxes of borax for that bad boy..err girl. |
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Posts: 572
Location: Williamstown, WV | When I catch the world record out of Stonewall Jackson Lake in beautiful West Virgina (haha) I will not give her a thump. Instead I will put her in the livewell (the best i could) and transport her back to a certified scale. While transporting I would call every official i could think of. After I this she would look mighty nice over me mantle. But I can't even catch a 50 incher so what's the chances of a world record.
shawn |
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Posts: 714
Location: Rhinelander, WI | I will take the villainy to a new level. When it happens, if I think it is close, I will keep it. I have now problem putting a 68 pounder over the fire place. I would take lots of pictures; vertical, horizontal, from the belly from the top, just the head, just the tails. I would then post the pics on the multiple message boards and sit back and listen to what a horrible person I was with a huge smile.
Like Ralph said, it is only a Fish after all.
Seriously if I caught it in the Rhinelander area, and was in my boat or another with a substantial live well, I would place it in the live well. I would call and have Steve Heiting, Steve Worrall and Mike Vogalsang (sp?) or any other DNR representative, meet me at the nearest certified scale on my way to Guides Choice in Eagle River. After it was officially weighed and measured, I would place it in Guides choice huge aquarium. I think it is 16,000 gallons or something like that. The fish would never be weighed or measured again, but if it is healthy after two weeks or so in the tank, on a night not publicized, under the supervision of the DNR I would return the fish to the lake where it was caught. I think that would be the coolest thing. If it died I would not loose sleep over it.
If I caught it in Canada, I would shoot video of it and take as many pics as I thought safe and release it to swim again, as most of the time I get a conservation license. I don’t plan to change that just because I may catch a world record, I don’t see a bigger jinx.
Nail A Pig!
Mike
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | this is one of the most ridiculous topics that people fight about,,,,um excuse me, discuss every year. lets face it what are the chances?? i love reading some of the comments from the "ethical police" on this topic. heres the bottom line. nobody really can say 100% what they would do til that fat b@$t@rd is staring them in the face. and then if its legal, caught in the legal season, by legal means. its up to the person who catches it as to what to do with it, and its not up to any of us to pass judgement on that person for what they did or didnt do. i said above id thump it, but i honestly dont know what id do. if the fish would be real fiesty i may do alot of measuring try to find a witness and let it go. or i may turn on the camcorder and have film of a serious @$$ whoopin on a fish. state record im pretty sure would go back, but lets face it a world record hhhhmmmmmmm. in anycase for people to make comments about others needing a ego boost or a slap on the back is just plain stupid!!!!!!!
merry new year and happy christmas |
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Location: The Yahara Chain | I would keep it.
What makes anybody think there would be no controversy. There are always going to be a large group who won't believe it no matter what.
If you look at the facts Spray's fish could not have documented any better than it was. Now we have a new organization that thinks it will set the record straight. Do they also doubt the size of Cal Johnson's fish. I have no doubt that both of these fish are legit and the WRMA is a waste of time. |
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Posts: 544
Location: Alsip, Il | I would keep it, try to figure out some way to keep it alive and release at a later date which probally unrealistic. So the precentages are it would be bonked. Now if only the Indiana fish would get that big (ha ha). Al |
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Posts: 30
Location: England | Ralph Florio - 12/7/2004 10:04 AM
Everyone on this board would kill a Pike, Walleye or panfish in a heartbeat.
Why is a Musky held in so much more esteem than a Pike? Please educate a confused angler from the UK.
After reading many threads promoting catch and release on this forum, i'm disappointed to read so many people would kill the ultimate fish. If your boat partner & friends know the truth, then who cares what the rest of the world thinks? If you really believe in catch & release then the big gals should go back, all of them.
All the best |
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Posts: 1086
| Musky Alan - 12/7/2004 2:35 PM
Now if only the Indiana fish would get that big (ha ha). Al
The Indiana muskies will one day get that big. We haven't had them here long enough to grow to that size...yet. It'll happen. There's a LOT of these fish in these waters...and I'm sure there's already some monsters in these Indiana waters that have yet to see the sharp end of someone's hooks. No worries... |
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Posts: 2024
| 1) The muskie is our equivalent of your pike.
2) Muskie here are almost always less numerous (fish per acre) than pike. This makes them an excellent challenge.
3) Muskies are at the TOP of their food chain, making them even cooler to catch. Pike are just more competition for the muskie.
4) The pike here (excluding some lakes in remote parts of Canada) don't grow quite as big as the European pike.
It's all about perspective.
As far as killing "the ultimate fish," let's face it, we all have egos. Some of us choose to display them more openly than others. Ultimately, what it boils down to is freedom of choice.
I consider myself a 99.99999999% catch-and-release fisherman. The reason it's not 100% is because the other .1111111% is for the time I happen upon a world record muskie. Would it be hard to kill a beast like that, yes. I get enraged and disgusted when I see dead fish. However, they all die at some point and a fish of WR proportions doesn't have another 10 years to look forward to. A fish that size is near death anyway. Just my opinion. |
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Posts: 1086
| esox50 - 12/7/2004 5:29 PM
As far as killing "the ultimate fish," let's face it, we all have egos. Some of us choose to display them more openly than others. Ultimately, what it boils down to is freedom of choice.
I consider myself a 99.99999999% catch-and-release fisherman. The reason it's not 100% is because the other .1111111% is for the time I happen upon a world record muskie. Would it be hard to kill a beast like that, yes. I get enraged and disgusted when I see dead fish. However, they all die at some point and a fish of WR proportions doesn't have another 10 years to look forward to. A fish that size is near death anyway. Just my opinion.
Wow. I could not have said that any better myself! I agree with everything said here...I just couldn't formulate the words to say it so swiftly and get the point across. |
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Posts: 502
Location: Lincoln UK | Freedom of choice is an oft spouted phrase- of course what you are saying is if someone who has the inclination to kill smaller muskie than your own self set limits that would be fine. If lots of like minded people all arrived at the same time and wiped out your stocks that would be fine too. C&R is the only way to go, that way everybody knows what to do and everybody would be working to the same rule book.As I stated very clearly earlier the WR would swim away from my boat, you could catch it 5 minutes later and kill it. I believe my actions would be the right ones but you would apparantly have the WR but who would have done the right thing.I do not wish to place myself in the whole moral highground issue but clearly something is basically wrong if to prove a WR the fish has to be killed. If a record pike was killed here to be certified the captor would be lynched. Surely photos, measurements and a witnessed weight ought to be valid as a claim? If they would not be then surely a change in rules should be sought and save the indignity of such a magnificent creature coming to an untimely and very sad end. |
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Posts: 7121
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | I'd release it. Not because that would be my choice, but because the only places where I could even imagine locking horns with a fish like this are all in Canada. Being as cheap as I am (no Jew jokes, I spend the cashola when its for Crash or family) I buy the conservation license when I'm north of the boarder, and therefore would HAVE to release the fish.
I would catch it, take 15 pictures, and have video taken of it.
I would let her go, and stop shaking about 10 hours later.
I would drink like a pig, and vomit profusely into the wee hours of the night (Worrall has heard this, its not pretty).
I would send the pics to my friends, all of whom would be insanely jealous, and start plotting against me.
Someone, probably Mr. Worrall, would post the pics, and the videos on site. Not saying it was a WR, just a mongo fish.
At least 5 people out of the 40 responses the thread would have, would say it was a small fish (MAYBE 40")....and the sad part is, I know who those people are already.
But still I throw the 10" Jake when I'm up north, because in the end, I like drinking til I vomit.
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Freedom of choice is exactly what it is, and I'm in no hurry to have someone with a differing point of view about CPR dictate away that freedom or bash those who might reserve the right to someday exercise it. I haven't killed a muskie in a VERY long time, but if I choose to, and it's within my legal right to do so, I do not expect others to have any right to give me any trouble about it at all. Chico, you are correct to a point, but when we take the Muskie or ANY managed resource to an absolute no harvest status many things suddenly change, and my bet is the anglers here in the USA wouldn't like the results. Muskies are a managed and renewable resource here in the US, and die every day of disease, old age, and angler mortality, even AFTER release.
We are not talking about hundreds, dozens, or even five fish here. We are discussing ONE fish, the ONE that would set the World Record controversy to rest. It's been an awful long time since a WR muskie has been caught and certified, wouldn't you agree? As I stated, if I was lucky enough to catch that fish, you'd hear the thump in Atlanta ( and maybe even the UK!). Until then, I'll release all the legal muskies I catch by my own choice to do so, thank you very much. One never knows, as I age, I might just feel sorry for that old fish, and let her go anyway.
I did that for a stupid DEER this season, just plain didn't feel right taking it when it was locked together with another that I did take, despite the fact I was within my rights to do so. I let that big boy walk, but the other is in my freezer and on the way to the Taxidermist. Nice buck, too.
What IS the point of all of this if we CANNOT EVER by law or social pressure keep that fish? The purists and elitists can howl all they wish, but the law is the law, the right to choose with any fish is paramount, and THAT IS WHY muskie angling and management for that fish is growing so quickly. It's the choice. See what happens when you take that away. If you think opposition to stocking muskies or increasing the size limit is robust NOW in some areas, just try it under those rules. It's all in perception, you see.
The question was would you, or would you not. Let's keep the answers to that, and we'll see how this shakes out. What I see so far is resounding belief in and support for the CPR mentality.
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Posts: 502
Location: Lincoln UK | A couple of points there that I cannot answer regarding laws and what would happen if...I am not familier with a lot of the laws over there especially state to state.What does amaze me though is that you seem to think that there should justfiably be more than one rule regards C&R how can there be? If it is C&R then that is it.As for if everything was catch and release then nature has a cunning way of sorting this kind of stuff out, if Man has to intervene to "Harvest" something it is more often than not because nature is not being allowed to achieve a balance because of his previous interventions.
With regard to the original question a resounding No then as per my earlier answer. |
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Posts: 336
Location: Lino Lakes, MN | I doubt that I will have a chance anytime soon in my young musky career, but I think I would release it. I fish for personal satisfaction, and as long as I knew that I had stuck the world record, thats all that I would need. I wouldn't want to deal with all of the attention that a fish like that would bring. The feeling of releasing a fish like that would have to be amazing. I would take plenty of pictures, video if possible, and hopefully have some of my fishing buddies on the lake to witness the release. Then again, who knows what would go through your head with 70+lbs of pissed off fish in the net at boatside.
Lazer |
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Posts: 600
Location: West Bend, WI | I Wouldn't keep her!! why? I think it maybe very possible to keep the fish alive until the dnr arives.I would try everything in my power to keep the fish alive while I take a thousand pictures and mesurments.My plan goes as follows...
1.caught world record
2.send buddy out for HELP!
3.Have DNR put her in a tank
4.When official release her
5.call Ron Lax
Now some might be thinking,"How do you plan on holding that fish tell DNR comes?" Well thats the easy part my friends.I'm gona take all the rods I have and hook that basterd with like six lures.Then sit and wait |
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Location: Des Moines IA | I gotta Agree with Slamr .... I like drinking til I puke in canada too !!!!!!!!!! |
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Posts: 216
Location: Belleville, WI | You can't have it both ways; if you want to propose the fish for possible record verification, it MUST be killed. So much for "keeping it alive for the DNR, then releasing it."
For the record, I agree 100% with what sworrall said. (" . . . but if I choose to, and it's within my legal right to do so, I do not expect others to have any right to give me any trouble about it at all." and "Muskies are a managed and renewable resource here in the US, and die every day of disease, old age, and angler mortality, even AFTER release.")
Why release THE fish, the fish to end all controversies, the fish that you will never, ever top, that is at the very end of it's life cycle? To prove a point about catch and release? Prove that point with every other fish you catch.
I heartily applaud and admire the man or woman that one day breaks the ultimate world record!
Edited by lardonastick 12/7/2004 10:47 PM
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Posts: 4266
| I'd take a bunch of pictures and let it go.
I have a bad enough reputation to worry about, than to be exumed years from now to see if I really got buried with the Weagle that caught it with in my casket with me.
Big muskies, big deer. Do your duty and keep your mouth shut, except for those that you trust and who can appreciate your accomplishment.
I don't think that I could look at her and then do it. It would be like clubbing my grandmother.
It wouldn't be worth the hastle.
Beav
Edited by Beaver 12/9/2004 12:06 PM
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Posts: 723
| thump,bonk
flash
slurp,gulp
vomit
urinate
watch it flop out of the boat! |
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Posts: 2378
| Bonk! |
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Location: The Yahara Chain | lardonastick - 12/7/2004 10:46 PM
You can't have it both ways; if you want to propose the fish for possible record verification, it MUST be killed. So much for "keeping it alive for the DNR, then releasing it."
For the record, I agree 100% with what sworrall said. (" . . . but if I choose to, and it's within my legal right to do so, I do not expect others to have any right to give me any trouble about it at all." and "Muskies are a managed and renewable resource here in the US, and die every day of disease, old age, and angler mortality, even AFTER release.")
Why release THE fish, the fish to end all controversies, the fish that you will never, ever top, that is at the very end of it's life cycle? To prove a point about catch and release? Prove that point with every other fish you catch.
I heartily applaud and admire the man or woman that one day breaks the ultimate world record!
Amen Lard man, couldn't agree with you more!
Edited by Bytor 12/8/2004 2:13 PM
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Posts: 622
Location: Seymour, WI | I was muskie fishing a small WI lake near the Wolf river this summer when a lake Sturgeon swam by the boat. The fish was absolutly huge, 6-7 feet long. When I first saw the fish my immeadiate thought was "It's a MUSKIE". After the fish was gone I started thinking about whether or not I could handle it if actually had been muskie. I had visions of myself just quitting my, job, family, life and fishing 24-7 until I caught the fish. Made me think I might have a fishing problem.
Grass, |
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Posts: 2361
| and your wife was on a trip and would not be back for at least a week, would you...?
Hmmmmm, just trying to get a feel for the situation here.... |
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Posts: 156
Location: Oconomowoc, WI | What? Stop fishing for 30 seconds? |
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Posts: 149
| It would be one dead fish |
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What would you do if you caught the ...