Question
 

What would happen if you were fishing by yourself and landed a record sized fish with no one there to witness the event? Would that still be considered a legitimate record with no witness? I'm just wondering because I fish alone a lot, and am planning to catch a world record bass soon. Thanks

I've wondered about that too.

That has been discussed around here before, do you have legitimicy that you actually caught the fish etc.. I'd like to think so, but you never know...

keep the fish:D

keep the fish :confused:

Yeah, wasn't there some guy who supposedly had the record before, but it was disputed because the area he claimed he caught it was supposedly (by some peoples standards)unfishable the night he caught it? He obviously kept the fish to prove it, but I think the story goes that people began spreading rumors that a buddy of his had given him the fish after it was netted form a commercial vessel. Or something like that. I think I read about it somewhere when I was all hopped up on Morphiene and Oxycontin after surgery this winter. Memories are a little fuzzy from those two days. I know I was reading "On the Run" while I was in the hospital, but I'm not sure if that is where I read it. I'm sure somebody on here knows the story.

I heard/read that same story RM, but don't know where I heard/read it. Comericial trawlers definately bring up world record sized fish every now and then.
-z

I know there was a gillnetter out of Scituate that tried to pull a stunt like that in 96 or 97 and got caught. Maybe that is the story, but I'm sure there are a bunch like that.

wasn't that Al McRenolds??????

Yes, that was the rumor about the world record striper. Al McReynolds (sp).

Mikey,
To get back to the original question, no, without a witness it will never be recognized by the IGFA.

FWIW- I have seen many gilnetted fish, and the gil net that snares the fish almost always leaves a very telltale mark/wound on the fish. Trawl caught fish don't get these marks unless maybe if they get stuck in the net, but not normally.

Totaly worthless irrelivant information brought to you by zacs.

Slingah....did you have a gill net in your surf bag last June you bass-turd?:smash: :laugha:

It has been suggested that a certain person from RI who catches at least one absolute monster every year while fishing by himself buys his fish from a commercial fisherman in Mass.
Is it true?Who's to say.I'd like to believe that most fisherman are honest about what they catch,I know I am.I freely admit that I've
never caught a truly big bass.My biggest is 26lbs.
If I never get the "big one" so be it.At least had a good time trying!

not true.... that rumor probably came from people who are just jealous:mad:

right on Eben....it's not nice to start rumors .......:smash:

If you knew that person at all you would know that he needs a special pass from the wife to leave the city he lives in never mind going out of state. I know him very, very well. For him to leave his house, run to Mass, buy the fish and come home, all within two hours just is not feasable.

Lets see how many stories there are to the last fish:

Someone gave it to him
He got it from the fish trap
He got it from a boat
He bought it from the commercial guys in Gloucester
His buddies brought it down from Boston

There's more but you get the picture.

If you get to fish with the guy you will see thats he's the real deal.

The guys who started the rumors are just like kindergartners, but 30 + years old.

Yeah that guy puts serious amounts of time in , including scouting from above and below the water. Just jealous people

Them are the types that always start rumors and point fingers.

I find it amazing that people will actually put effort into spreading a rumor.It benefits no one and sure as hell ain't gonna help you catch more and bigger fish.