New state record??

[bigsam]

I was just on the Outdoor News site looking at pics, and there was a pic of a muskie. It claims 55 3/8" length, 32 1/2" girth, weighing 62 lbs 9 oz! Says caught out of the Rum River near Mille Lacs.

Can anyone confirm this record-crusher?

[Nick Kuhn]

User submitted photo so take any dimensions with a grain of salt. Also likely caught out of season anyway (unless they really delayed when they submitted the photo) so it would be disqualified.

[DTro]

Looks like a big fish, but personally I would question the claimed girth.

Either way, its a big one!

[not_nuf_time]

No doubt Pic taken in spring time, check the lightly leafed trees in background. Illegal isn't it to catch a fish out of season and even keep it out to take the time to take a pic?

[Gordie]

No doubt Pic taken in spring time, check the lightly leafed trees in background. Illegal isn't it to catch a fish out of season and even keep it out to take the time to take a pic?

It may have been out of season, but it is only illegal to target those fish that are out of season. Pike are in season and he may have been fishing for them or even walleyes and I don't think its illegal to take pictures. If you look into the bottom right corner of the photo the reel that is sitting their doesn't look like its a set up for big fish either.

[not_nuf_time]

True, I'll catch a muskie here and there dragging raps for walleyes in the spring.

[mrklean]

great looking fish but 32" girth its a little tough to believe but who knows

[10,000 Casts]

That monster looks like it just ate a cat. Anytime you see someone claiming 30"+ girth it's tough to believe becaus ethey are so rare. If it's true, that would be the biggest Muskie ever caught in MN.

Both M1st and MH calculators put that fish at 73 lbs. That would be a World Record.

[thatoneguy]

No doubt Pic taken in spring time, check the lightly leafed trees in background. Illegal isn't it to catch a fish out of season and even keep it out to take the time to take a pic?

It's legal to take a photo, you just can't transport the fish or keep it out of the water any longer than necessary for the photo.

[MuskieFever]

Big fish? Yes. State record? No. Definitely a big fish in that low 50" range but the way he holds it doesn't give it justice.

[pikestabber]

...the way he holds it doesn't give it justice.

Agreed. And for future photo reference, if you want a fish to look its smallest...hold it just like that. Without being present, it's really hard to tell from any photo how big something is.

[ammoman16]

Big fish? Yes. State record? No. Definitely a big fish in that low 50" range but the way he holds it doesn't give it justice.

I agree it probably isn't a state record and would question the girth if the length measurement is accurate, but I am very curious how you can look at that pic and determine it is a low 50's. That guy could be 7' tall for all any of us know.

[10,000 Casts]

JMO and just going off what I see in the pic, I'd give it the state record. Looks like a mid 50lb fish to me and I would love to have a date with her in the fall.

[RawHog]

To me that looks just as big as any of the fish caught last fall in ML..

[MuskieFever]

I am very curious how you can look at that pic and determine it is a low 50's. That guy could be 7' tall for all any of us know.

It is more or less a guesstimate. Not to sound arrogant or anything, but I have been musky fishing for many years and have seen many of pictures of big fish. That is my educated guess that this fish is low 50s (51"-53") simply based on comparing other fish and the spread between the fishes lateral fins. Either way it is still a catch of a lifetime, but compare this fish to the ones that were in the Hamer's boat this past fall..

[DTro]

A 30" girth fish of ANY species in MN is so rare and some of the biggest Muskies in the world have never hit that mark.

I just don't buy it.

Just think, neither of these fish even got to 29"

[cbrooks]

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt....What the heck . Nice fish

[Shammy]

Im looking at the photo and the girth looks to be just as big around as that kids waist would be. That thing is thick! 32inches is redick! But that is the thickest muskie I have ever seen.

[Gordie]

Measure a 5 gallon bucket once and you'll get a close idea of what 32 inch girth is BTW a 5 gal bucket is about 33-34 inches

[TruthWalleyes]

Not a chance that's got over 30" of girth.

However, it is pretty hard to judge girth in a photo.

The flathead in my avatar has a 31" girth.

[CANOPY SAM]

Okay, okay. So everyone has put in their two cents on "real" size. Now, back to topic.

What's the deal with this fish? Did someone actually claim a state record catch with a fish taken out of season? Perhaps even a fish caught spawning in a creek off of Mille Lacs?

Whatever the story, I sure hope they put it back in the water or someone is going to be in a LOT of trouble.

[neptune]

It states in the description of the picture that it was caught and released.