New World Record?????

[ARMAN-21]

Did anyone hear about that supposed world record release caught by a walleye fisherman in green bay? Supposedly holding the pics until a magazine buys them. 55 by 33 measured! This is all I've heard about it? Let me know if you guys have heard anything?

[scsavre]

I have not heard anything about this fish but I have fallen a bit behind on my reading these days.

It does seem like every year I hear about someone Boating a state record or world record being netted or floating up on some lake. But these seem to always just kind of disapear.

However, I do believe that record has to be close to being broken soon. There is alot of good water that people believe can harbor that type of fish.

Anything is possible.

[ARMAN-21]

Here is the story::

Here is the Green Bay Monster Muskie Story:

A big muskie that was caught this past week by my friend Ryan of Green Bay WI approx 54-55 inches long by 33 inches of girth, has stirred up a lot of controversy. With the many rumors and lies that have circulated I wanted to be able to tell people the true story behind this fish. This fish was caught out of my boat along with another friend Joe Schmitt on Sunday April 17th.

This past weekend the 3 of us decided to try for some post spawn walleyes out in Green Bay after a few hours and several missed opportunities of trolling for walleyes we decided to hang up the trolling bite, and go cast and jig for walleye?s. The water temp where we fished was 50 degrees on the surface. I started casting a shad rap my buddy Joe in the back of the boat was throwing a twister tail and Ryan was throwing a rapala. We all had spinning tackle with nothing heavier than 10 lb test. Ryan was using 8 lb test on a spinning rod.

After about 20-30 minutes of casting Ryan hooks a fish and right away it was obvious that it was big and not a big walleye. We were not sure what he had hooked? Catfish, Muskie, Sturgeon? After a few minutes we saw the big muskie and our jaws dropped.

I then put on a pair of gloves and attempted to try and grab the fish by its tail and hold the fish in the water, unfortunately I could not get my hands around this fish's tail. During this time when the fish was close to the boat Joe took several pictures while the fish was still hooked and in the water, just in case we were never able to get a hold of the fish. My camera was on and ready, and as soon as Ryan pulled the fish out of the water I quickly took approximately 6 pictures with my camera of the fish out of the water. I did not go threw a whole roll of film on this fish as previously stated that is not true at all. I did not reload and put another role of film in my camera and anyone who knows me knows I always carry extra film. So in my opinion we did not abuse this fish. My main concern was getting this fish back safely and unharmed.

I think my buddy did a great job supporting the fish. Even though I do have 2 digital scales, I never even considered weighing the fish. We took a length and girth of this fish while it was in the water, I am positive this fish is still alive. I feel very blessed that I was there for this freak of nature fishing event. We just happened to be at the right place at the right time.

To those who say we were targeting muskies that is incorrect, we all had spinning tackle with 8 or 10 lb test fishing for walleye's. We never transported this fish, other than Ryan lifting it out of the water, removing the hooks and smiling for a few mug shots then releasing her.

We contacted the DNR several days after we caught this fish (Not the same day) and told them we caught this fish took several photo?s and released the fish. According to the DNR wardens we did not break the law. I can honestly say that this fish was out of the water no more than 45 seconds.

At first we were all elated to have been part of such an incredible fishing event, but after talking about the fish and rumors flying around it started to sour both mine and my good friends about doing anything at all with showing this fish to the public.

The reason why Ryan did not want to post this fish is very simple, Ryan lives in Green Bay and did not want to be solely responsible for turning this area into the Muskie Capital of the world. He caught the fish so I believe he can post, not post, or do what he chooses with the pictures.

He has asked around about a replica but most taxidermists just laugh when he mentions the girth and length. I think it's a great fish and I will never say it's a record by any means just a great big fish.

Unfortunately there?s a lot of people who say how we should have, or could have done things differently. I don?t feel as if we broke the law or made and unethical mistake. I did not post this to add fuel to the fire, best of luck to all in 2005!

Eric Haataja

[cjac]

Only thing you are guilty of is having a little luck in your boat and being in the right place at the right time!

I've read your posts before and know that you know your stuff. Besides, I have to tip my hat to you for being out on the water chasing the 'eyes last weekend.

[scsavre]

Anybody who says you did anything wrong is out of their mind. I don't see how anyone could have handled that fish any better. You should be congratulated for the unbelievable catch that you guys had. And forsurley be applauded for the sportsmanship you used by releasing the big girl without harm. I have heard and seen in many cases about people who would not have even released that fish. You could have kept it without anyone knowing.

Some could say you should have cut the line when you saw it was a muskie, but I don't know a fisherman who would have. I always use the highest of ethics when fishing(CPR, quick release, only taking the fish out of the water if I must, keeping lakes clean, picking up garbage in water,etc) and I would have forsurely done what you guys did.

I have almost come to fistacuffs a couple times when catching people with illegaly sized or dated muskies. I even released one that I saw on a guys stringer on his dock once(42inch fish when minimum was 48)

There is no argument that you weren't walleye fishing by the sounds of youre equipment. Every year my dad will catch a couple of big skis on shiners while walleye fishing. He immediatley releases them for me to catch a month later.

I can't believe anybody has tried to condem you at all about this, Hopefully they didn't know the hole story.

Once again congratulations to your'e entire fishing party for an admirable job.

By the way if that was in Minnesota it would be a state record, but do they allow an out of season fish to qualify.

It is likey a line class record in WISC

[guideman]

People always question big Muskies, I don't know why, but no matter how much evidence you present someone will always doubt what they see. I quess your buddy won't have to worry about everyone in the world finding out about it, someone has let the cat outa the bag already. That's why we have so few secrets in the muskie world, people just have to tell someone they caught a Big fish, it's just to hard to hold it inside.

People have been catching big muskies up in Green Bay for a few years now, so I don't think this will start a "Muskie Rush" to the area overnight.

Besides.....Green Bay could use the cash!

"Ace"

[outdoor ran]

If your looking for a replica for a muskie that size, give Matt a call at Artistic Anglers in Duluth. He has some state record muskie molds that are huge. You can give fibertech a call also. I doubt they have something that big, not sure. Thats an awesome fish .

[muskymike]

A friend of mine sent me an picture of this fish today. It's a pig.

[Cooter]

Can we get a pic of this pig or what - I'm dying to see it.

[Scoot]

I won't post a link, but there are pics up on some of the other muskie boards. Snoop a bit and you'll find it.

[Jim Hudson]

Yeah, everyone has wanted to see a picture of this fish for a long time. I will post two of the pictures that have been released of this fish. It is down right impressive in size, both in length and girth. I believe it was 55 X 33 1/2.

Another thing to note, is from what is said, the background in the pictures were changed in a photo program as they did not want the original background shown, for purposes of fishing pressure.

Here they are...

[MJCatfish]

Get the milkers! It's a Holstein! Wow, what a cow. I think I'd be smiling that big, too, if it were me.

MJ

[waltinader]

It always seems when your not fishing for muskie you can catch them but when you are you dont unless you put alot of time into it. Ive been fishing muskie for a while now and when you see one you want it bad.

[MedicDan]

Photo

This is an even better photo of it!

[Scoot]

The picture that is shown here isn't the fish from Green Bay. The picture shown here is of a fish that was caught very recently (last week or so). The fish in Green Bay was caught 3+ weeks ago. Different fish. However, this one's a beaut too!

[MedicDan]

what do you mean?

[CaptainMusky]

Scoot, that is the same fish. The photos were just released this week. This fish was caught the end of April in Green Bay. The story has been well-documented on every musky site on the net. They took their time releasing the photos as they wanted to change the background so it wasn't obvious where it was caught.

It is a monster. The weight calculators have it anywhere from 64 to 78 pounds depending which one you use. It is likely in the 60's as the one formula (that came up with the 78) doesn't seem to work as well for the truly large fish.

[Jim Hudson]

Yup this is the "talked about" fish from Green Bay. Caught in the boat of a very well respected guide here in WI, Eric Haataja. Eric also photographed this fish. There were other photos of another fish caught out of Green Bay floating around too, a brute itself, but not as big as this monster.

[CaptainMusky]

Jim, where did you get that second photo you posted of this tremendous fish? I have not seen that one. It looks kind of funny near the anal fin where his hand should be? What is up with that?

[TBone1]

This picture looks doctored in more than the background, something smells. Look at the way the guy is standing, the belly line, the fin, things don't look right to me. JMO !

[TBone1]

That anal fin looks like a finger out of a bowl of wendys chili.

[Jim Hudson]

There were three pictures released of the fish, the two that I posted and the other posted, that I cared not to post as it is a vertical hold of the fish. All were sent to me through e-mail and I have seen them on other sites as well.

Like I said in my previous post, all photos were "doctored" with a different background put in and something probably got screwed up to the anal fin region on the second photo during this process. I have heard one of the original photos is on display at a local sporting good store near Green Bay.

A lot of people will dispute the size of this fish, saying this or that, it happens a lot when someone catches a huge fish. Even though I never seen this fish in person, I believe was this big with no doctoring of the photo. Eric is well known for boating a huge number of monster fish of all species through his service, and is reputable to say the least.

[TBone1]

No doubt a big fish, but when someone wants to doctor a photo for any reason they will raise suspicion. The picture was best left alone. I don't know the guide or the person who caught the fish. Again, JMO

[MedicDan]

I know what lake he caught it on, but the DNR told me that I am not to release it. I do some work for them every once in a while, so that's how I know. All of the pictures are of the same fish, just altered to not show the true background, just so people don't, and fish don't have to worry about the lake being crowded, overfished......

[MedicDan]

Here is the link to the guide's HSOforum, you really have to dig around in the photo section, to find the pictures, even there they are altered and the same 3 that are hear. This guide must be good, 90% of the fish that are in the pictures, well, are decent size!

WIBIGFISH GUIDE