Record Fish and Regulations......discussion

[ghotierman]

The fervor generated over Mark Raveling's catch and transport of the new state record largemouth bass leads to some important issues. The catch should indeed be celebrated. Other records are likely to fall. Does the certification process need to be flexible to allow catch and release? How do we amend the transportation issue? (can't just do away with it....we had a fish farm up here catching bass, transporting for brood stock...double tripping...over limit...lots of issues)

Let's discuss this in hypotheticals...(put the current bass controversy to rest)

Most muskie fisherman practice catch and release religiously...how can a potential state record be recorded/certified without killing it?

What if...you were to catch a record fish on a lake with special regulations?...'all northern pike 24" or more are to be immediately released'....the odds may be slim in reality..but what if?

The largemouth lore is always a hot button. Remember an out of state bass was once attempted to be represented as a MN record. How do we certify / verify the actual waters a record came from? (not all fisherman are liars, but all liars are fisherman )

The master angler program can make us all personal record holders. We may never be in Louie Spray's or Mark Raveling's shoes..dealing with spiteful rumors, media circus, and urban myths....but perhaps the laws need to be looked at again.

Funny, there wasn't this much reaction when the young man from the Sauk Centre area caught the world record redhorse sucker!...*L*

Anyway....let's talk a bit about the process of certifying a record / catch and release / special regs.....

without revisiting the current bass story specifically....

your thoughts?

[Guest]

I dont think it should be at all complicated... There isnt much need for change with an exception..

A person shouldnt have to do anything more than contact the DNR to obtain an immediate permit, or permission to transport a live fish in a container suitable to transort the fish in question(not on a stringer) to a specified location, or locations.

I dont think that many bass bordering 9 pounds, or 18 pound walleyes are going to come in the boat to make this a problem for the DNR.

This makes it difficult to transport huge species(sturgeon, musky, etc).. but when there is a will, there is usually a way.

Everyone and their brother carries a cell phone these days.. if we dont.. the fish can be put in a livewell while on the body of water.. and a telephone can be located.

If I were to catch a record.. I would like to be able to claim it... this doesnt mean I neccessarily want to kill the fish... I would prefer it got displayed... if it dies, it will find its way to the wall, if it doesnt.. it may swim again in the same body of water it was caught from.

The laws we have now are to prevent invasive species, and back yard biologist.. lets face it, people do some foolish things weather its legal or not.. having the laws in place at least gived the CO to do something if he does come across someone transporting something they shouldnt be... without the laws, there would be little to stop it.

[Ya Hey Der]

ghotierman-good point. I now have a question similar to yours regarding possible record fish being caught in lakes or rivers that have special restrictions.

What if someone catches a potential record walleye out of pool 2? This is C&R only. What do you do? Ok, you call DNR and they give you some sort of permission, so you get it transported and it gets weighed but turns out it is just shy of being a record fish. What happens then?

[Dave B]

State record sauger are caught in Pool 2 each winter.

[Tonka Boy]

I think the DNR should set up a program where they always have an "on call" person to go and verify these fish right at the location (by area). It doesn't have to be a DNR agent...we all know funding is tough to obtain. Maybe the local police, city rep., or whoever with a certified scale. If they feel the fish is a record, arrangements can be made at that time.

The only exception is catch and release lakes/rivers or out of season catches. They go back ASAP no matter what.

Simple!

[katoguy]

If the lake/river is catch and release only - then release it. It does not count (nor should it count) as a state record fish.

[BDR]

I don't believe the DNR will make any exception to a special restriction. Or a record fish that may be caught out of season. They are to be returned immediately.

The Rainy river spring fishing is a good example. I was told by the C.O. working the landing that he personally measured a 35" walleye that he guessed to be over 19#. It had to be returned immediately as the law states "no fish over 19.5 inches". He was checking boats for violations when he came across the boat bringing in this monster.

[musky hunter]

I'm with That Guy. Let's find an easy, legal way to transport a single live fish for record verification prior to rerelease into the water from which it came. If in the rare chance I do catch the record bass or walleye, I would like to verify it and release the fish alive. The chance of spreading exotic species doing this is zero, as long as it goes back to where it came from. And this should be a very rare occurrence that doesn't require a permit. But if you get stopped with a live fish, it had better be reasonably close to the record. This way we could focus on the thrill of the trophy catch without nitpicking wether some misdemeanor was committed while transporting the fish.

[Northlander]

Musky Hunter just do like I do. When that 35" walleye gets to the bottom of your ice hole just bonk its head on the bottom of the ice a couple times til she shakes off.

Still having nightmares after that one!

[tjm]

Why make a new law just to (try)and keep a possible record alive.Take a picture release the fish if you so choose to.This is now your fish as long as it's in the law guide lines.Just to have your name on a certain fish/animal or what ever it may be is not the way a true sportsman should be (My opinion)

1st of all we have some laws (I feel should not be)My opinion

Also feel in some areas of all wildlife we need more in place (My opinion)

Every year the hand books (laws) get bigger and bigger.Do we need some thing in the laws for a trophy fish (probly not)All this is going to do is open a big can of worms with no end.

Why not start a thread on what you think Minnesota needs in place (Laws) for each fish/animal or what ever it may be.Then start another thread on what you think about the current laws how you would like to see it

After every one has had a chance to respond send it to Fish & Game (Also make a note no 1 is to respond to another persons idea period)