Remember That Arkansas Record Bass Last Week? Poached And Dq'd!

[eric1978]

Well technically the guy was a poacher as soon as he threw the fish on ice (actually as soon he made a cast without a license), but the fact that he had a license less than a year ago leads me to believe he's not an habitual offender...probably just scatterbrained.

I couldn't care less about records, partly because they make no distinction between fish caught on live bait and fish caught on artificials, and partly because...well, I just don't care. I say put the beast in the stupid book with an asterisk, like Cricket said. Then add asterisks to all the live bait catches while they're at it.

[fishinwrench]

The state record Sturgeon was recorded in the books after being shocked up, so "angling method" apparently has nothing to do with it.

[Stoneroller]

The state record Sturgeon was recorded in the books after being shocked up, so "angling method" apparently has nothing to do with it.

Interesting debate this brings up, is it the fish that is the record or the angler? Clearly it's meant to be the fish, but should that exclude the method/angler? What about a fish found dying/freshly dead? or a dad hands a record fish to his son and claims his son caught it? There has to be a very distinct set of rules that are verified by experts in order for the record to hold merit.

What does IGFA do differently than a state dnr does to verify records?

[fishinwrench]

Interesting debate this brings up, is it the fish that is the record or the angler? Clearly it's meant to be the fish, but should that exclude the method/angler? What about a fish found dying/freshly dead? or a dad hands a record fish to his son and claims his son caught it? There has to be a very distinct set of rules that are verified by experts in order for the record to hold merit.

When you add a distinct set of rules then it becomes less of a "record" and more like a "contest", wouldn't you say?

[ness]

If it's the fish that gets the record, they'd record his/her name in the record book.

[ciRe]

I think the fish should be in the record but with a foot note on the record. Sucks he didn't buy a license when he was suppose too but rules are rules.

[bferg]

This is one reason it is always worth it to buy a $15 fishing license. You just NEVER know when something like that might happen...

[laker67]

This is one reason it is always worth it to buy a $15 fishing license. You just NEVER know when something like that might happen...

Years ago before taney required a trout stamp to fish it's waters. I had 3 buddies that would never buy the trout stamp even with my insisting that someday one of us might catch a record. I always bought mine.