Big flathead catfish gets me out of speeding ticket!

[catchinghogs]

Fished above lock four on the Monongahela last night and a nice flathead got me out of a speeding ticket.The local tackle shop around my house has fish contests every month with every month being a different species of fish. July is catfish couldnt fish my normal spot with the high water so went to another hole you can fish in high water.Caught six flatheads with the biggest being 20 and a half pounds and a 9 pounder and four fish between 3 and 5 pounds.The owner of the tackle shop always tells me if I get a big one bring it in. So far this month the biggest fish was at nine pounds.So i decide to take the fish and transport it closer to home kept water in the cooler just in case.It is about a twenty minute ride back to where I wanted to tie the fish up so I decide to try to cut some of that time off and going through one little town I see the reds and blues turn on So I quickly pull over and the police officer asks for my license and registration and I hand it to him and tell him I'm sorry I'm in such a hurry I have a big fish in the trunk Im trying to get to the river.The officer tells me if I open the trunk and there is a big fish in there he will let me go. I open up the trunk and show him the fish and he is total amazment and starts laughing and tells me to get out of there and have a good night.Tied the fish up about 2 AM and read the sunday paper till the tackle shop opened weighed the fish and released him back to fight another day. Here is some pics.

[teaysvalleyguy]

Very nice fish brother, congrats on the fish. I have used many excuses to try and get out of a ticket and this is sure a new one. LMAO Glad you was a CPR guy and it sounds like the officer may of been too.

[catchinghogs]

Here is a couple more pics this one flathead looked like something tried to bite it.

[Bubbakat]

You told him the truth and he respected you for that and cut you a break. I have followed this unspoken rule many a time when it comes to citations. Glad you got out of the ticket and real glad you caught some nice flats. Good day all around.:big_smile:

[kccats]

Great story! Hey, that pic of the bite mark looks real to me!
I would bet that it got that during spawning...
Got to close to a big flatty nest!

[RiverKing]

Great story and great fish!!!!!

[Pennsylvaniacatchaser]

Congrats on the nice Flatties Mark! The speeding ticket story is a classic! I don't know how you stayed awake so long after being out all night Friday, I know I was beaten down. Thanks for posting the pics.:0a31: I hope you win the contest! What is the prize for winning?

[H2O Mellon]

Very cool story & nice fish!

[LarryW]

Congrats on some nice fish

[Baitkiller]

Great Fishing!!

I too got pulled over one time due to my wife, Mrs. Baitkiller gettin her first and her PB Flathead.

My guess is no ticket for me due to havin an Ohio CCW Permit. Ya have to tell them up front here in Ohio when they come in contact with you.

[catfish chaser]

Thats an awesome catch, and what a story haha thats great

[Bigdan99]

hey great lookin fish.

[catseeman]

Thanks for the pics and you met the right officer. Did you swap fish stories? lmao

[TA2D]

Thats one heck of a fish tale!!! Good fish and that was one decent officer!

Aaron

TA2D

[Dragger]

Mark, great catch brother, I'll bet old John(Arlington) would have given you a ticket ,and the fish would have been evidence. (on his dinner table)..........hehehe

[swampthang_matt]

man that was some luck if that would have been me i would have got a ticket i might have to carry a cat fish with me.
:wink:

[blackwaterkatz]

Talk about a golden horseshoe! Bet you're married to a fashion model, too. LOL :big_smile:

[suddawg]

Nice Flattie, and what a story.

SudDawg

[pk_powell]

Wow Great fish,thanks for sharing!:smile2:

[Georgiajack]

Good job, you handled that just right. Good fishin', Jack.

[live22skate]

nice fish!! and those do look like bite marks.

[BullDaddy]

It's good the cop was cool. Would have sucked to stand there and get the ticket while that fish died.

[catchinghogs]

man that was some luck if that would have been me i would have got a ticket i might have to carry a cat fish with me.
:wink:
Yeah I thought about that but dont think I could get past the smell.

[catchinghogs]

Congrats on the nice Flatties Mark! The speeding ticket story is a classic! I don't know how you stayed awake so long after being out all night Friday, I know I was beaten down. Thanks for posting the pics.:0a31: I hope you win the contest! What is the prize for winning?
Staying awake was a hard choice to make I was going to go home and catch some sleep.There was a guy who came down and saw me tying the fish up who appered to be drunk he tried to sell me some fishing stuff for ten bucks think he might have been a crackhead he also tried to sell me some stuffed animals.So I stayed and read the paper didnt want him to try to sell my fish. LMAO!The prize is 20 bucks and a little trophy I have won the contest the last 2 years.

[Flatheadhunter33]

Nice flattie Mark! You got a big cat, got out of a ticket, got paid and, got a trophy. Catfish stories dont get any better! Thanks for putting him back to be caught again.

[riverbud55]

folks just don't try it here in Calif, cuz he may give you the ticket and give you another for tranporting live game fish and that would be a bigger ticket then the speeding ticket

[STUMPKNOCKER]

Crazy, :lol: you never know what will work, women can just cry and it works.

[Larry]

Being a member of the big fish club has its privledges.
Way to go on selling the officer on the big fish.
thanks
Larry

[Blacky]

Nice fish Mark!!! I hope you win the contest!!!

[Rockjumper]

You know your a catfisherman when a cop lets you go because of a huge ugly cafish in your trunk!LOL Great story, you'll be telling that a time or two along the river banks. thanks for sharing and good luck on the contest.:lol:

[TDawgNOk]

Great fish, congrats

[sairving]

Awesome CAT!!! Congrats! I bet that cop never heard that story before. Have a great day!!

[777]

Great story and great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[jobiechillin]

The prize is 20 bucks and a little trophy I have won the contest the last 2 years.[/quote]

Mark whats up with this man. I have been trying to knock you out of the leader board for two years now . I catch a 35 #er you get a 40 . this year I get a 17 you get a 20 . There is still a few days left in the month but I fell off some rocks trying to set the hook last fri. and broke my ankle so it looks like you win again . congrats . thats a nice channel you caught there . one of my buddies said he caught a 19 # at the hot water pipe this year but havent seen the pictures yet. nice work .