What would you do if you caught a world record Catfish?

[rasimmons]

What would you do if you caught the world record or even a state record cat? Would you c/p/r the fish or would you call everyone you know and try to make the money from the fish and risk killing it. This is just a question I have talked about with friends and would like to know what would everyone else would do.

[rasimmons]

I personaly don't keep anything over 20 pounds but I think I would have to keep the fish and attempt to sell it like the guy did with the record blue

[Tym2Fish]

CPR then head straight to a taxidermist for a repoduction head mount.

[pendog66]

what i always do but with one new one. Catch, take picture, call gamewarden, weigh, and release in the same place i caught it

[Larry]

Thats a tough one. I'm a big CPR fan.... but a state record???
We recently had a guy top the state record for Largemouth up in MN. He kept the fish, got AL Linder involved and they were going to try to keep the fish alive in a tank but to everyones dissapointment it died.
The interesting thing about it was the DNR was involved with the situation. They knew what was going on. After the fish died. There was talk about criminal action against the guy, for the following reasons.
1. Trying to profit from catching fish. Illegal
2. Transporting a Live fish . Also Illegal.

The DNR eventually dropped the Case but it was intersting while it was going on. I seriously question the outcome if there had not been a Huge fishing celeberty involved. (Al Linder)

[derbycitycatman]

The temptation would be too great. Id be calling one of them outdoor superstores and try and get a boat, 4 wheeler, guns, you name it.

[dinkbuster1]

The temptation would be too great. Id be calling one of them outdoor superstores and try and get a boat, 4 wheeler, guns, you name it.
if its not from my home water i'd probably do the same. might even get free trilene for life also:D

[gargoil77]

World record? I'd have to keep it. Taking pictures isn't proving its the record. After proving it is I would release it if it's still alive.

[SilverCross]

If I keep any fish, it weighs from 4lbs to 6lbs, and those would be to eat, and only two of those, one for the wife and one for me. Smaller or bigger go back no matter how big they may be. Maybe I can catch it when it's even bigger. I most generally just catch and release, I got the pic in my head, hard to share though.

[flatcatnightmare]

I would definately CPR the fish , if it has anything to do with the fish dying I dont want to be a part of that , I would be happy with just a picture.

[rsimms]

I often fish within a stone's throw of the Tennessee Aquarium (http://www.tnaqua.com). Hopefully I could hand it off to them to live out its life in "The Nickajack Tank."

[NANNER]

Thats a great question, and one that hits deep with alot of anglers and one I believe truly doesnt have a right or wrong answer. I think its up to the individual angler. I practice CPR, however in light of the possibility of having a World Record Fish on the line, I suppose my inclination would be to try and preserve the fish so that others may enjoy it. I do believe though, for those of us that fish for these giants, that you should have a well thought out plan for preserving the life of the fish should you be lucky enough to catch a monster. I can tell you from experience, that the fish should be left in the water until the warden, and the scale are on site. You cant be pulling the fish in and out of the water a half dozen times for photos and to show your friends, for it will surely die. The internal organs of these big fish are damaged easily by being held. If I had to make the choice though, I would certainly release the fish back to the wild should I think its chances arnt good for survival.

[Fatkat]

I would prabably crap myself..........:eek:

[GrainDrain]

I would be trying to get it to one of the breeding pools things that stocks the public lakes and then get all the goodies. Come on a world record and you would release, a freaking world record. if I did release it, my excuss would be that my boat was sinking when i had him in it, so i had to let him go.

[Boogan1]

My fishing partners and I had a situation similar to this happen last summer. We were not prepared to handle the fish and it expired. In the fishermans defense, it took over an hour of hard fighting in MO river current to land the fish so they were both pretty exhausted. However after that incident, we devised a plan. I have an old flatbed truck that we don't use most of the time, has our portable welder mounted on it. Well, we got a 200 gallon stock tank, mounted a bilge pump, filter, and spray head aerator in it. It is kept at my dad's house which is in the country and he has a well. In the event we latch into a big one again, we leave one guy at the river with the fish tied off in the water, the others go get the truck, fill the tank with well water (no chlorine or other impurities) and get it back to the fish. We have ran this drill and it takes us about an hour to get it on site. Fishing the MO like we do, the potential is there to catch big ones. We are still kicking ourselves that we weren't ready for the one last year. We do feel a little better after talking to a fisheries biologist at the state fair last year, he said given the fish's age and length of the fight, it was probably too exhausted to survive anyway. At least we have thought it out for the next one. Boog

[NANNER]

thats good advice boog. Thats a well thought out plan. With a little luck, maybe you will beat that 124 pounds and be able to preserve it so I can go see it at Bass Pro or Cabelas. Good Luck

[NoCat2Big]

I live in the Warsaw area, we have both Truman and Lake of the Ozarks here so there are plenty of big ones to be caught. There is also a state run fish hatchery here with an aquarium with some BIG blues already in it.

I reckon I'd get the fish there at break neck speeds to keep it alive and get it back in the water. At least the fish could be used to produce more cats for future generations.

I dunno, if I had a cell phone with me on the boat I may also just keep it in the water and call Bass Pro Shops and see how fast they could get there. A new boat and 4 wheeler would be nice. But the best chance for the cats survival would be to take it to the hatchery here.

[JayGonefishing]

Man, What a question. I'd probably fall over dead. After reviving I guess I'd take measurements get a couple pics and cut that Big and ugly Loose. Never really thought about it. Guess I'll email the local Biologist and see what he suggests. I'll let you know what they have to say.

[FlatGetter]

If I dont have a heart attack I'll call some people down there, put the fish in a decoy bag, have someone I trust stay with the fish. I'll go to the headquarters of the I.D.N.R Division of Fisheries. I'll have one of the people there come with me with some kind of tank with a good airration system. As long as the fish keeps alive I have no problem them taking tests, if they put him in a tank like splash( previous World Record Blue Cat).

[jdog]

if its a record i,d open the bidding with trying to keep it alive a priority:)

[flatheadfisher]

I know someone who caught a bass that was probably a state record. But, he had called into work sick to go fishing. He was afraid he would get fired so he released it.:crying:

[redneckdrum]

I'd CPR,just for the sake that nobody would believe me anyway.

[turtle1173]

Lots of good thoughts from everyone. For those of us in MO, a state or world record is a definite possibility. For me, I would want the fish to survive. There are too many people who catch big fish (50-60-70 lbs) and run them all over town in their truck trying to impress people. Catfish are touted as being near invincible and people don't seem to understand that this is simply not true. Then they wonder why the fish doesn't swim off after its been out of water for 5 hours! Most people don't want to eat a fish that size, the want to show it off.

I agree that you have got to have a plan for this. You also must have the equipment to keep a fish of that Caliber alive. Everyone and their brother are going to want to see the fish, so you would have to resist the temptation to pick it up for everyone who came by. I would also think that a cell phone (with applicable numbers) on the water would be just about a necessity, to be able to call the appropriate people to meet you at the ramp. Even if all of this is done, there is still a decent chance that the fish won't make it.

If I had all the above preparations made, at this point I still can't say what I would do for sure at that particular moment.

[three_rivers]

If i were prepared keeping it would be a possibility. With the size of the boat a livewell of that size is out of the question so all i could do is take "PICTURES,PICTURES, and did i mention PICTURES." After all a picture says a thousand words........then off to where he belongs..........

As far as trophys goes, i'd settle for a 3 pound flattie!:thumbsup:

[thomas feldon]

Here's some other guestion's. What size line do you use to get it in fast enough so you don't exhaust the fish to death and how fast do you pull it in? I've tak'n a thrashin form using 30lb test line on 22lb cat's, got them in quick and proceeded to get slapped around until we both were wore out. Better yet, have the cat in a net, he's thrash'n about, your hold'n the rod in one hand the net in the other and then the excitting part,
The hook comes loose and smacks you in the nose and this happens all at once when you net the bugger. Got the free nose piercing to prove it too.
I don't think I want the responcibillity of owning up to the reputation of a record. It would be nice to be noticed, but then again, do you want everyone tak'n interest in your life as it is?You know the local news papers would be at your house tak'n picture's of you and the kid's and the three legged dog and the cat's and the yard. Don't need it.

[NCvacationer]

It has to be a sure thing (no close calls), but I am taking my trophy to certified scales and then I'm going to attempt to release it.

[JimF]

As bad as hate to say it,..I think I could use the money. Even if all they give me is equipment from BPS or Cabelas, I would sell it on e-bay

[MOblues]

I'm with Shane on this one....a cell phone would be a necessity. Call the appropriate people, have them meet you at the ramp. I wouldn't want the fish out of water, I'd have a strong stringer on hand or something. I would leave him in the water, tied to the boat until I could get him weighed.

Last year the 39lber I caught......I tied him with a rope to the steering wheel. That sucker tugged on my steering wheel so hard, both my 20lb anchors were moving! I couldn't imagine what a 100lber would do!

But if you caught a world record, wouldn't it be dissapointing in a way, knowing that you'll probably never catch a bigger one?

[wishiwasfishin]

i keep a polaroid camera in my tackle box when i go fishing.most of the time o a big fish i just take a couple picks and away he goes, but the world record i would proably take him home. if it was a long hard fight then why take the chance on letting it die in the river and washing away.

[FishMan]

A record fish. I would take it to where ever it had to go. Sorry fish. Many people say something different but it would be doubtful they would turn it loose and miss out one an event that could change your life.

Of course I could be wrong, maybe I am the only one who would want to be a world record holder and spend the rest of my life getting paid to fish.

Danny

[QuincyFisher]

I'd take about 3 cameras worth of pictures call the DNR for weighings then take it to my friend austins (kickin wing) since his house isnt too far away from the Mississippi and toss it in his pond to be caught at a future date and another record :)