Mississippi River-World Class Catfishing "part 7"

[8fishermen]

That is one impressive fish. Congrats on the state record even if it can't be certified. Thanks for sharing your story and your fish with us.

[85Dave]

Great story! You should call the Fisheries folks and request an appeal. You legally caught it in Mississippi waters, so it should count. Wouldn't hurt to ask.

[85Dave]

These are the rules copied from the Mississippi website: http://www.mdwfp.com/fishing-boating...ater-fish.aspx

How do you certify a State Record Freshwater Fish?

Application and Rules for State Record Fish

1. Fish must be caught on rod, reel and line, or pole and line, and hooked with any legal hook or lure.
2. Fish must be weighed in the presence of MDWFP personnel on certified scales or scales legal for trade. The weighing must witnessed by others, who MUST sign the application form. No provision for weight loss will be allowed. The actual weight of the fish AT THE TIME OF WEIGHING will be the OFFICIAL WEIGHT. It is desired (but not mandatory) to have signature(s) on the application form of witness(es), if any, to the actual catching of the fish.
3. Two (2) photographs (preferably in color) should be taken of the proposed record fish. A. One (1) of the angler and fish. B. One (1) showing a clear, close up side view of only the fish.
4. Length of the fish must be measured using a flatboard and with fish mouth closed, from tip of snout to tip of tail (with tail squeezed together to give longest possible measurement) which gives the maximum overall measurement. Fork length measurement should also be taken from the tip of shout to the fork of the tail. (See diagram on application)
5. Girth of the fish will be measured around the thickest portion of the body. (See diagram)
6. Applications for black bass, crappie and sunfish MUST be positively identified AND verified by a Professional Fisheries Biologist with the MDWFP.
7. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks reserves the right to further check fish identification or verification of witnesses and to refuse any application that is questionable. It will be considered "just cause" for disqualification of current application and any previous records established by anyone who knowingly falsifies a record fish application.

If the rules are not clear, PLEASE reread them.

It doesn't say that you must have a Mississippi license.



This is the link to the application: http://www.mdwfp.com/fishing-boating...lications.aspx

You have to certify on the application that the fish was legally caught, which it was.

Matt, you should fill out the application, send it in, and see what they say. I did a quick search of Mississippi Codes, and I didn't see where it is codified on how to certify a state record. I suspect it is within the jurisdiction of MDWFP. And I'm sure that the intent of "having a MS license" is to make sure that poachers do not get credit for illegal catches.

You've got nothing to lose by submitting the form. And I'm sure you will get a nice newspaper article out of it. Especially since you donated the fish to the Tunica Museum!

[Arkie55]

Great catch and a fantastic story. Matt I really enjoy reading your reports and the report/story on that big flathead kept me glued to the story. Congratulation.

[85Dave]

One other thing, Matt. If Tunica can't keep the fish, call Bass Pro Shops. They may be interested.

Dad and I went fishing today. We put in at McKellar. We caught some bait (1 big skip, and 5 bream), and fished at Port of West Memphis. We caught 8, all under 10 pounds. Had a great time! It's been a while since we fished.

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[patrickgd]

Congrats !!!!!!!!!
s an awesome fish! and thanks for the detailed story too.

[patrickgd]

Fished out of McKellar today. I took my wife with me and she wanted to learn how to drift fish. She took to it pretty easily. There was allot of barge traffic and steady 10-20 mph South winds. The winds were not a problem and actually seemed to help slow the drift at times. For the day we caught 5 total and biggest was around 10 or so. She caught 2 of the 5 so she was pretty excited. We tried depths of 25-70 and could'nt find any kind of pattern to the biting. Water temp was 68.

[rwilley3]

We fished big river sat in the gale and surprisingly did pretty good. We ended up with about 20 fish that probably weighed over 300#. We didn't have any hogs with largest fish in upper 20's. I think we had six that were right around 20# and six more that we're in mid teens. Chris even caught a pretty flattie but nothing like Ole Matt's because it tipped scale low teens or so. As far as numbers and total weight it was probably one of my best days ever. It was good voyage aboard the USS Amanda with Cap'n Shadguts at the helm for sure. I wish I could remember where we were, depth or bait but I think he slipped something into my Code Red Mountain Dew that caused me to forget. I think it also (mabye sun/wind combo) caused my lips to burn almost off my face too.

[bigriver]

Thanks for the info Dave. I may give it a try for the heck of it. I did call Tunica RiverPark yesterday and they said the flattie is doing fine. He put thirty bream in the tank Monday afternoon, and there were a few missing the next morning. So hopefully his appetite is still there. The manager was real excited and said that they were going to put him on display on May 12, I think. I am looking forward to paying a visit shortly thereafter.

I am also glad to hear that everyone is catching some fish, even though their memory is foggy. The water is muddy as crap, so just think how much better it will be when it clears up some.

I ran down to Tunica on Friday and visited with Coach and Charles. Everyone seemed to be having a good time and catching some fish and it was nice catching up with everyone. We wound up with 20 or so, the biggest was a 34 and 35 pounder. Actually we lasso'd the 34 pounder around the tail, which provided quite a fight.

Saturday I battled the wind without much luck. Caught a few, and had a goodun get away. Oh well. Sunday, I got out for the afternoon only managing one fish. But the 36 pounder made up for the lack in numbers.

Glad everyone liked my flattie story. I am always ready to post stories like that! It sure is fun, and you never know when that biggun may bite. I wish I could say it was skill, but most of the times my bigguns come in the places where I least expect it. I guess that's what keeps us coming back.

[rwilley3]

Where all dem fishing reports? I have son graduate from college so that was Sat and then Sunday was moving both twins home from college so no fishing for me at all