MONSTER CATCH, FISH OF YOUR LIFE

[PerchPredator]

Since my fishing for the year has basically come to an end until the water gets hard I figured I'd throw a random question out there.

This is spurred on by a report I saw on FH a few weeks ago. One of our anglers caught a world record fish and released it, thusly negating a record and a sweet wall mount.

So my question is this, what would you do with that one monster fish, catch of your life? Release unharmed? Keep for a mount? Get an artificial mount? Eat? Keep in hopes of beating a record?

I've always been a catch and release guy. I'll keep some if I'm fishing with somone that keeps their catch. As long as it's legal I'm fine with it, but I always prefer to relase my catch.

That being said, I've never caught a massive, amazing, huge monster of a fish. I figure my first nickel bass will have the required measurements taken and pictures and then I'll get an artificial wall mount of it.
The fishy goes back in the water for another day.

I'd love to hear some of everyones thoughts. No judgement here

PP

(also, sorry this isn't a report with fish in it. I've been getting skunked like crazy)

[almontefisher]

For me it would depend on the fish. If it was a massive muskie I would return it as I would not feel right keeping such a beast but would get a replica. Now bass, walleye, pike or some trout yes I would get measurements and get replica's made but again I do not think I would keep it unless I was 100% sure it was a record breaker.

Here is another question to RJ. Did you feel at all remorsefull about keeping your record catch?? I know it was needed to confirm the record but you must have felt a bit of pain having to do that.

[RJ]

What World Record breaking fish was posted on here a few weeks ago?

Peter, truthfully I had decided to keep that fish shortly after she slid into the net....call me barbaric....call me whatever...I love my skin mounts....for the number of fish Birdee and I catch a year we rarely keep anything other than Crappie in the springtime....in my mind I have a list of fish I'd like to have in my collection....and that fish was on the list.

It was about an hour later that we started to talk about investigating what it weighed and went from there.

We can debate it til the cows come home....I'd rather do it around a campfire or barstools than on here though....

RJ

[BigC]

Think he means the Freshwater Drum (Ontario record?) that Bunk posted and you have on your blog...I'm guessing.

I think I would get a replica in all cases, but I don't think I'll ever catch a world record fish and have to worry about making that decision.

But world records are meant to be broken so there will always be people out there trying to beat them.

To each their own.

You buying RJ, cause I like beer!

BigC

[RJ]

Ahhh.....the barndoor....yep....that must have been what he meant.

I still razz Aaron about it...

[PerchPredator]

Yeah, sorry. I meant the Freshwater Drum. Would've been pretty hard for me to throw that one back

[plowjock]

My fishing buddy caught one of those stinking slimy things 2 years ago.
Let's put it this way, needed the pressure washer to get the smell out of the carpet. Give me a 44 inch, 27 lb. Redfish anyday.
More colour, fight and sure looks nicers than his freshwater counterpart.

[almontefisher]

What World Record breaking fish was posted on here a few weeks ago?

Peter, truthfully I had decided to keep that fish shortly after she slid into the net....call me barbaric....call me whatever...I love my skin mounts....for the number of fish Birdee and I catch a year we rarely keep anything other than Crappie in the springtime....in my mind I have a list of fish I'd like to have in my collection....and that fish was on the list.

It was about an hour later that we started to talk about investigating what it weighed and went from there.

We can debate it til the cows come home....I'd rather do it around a campfire or barstools than on here though....

RJ

Would never call you barbaric Rob...just a bit crazy but not barbaric. I was thinking about this after I posted and after deep thought I came to the conclusion that I would keep something for a skin mount but only if it was really worth it. The things was old as the heavens and was near the end of its life anyway or it was one of those fish of a life time. Pics are great but these days I can show myself holding your Gar and say it is mine so a mount would be solid proof.

[samurai_ted]

Well, here is my two cents worth.

Three years ago I caught an enormous muskie out of Wendover. It was legal, even by the current size limits, but was released in great shape. We took a great series of pictures and measurements and have been shopping for the best place for the wall mount to be make. Gonna be about $ 1,000 for the mount and I can't wait to have it on the wall.

All this being said, I don't think twice when someone wants to keep a big fish. You often hear the argument that "she is huge and the best breeding stock". Personally, I think that is a lame argument. For every 54" muskie that is kept by a lucky angler there are probably 100 breeding 46"ers.....so where is your next generation really coming from......

So there you have it! Ted

[Relic]

Firstly thanks for letting that big girl go, You can PM pics if you like, I like pictures of big fish Lots of folks would not have and that is their perogative to do so. There is no right or wrong here just a decision to be made. I am glad you made the decision to let her swim.

But I have to respond to this...

Personally, I think that is a lame argument. For every 54" muskie that is kept by a lucky angler there are probably 100 breeding 46"ers.....so where is your next generation really coming from......

So there you have it! Ted

That is kind of backwards thinking.....same with Almontes comment about big old fish..... How do you know it is old?? That thinking goes hand in hand with the "past prime spawning" phrase that gets thrown around.

It's all about genetics, not just for muskies but any species really. Those big ones are big for a reason, and I would rather have lots of those ones making babies till they die....passing their, grow big genes on, along with all those 46's. Also just because a fish is big and old, and maybe is not as efficient in their spawning as they used to be...they still spawn...and pass on those good genes.


As far as keeping your trophy of a lifetime....many of us won't really know if we would until in that position. I can say now that I probably wouldn't...but put me there and who knows. Like RJ, I too much prefer skin mounts over replica's...a skin mount is my fish...with replicas you take a chance of it not being your fish.

[steve-hamilton]

If and when I ever get a *true* trophy, it'll be a skin mount for me.

i hope it'll happen at quinte in three weeks.

[Moosebunk]

Not above or below anyones personal opinions when or if keeping a fish. My house has a skin, a replica and will next have another replica or a skin depending on which comes first and the mood I'm in.

Our wall needs Bren's arctic char replica though, and I might one day do a pike. Doesn't need to be the biggest of a specie either... it helps, but like taking pics, some fish and experiences are just too memorable to release.

To each their own and just do it legally.

[almontefisher]

Firstly thanks for letting that big girl go, You can PM pics if you like, I like pictures of big fish Lots of folks would not have and that is their perogative to do so. There is no right or wrong here just a decision to be made. I am glad you made the decision to let her swim.

But I have to respond to this...

Personally, I think that is a lame argument. For every 54" muskie that is kept by a lucky angler there are probably 100 breeding 46"ers.....so where is your next generation really coming from......

So there you have it! Ted

That is kind of backwards thinking.....same with Almontes comment about big old fish..... How do you know it is old?? That thinking goes hand in hand with the "past prime spawning" phrase that gets thrown around.

It's all about genetics, not just for muskies but any species really. Those big ones are big for a reason, and I would rather have lots of those ones making babies till they die....passing their, grow big genes on, along with all those 46's. Also just because a fish is big and old, and maybe is not as efficient in their spawning as they used to be...they still spawn...and pass on those good genes.


As far as keeping your trophy of a lifetime....many of us won't really know if we would until in that position. I can say now that I probably wouldn't...but put me there and who knows. Like RJ, I too much prefer skin mounts over replica's...a skin mount is my fish...with replicas you take a chance of it not being your fish.

You are right there Relic. I did not take genetics into consideration. I guess you could have a 54" muskie at 6 years of age and a 54" muskie at 14 years of age...just like you can have a 200lb 8th grader and me at 35...

[wolfe]

Easy choice for me. Release the fish, get a replica.

The reason being, that (to me) not releasing the fish would be like having a great story without a great ending. A good release, especially for an exceptional fish, is icing on the cake...or the "happy ending" to the great story.

It's just a super feeling to watch them swim off.

W.

[DropShotr]

I have a 15lb 12oz steelhead skin mount. My best friend has a monster brown replica on his wall. We caught the fish the same day. After all these years the replica has stood the test of time.

For me, the next mount will be a replica. Personal choice.

Drop