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Those dimensions are almost too hard to believe, but he looks like a big dude and that fish still looks really, really big in his arms. The fish looks like it has a 20 pound catfish in its belly! Pretty awesome that he released a possible world record. Just curious, how many guys would be upset if he had kept the fish or how many of you would keep it yourself? I don't know that I could ever keep a muskie (unless it was legal and croaked before I release it) but certainly would understand if someone did keep a fish of record magnitude.
I certainly haven’t been in that situation to know how I would respond in the heat of that moment, but my honest – and admittedly purely academic – reaction is that there’s no way I’d keep that fish. To echo John E., I simply couldn’t intentionally kill a muskie. Knowing the authentic measurements of that fish and what they mean would be a personal satisfaction I would carry with me the rest of my life. I think it would be completely contenting.
Now, if it were a pike of record size… 😈
"Chasin50" said:
If I put a tape to that fish and it measured 57×33, it would have a ditch in it's head from where the bat hit… Its a fish… The modern world need to know what a valid record really is.
Sure if it was a valid 70# fish, but… O'Brien already caught one that big that is the arguably the "real" world record. Why kill another 65 lber? Don't get me wrong though, I wouldn't tell you that you were in the wrong – it's your right when you buy the license. I guess I still have a bad taste in my mouth from what happened here in Michigan this fall with a supposed new state record…
Sweet fish! Don't know why those fish are so cool when they have those true beer belly guts, but they are… And actually caught by a musky fisherman, AND he earned it, in this weather!! Good stuff.
I guess I fall on the 'softer' side of center in that I would be a little upset if he had kept it- not that I would ever voice it to the lucky dude or anything though. I just personally would never see the need to keep even a record fish just for the sake letting the world know. I don't disagree with Chad's "Its a fish…" sentiment, but I think its equally profound to say "Its a record…" And, considering the recent state of The Larry's muskies, that would also definitely play a part in my feelings if the fish was kept.
I am playing a differnet side than I probably normally would/have to stir crap more than anything [smilie=biggrin.gif], but lets create another scenerio. If your passion was big game hunting in the rockies, and you went out there year after year passing up "little" 350-400 inch bull elk, and then one day, there it was… A true 500 inch+ bull without any question in your mind. Would you shoot it or just take a picture and talk about what it would have measured?
I would shoot it… So whats the diff if you thump a fish that if not the record, has true record potential.
I honestly would never thump a muskie or a pike over 35" if I didn't believe it to be a true state or world record fish. But if I truely thought I had a record??? Again, it's a fish…
Id shoot it with a tranquilizer dart, take pictures with it, and then let it go [smilie=biggrin.gif] . Its different because there is no CPR with hunting, that I know of at least. Its either shoot/kill or dont shoot. Im really happy the angler released the fish especially since there was talk about it being caught in a section where VHS had done some damage to the fish population.
Ill stir some crap with ya haha
I honestly would never thump a muskie or a pike over 35" if I didn't believe it to be a true state or world record fish. But if I truely thought I had a record??? Again, it's a fish…
If it's just a fish why thump small and HUGE fish but leave the ones in the middle alone? Every huge fish was under 35" at some point in its life.
I personally won't be keeping any fish as trophies.
First of all, SWMBO won't have anything like that hanging in HER house. 🙄 
Secondly, I'm too much of a softie to intentionally kill something that's endured untold threats, hardships, privations and whatnot for enough years to become large enough to be trophy-worthy. I prefer to let it back into the water to hopefully allow someone else the thrill of catching it (and perhaps spread its DNA for the future, depending on where it's caught). There are too few of them already!
Lastly, I don't have any desire to hold any records. Look at all the accolades that this angler has gotten for just catching it! That'd be enough for me, along with the memories of catching it.
I don't have anything against someone else keeping a fish like that for a trophy, or a record. It's just not my style.
"jasonvkop" said:
If it's just a fish why thump small and HUGE fish but leave the ones in the middle alone? Every huge fish was under 35" at some point in its life.
One thought is that a fish under 35” is an unknown – we don’t know if it has the DNA to be a monster. A monster fish is a known. We know what effect its DNA has, and we know that removing the known “good” DNA from the system while leaving the unknown DNA creates an environment with less growth potential. All laud maximum-size pike limits! 😀
Anyway, yeah, it's a fish. Few would say there’s something wrong morally with keeping it, but how 'bout this:
Reasons to keep the fish:
1) Personal glory for being the record holder
2) Possible money/endorsements
Reasons to release:
1) The angler took the measurements himself and KNOWS it was a record
2) Opportunity to set the ultimate release-ethic example
3) Keep those monster genetics in the gene pool for one more spawn, potentially
4) Unquestionable appreciation and admiration from everyone in the community
Others?
"Chasin50" said:
If your passion was big game hunting in the rockies, and you went out there year after year passing up "little" 350-400 inch bull elk, and then one day, there it was… A true 500 inch+ bull without any question in your mind. Would you shoot it or just take a picture and talk about what it would have measured?I would shoot it… So whats the diff if you thump a fish that if not the record, has true record potential.
[smilie=bs.gif]
Two things…
One… it takes less than 1/2 as long to grow that bull. Two… Elk is just plain tasty unlike a 20-30 year old muskie.
Come on… if you are going to stir the pot the least you could do is not mix the apples and oranges in the kettle.
"john c" said:
[quote="jasonvkop"]If it's just a fish why thump small and HUGE fish but leave the ones in the middle alone? Every huge fish was under 35" at some point in its life.
One thought is that a fish under 35” is an unknown – we don’t know if it has the DNA to be a monster. A monster fish is a known. We know what effect its DNA has, and we know that removing the known “good” DNA from the system while leaving the unknown DNA creates an environment with less growth potential. All laud maximum-size pike limits! 😀
Anyway, yeah, it's a fish. Few would say there’s something wrong morally with keeping it, but how 'bout this:
Reasons to keep the fish:
1) Personal glory for being the record holder
2) Possible money/endorsements
Reasons to release:
1) The angler took the measurements himself and KNOWS it was a record
2) Opportunity to set the ultimate release-ethic example
3) Keep those monster genetics in the gene pool for one more spawn, potentially
4) Unquestionable appreciation and admiration from everyone in the community
Others?
Another reason might be:
5)Look at the drama in the bass or musky world when you "break" the record. You are assumed guilty of cheating and even if you didn't cheat or lie you are crucified because you killed a fish that was legal to kill. I would guess that your life would be more simple and in the long run you would probably be happier. This site talks about some of the drama associated with a "record fish" and there is still a lot of bitterness in the musky community so who wants that?
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"Chasin50" said:
passing up "little" 350-400 inch bull elk
AHAHAHAHAHA……….either you havent managed to give elk hunting a try yet, or your buying governors tags.
350" elk are little in the same way that 51-52" muskies are little!!!!!
By the way, the governors tag holder in Utah, killed a bull that will net over 500" non-typical this year and will likely be the new world record in the non-typical category. (I believe his winning bid was around $170,000, plus some pretty steep guide fees)
"mskyprey" said:
I treat my deer culling as a community service/public safety event, with venison as a bonus. I mean, how many Muskie-car accidents have you heard of lately? 😀 I catch and release pike but to each his own!I am amazed at the size of some of these toothy fish though.
Take as many deer as you want! Then take some more! I 'm tired of thinning the herd with my Hemi. 😡
There're too many dayum deer in MI. Last year, MI had over 60,000 reported car-deer collisions. The whitetail HARVEST in 2004 was larger than the entire state's deer population in the early 70s.
Keep all the muskies, please. Take all the deer you want! 👿
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