World Record Bass...Release or Keep.... Unoffical Poll

[bassjunky]

I dont know if we are still able to set-up Polls so here is an unofficial POll.

If you were the one who hooked into a possible World Record fish...Would you release it?

Be Honest Now!

[ChenBassHead]

Honestly...no, I think I would have a hard time throwing back a world record bass!  The former record was 22# 4oz...this fish was 25.1#!!!!!!!! He didn't just break it...he shattered the most revered record in fishing.  That fish was lucky enough to be released the first time (at least once, but probably while it was smaller too!)...Why would I throw back the world record, so that someone else can catch it???  Does that make me selfish?  I don't think so... Plus, he threw back a $1 Million+ bass...I don't think I could do that. 

-Zach

[crowkiller]

i would have keep it too

[Hood]

release....it would stink up my pail too much

[Fat Boy]

No...er...and yes...

What I mean is that I'd try to keep her alive until getting her officially weighed, measured, and photographed, then try donate the fish to an aquarium (perhaps the one in Tennessee).  Whoever does that and gets that record will be filthy rich.  If it wasn't a record then I'd release the fish immediately, but if it's within an ounce I'd try to have it weighed.  Catch, photo, release is just plain stupid unless you don't need the money.  The genes are already in the lake, so the death of one fish won't make that much of a difference if she can't be kept alive.

The down side of just releasing her back into her lake?  Someone else catches her, keeps her, kills her, gets the record, the money, and all the glory.  Jeez, think about all the stuff you'd get!

[pinche]

keep it

[jayswimmer09]

keep it. theres no way i would throw it back. you only come across a fish like that once in a lifetime and thats if your really lucky.Taking one fish out of the water wont do much harm to the population. and if its that big chances are its going to die of old age soon. so i wouldnt even think twice id keep it

[bassjunky]

Well Im glad to see Im not the only one......for sure I would have kept that fish...as fatboy said I would have tried to keep it alive and donated it...

[MikeThePike]

I'd most likely have kept it but guys, think about it this way. Companies aren't just going to hand you money. I still have to work for it. They tell you where you're going to go to endorse their products and thats where you go. You don't like it then you get nothing. I personally would rather have the freedom to fish when and where I want then have my bosses telling me where. There are plenty of guys that fish and are good enough to go amateur/ pro but don't want those freedoms to fish where and when they want taken away.

[Buckski]

Sorry guys I have caught tons of bass and released them.
This one would go on the wall.

Imagine the belly and girth on that pig, caught bass in Florida that I was revved up over and my buddy laughed at me, bigger ones out there he said!

[Reel Wet Ride]

I'd KEEP IT.  THe world record??? are you kidding me? Thats a multi-million dollar fish. I'd try to do what they did with Splash or whatever that record blue cat was, keep it alive and *sell it* to Cabela's for their aquarium.

[Fat Boy]

Actually, the fish was foul hooked, so I can see why it was released.  I'm not sure, but I don't think that fish would qualify for the record because of that.  Anyone know?

Maybe a snag hook company will endorse the guy for his $million

[MXFisher]

I don't think I've ever kept a bass, but that fat boy would be on the wall!!!





656

[Fat Boy]

Here's the story:

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/fishing/news/story?page=f_fea_bass_world-record_Weakley_25.1

[fshnfool]

when it comes down to a million bucks or more.........I'd keep it, no question about it.