Check out the WesternBass.com Southern Forum on news about a possible world record bass caught in Southern Cal.

Here's a link to the forums page where they are talking about it. And here goes another round of coulda, shoulda woulda....
http://www.westernbass.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12663

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/outdoors/20060320-1251-bn20bass.html

Hey Rob! I know you have seen this news already and it doesn't seem to be one of those.."April fools jokes". So even if this catch is not an "Official" one, what do you think these guys could get as far as endorsements or $, being that it seems that they took lots of pics, including Video and also have lots of Witnesses. Just curious, I read that book "Sowbelly" and in it, it was said that the person that caught the world record could be earning close to a million bucks....What do you or any of the other "Trophy hunters" think??

Thanks for your imput....

Bryan

Well this has been online for a few hours now and already the details are getting distorted like a bad game of telephone. Regardless, it sounds like all are in agreement that a really big fish was landed at Dixon this morning. I'm anxious to hear the story direct from whoever landed it (still not sure if it was Mac or Jed) and since the cat is out of the bag, a pic would sure be cool too.

I see lots of people already debating about snagging or foul hooking a bass and whether it's legal or not or whether you could get the record or not, etc. Well, not that it matters because it doesn't sound like they are going to try to get the record anyway, but it really is not hard to find out what the rules are on snagging in regads to the CA Department of Fish and Game and the IGFA.

Here's the IGFA Rule Book, let's check there first since it's the higher standard:
http://www.igfa.org/BookRule2004.pdf

In regards to snagging it says
"The following acts will disqualify a catch"
"10. Intentionally foul-hooking a fish"

Taking in to consideration that you must pass a polygraph to get the IGFA world record bass, then according to their rules as long as you didn't intentionally foul hook the fish and could pass the polygraph saying so, you could claim the record. Jed, Mac, and Mike are way too serious about catching the WRB to be so stupid as to snag it, so I'm sure it was an accident. It almost makes you wonder if the catch would qualify if you only read the IGFA rules but then you have to consider the IGFA rule which states:

The catch must not be at variance with any laws or regulations governing the species or the waters in which it was caught.

In other words, you can't break DFG law and still get a record.

So here's the Freshwater Regs for CA:
http://www.fgc.ca.gov/2006/06freshfishregbook.pdf

The DFG regs are perhaps a little less clear but you have to start with the basics to understand the rules about snagging and you have to start with how DFG defines the words used in the regs.

Chapter 1 - Section 1.05. Angling
To take a fish by hook and line with the line held in the hand, or with the line attached to a pole or rod held in the hand or closely attended in such a manner that the fish voluntarily takes the bait or lure in it's mouth.

Chapter 1 - Section 1.80. Take.
Hunt, pursue, catch, capture or kill fish, amphibians, reptiles, mollusks, crustaceans or invertebrates or attempting to do so.

Chapter 2 - Article 1. Methods and Gear Restrictions
2.00 Fishing Methods - General
All fish may be taken only by angling ... etc

When you see how DFG defines "Angling" and "Take", you can read 2.00 as saying that All fish may be captured only in such a manner that the fish voluntarily takes the bait or lure in it's mouth. If the fish isn't captured that way, then it's not a legal fish. If it's not a legal fish per DFG then it's not going to qualify for IGFA.

And so those guys did the right and legal thing which was to release it!! I just feel bad for all the bass in that lake now, it's going to be a full frontal assault now that people know the fish is in there. Have fun chasing it guys.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/outdoors/20060320-1251-bn20bass.html

that's FRIGGIN HUGE

and that's the same bass that Mike Long caught and Jed Dickerson caught. Check the mole on the cheek.

The real question is obvious: How do Mike, Mac, and Jed decide who is going to catch the fish, if they're tag teamin it lol.?

I think it's Mike's turn now, after all the rotation on the same fish is complete.:P

I remember reading the article about Jeds fish being the same one that Mike Long caught, and they zoomed into that freckle under the chin (BassWest). Then, I could have swore I read somewhere that that particular fish was found dead floating several months later. Am I imagining that I read that, or is there a bunch of brothers and sisters in that lake that apparently have the same birth mark?

Either way, that fish is unbelievable and no doubt it weighs whatever they are claiming it weighs. It just sucks that it may not count. At least not yet.

My guess is that Mike Long or somebody else may have made up that dead fish story just to get the pressure off that lake. They knew it was still there and wanted it to themselves.

Maybe when it's all said and done, we'll just have another unofficial state record just like Bob Crupi's 22.1 lber. x(

With all this commotion we might be saying bye-bye to Dixon's big bass fishery. Hopefully we dont get too many kooks flocking here with their fake trout in the coming months.

i fish dixon alot and i worried about that too after the 21lb'er a cpl years back, it got busy for a little while, but unless its spawning time it can be a tough bassin lake, the pressure will be there for a bit but will quickly fade as many dont get what they are looking for.

No message

Haha Yea after I posted that I realized that Its hard to catch a big bass there...or anything at all for that matter. We've got a place in Pauma Valley, and I used to go to Dixon and its sister a lot as well. I will be there at easter so maybe I will try to fish it once again. I would just hate to see a bunch of people chucking those big baits all over the place in search of the same fish. We've seen it happen at other places before...
Oh and on another note...Since the guy who caught the fish doesnt care at all if he gets the record, shouldnt we just consider the fish to be the record holder? Shouldnt we just acknowledge the fact that she exist at Dixon, and thats it? After all it never 'ate' the bait. ps sorry i dont know why this posted twice.

I may be wrong but i dont believe its the same fish that was caught by Jed and mike. I thought it was found dead a few months after also and if i remember right the other fish had that black dot under her left gill plate when this one had it under its right. I may be wrong tho.