I just read the article on bassmaster.com
http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/fishing/news/story?page=f_fea_bass_world-record_Weakley_25.1

To quote: "Weakley now plans to submit his catch for verification by the IGFA, along with photos, video and the scale."

All I can say is guys... Please don't do it. Please I'm begging you, don't do it. We've suffered through the Paul Duclos thing, the Leah Trew thing, and a dozen more crazy and idiotic stories. We don't need this, please.

No one is going to doubt the fish was record size. It looks absolutely 25 pounds to me. That's not the problem. The problem is it was snagged, and it was a bed fish. This wasn't a crankbait fish that got fouled, or a topwater fish that caught the hook in the nose, this was a bed fish. If this was a tournament, you'd have to throw it back. And DFG law makes it pretty darn clear that catching fish outside the mouth is not legal, so please don't do it. Spare us the pain.

If it was accidental, OK no problem - it was an accident. You guys took some pics and weighed the fish, OK - no problem, anyone would do that if they boated a fish like that. But please don't submit the fish for thet world record. It makes California bed fishermen look bad, it makes trophy fishermen look bad, it makes bass fishermen look bad, and it makes fishermen in general look bad. Like a bunch of guys who don't care if they accidentally snag a big fish, like that's no big deal. Please ask yourselves if that's the message you want to send to the world.

You guys worked as hard as anyone fishing for that one fish, but c'mon don't let it end like this. It's just not right. The bass fishing community doesn't deserve to go through another circus.

-Rob

That is surprising. Even if it was declared as the world record, don't you think there would be an asterisk attached to it? I give mad props to the guy who caught it but am kind of puzzled as to how he thinks it is going to be recognized as the new world record. What a stud Bass though! I hope someone eventually does catch that fish and I hope it's a young kid.

>I hope
>someone eventually does catch that fish and I hope it's a
>young kid.

If that would be the case, the WR would be as good as dead.

I agree with R.B. on this

It's going to be a huge mess if it's accepted.

i was telling steve barnett (one of the six witness's of this fish being caught) about what you said rob, and since he got banned from calfishing he cant post. he was wondering what pain you would go through being in northern california?

The pain of spending 3 months listening to everyone and their mom debate about whether the fish should get the record or not, and then having the whole thing end with the IGFA not certifying the fish. That story is getting old and tiresome.

Well, most people on this forum would also kill a potential world record. Its been discussed many times. I think everyone here agrees that if you catch a potential world record that the benefits of making sure its certifiable totally outweigh keeping the fish alive (although Im sure we all we do our best to keep it alive).

Well said Rob, GREAT point of view.

P.E.A.C.E. Positive Energy Activates Constant Elevation, Gio.

If by chance that fish does get certified as the new WR, I doubt that WR would ever be beat. It took however many years to catch a fish bigger than the current WR and now it possibly gets beat by 3lbs. So much for all of our hopes of catching a WR if that one is accepted. For me catching a WR isn't my motivation but it was always in the back of my mind and a lot of others that our favorite little swimbait lake might have a 22lb 4oz fish swimming in it.

Did anybody read the comments on the ESPN article? I think three people from TX wrote comments, they all seemed upset that TX can't produce fish of that size.

Here's an interesting little article.

http://www.bassfan.com/docktalk.asp?archive=c

This is going to blow up in all our faces. The more info that comes out, the more unethical this all sounds. This is not a good portrayal of bassfishermen. I commend them for releasing the fish(even if it was because they thought they couldn't get the record). But now they need to let the record go again, and not petition for the IGFA to recognize it. This will only cause us all more grief.

Yeah, here's a closer link to Mike Jones commenting on the situation. Pretty valid comments all the way around, I say.

http://www.bassfan.com/Opinion_article.asp?ID=60

>Yeah, here's a closer link to Mike Jones commenting on the
>situation. Pretty valid comments all the way around, I say.
>
>http://www.bassfan.com/Opinion_article.asp?ID=60
>


Once again Mike hits the nail on the head.

Have things changed since yesterday. It is to my understanding that they won't submit it as the new world record.

http://www.bassfan.com/news_article.asp?id=1661

I don't think anything has changed since yesterday. The opinion piece jsmith referenced above was written before Mac decided not to apply for the record. It's just what it says it is, an opinion piece, and the circumstanes under which it was written have changed since Mike Jones wrote it. Clearly the WRB chase is still alive.

From a factual standpoint, bassfan.com has been doing a great job covering the entire thing IMO. They didn't rush to put something up online, they took the time to get direct interviews with all involved and you can read each of those interviews with plenty of direct quotes on their site.

Let's summarize since it can get confusing:

3/21/06 - Interview with Steve Barnett
http://www.bassfan.com/news_article.asp?id=1660

3/22/06 - Interview with Kyle Malmstrom (bottom half of article)
http://www.bassfan.com/news_article.asp?id=1661

3/23/06 - Interview with Mac Weakly
http://www.bassfan.com/news_article.asp?id=1664

There is enough information coming out now that casts doubt on the method and motivations surrounding this catch, and it does take away from the purity of the pursuit of the world record.

Undoubtedly a fantastic fish, a miracle of genetics, environment and survival, and in my mind definately the biggest bass caught.

However, there are things involved that taint this and give it the feel of Barry Bonds chasing Ruth and Aaron. We will all admit that this fish was landed, but, they already know that there are vital elements of the submission for world record consideration that are missing. No measurements and not on Dixon's certified scale, besides the fish would have to be turned over for examination. Never mind the fact that it was foul hooked; the other items will probably not be overlooked.

We have all watched as several people that post here and other sites pursue giant fish for the purity of the pursuit. And while I would not have a problem with the person who caught it benefitting financially from their conquest; these three appear to mainly be in this for the financial reason. After reading Sowbelly, I got that impression, and now that we find out that their attorney was present or consulted, and they tried to pay off the Barnett kid to allow them to approach the fish, it seems more so now. I may be wrong about that, but it certainly feels that way.

Duclos seems to be at his craft for the pure pursuit of giant fish, and Mike Long, while commercially benefitting from his exploits, seems to be truly and passionately inlove with his quarry. I have heard from someone who knows him, that he keeps scale samples and detailed records of every fish over 10 pounds he has caught, for learning purposes. I believe Belloni truly enjoys the pursuit for the passion of it, and many others, he wouldn't have posted what he did above if he didn't care about the purity of this record.

This is an amazing set of occurrences, and while the fish to me is legitimatley the biggest bass ever caught, too much turmoil surrounds it, and a wise man would proceed with caution.

Dan O'Sullivan

Well thanks. You know I always felt like Paul Duclos' fish was just unfortunate because his fish was clearly huge and it just didn't get handled the right way to get the record. The Leah Trew thing was a complete sham IMO, as have been all of the other purported world record claims.

This one is a new twist but every time I think about it, it just seems so wrong. Consider this scenario and see if you don't agree:

You're standing on the shore at a lake in CA
Fishing for a 2lb male on a bed
The game warden walks down and checks your license
Everything is great and you're chatting.
He says, "look a hawk" and you both look up
Suddenly you feel a tug and set the hook
When the fish comes in, it has the hook stuck in the back
You say, "fantastic, I just got myself some dinner" and you put it on a stringer.

Does the game warden

a) Tell you OK and walk away
b) Tell you to release the fish because it was foul hooked accidentally.

The answer is b, every time. I don't think any game warden would disagree and I can't see how this fish will get certified as the WRB, It will just be a publicity storm (look at what ESPN is already doing) that will end with the catch being disqualified.

Mac Weakly has an opportunity to stop the process by not submitting the catch to the IGFA. By doing so I think he would earn a lot of people's respect and he would give back to bass fishing some of the integrity it has lost through all of these botched and bogus claims in the past. If you're out there reading this Mac, I hope that's what you do.

my point has been, the only a record bass will count is for the fish to be inspected, if its true they took no measurements, and only have a pic and video of them wieghing it, plus being hooked in the back, there is no way it will be the record.

Rob,

I just talked to Ed Zieralski, the writer covering the story give me a call later, this evening after 5:00PM

(916) 412-5232 cell

Dan O'Sullivan

Well, i for one am glad they didnt submit this to the IGFA, for a couple reasons. i fish dixon quite a bit and have seen these guys there a lot...they fish their hearts out thats for sure, and the fact that they let this whole thing go shows they have integrity, and respect for fellow CA anglers by not making another WR controversy. i KNOW this particular group of guys will nail that beast again, and when they do.....it will be a good day in bass fishing history to say the least.....good luck fellas





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