http://www.calfishing.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=6&topic_id=17426&mesg_id=17426&page=

http://www.sixoldgeezers.com:5150/discus/messages/140/2047.jpg

doesnt look like it to me. Kellen posted this on sdfish so thats where i got it from :-)

Shane

Yeah. Nice fish, but it ain't 20+.

Yep :-)

Shane

14 with an appetite for softball size rocks. I'm just wondering if it sunk to the bottom when they released it.

I think that the rock is a distinct possibility :-)

Seriously though, photos are so unreliable, that I don't think anybody should even ask "if it looks 22-8, or if it does not".......
We have all seen 12 lb'ers that looked 8 lbs, and 8 lb'ers that looked 12......

But the fact is, this fish was reported to be 29 inches long, and 25 inches in girth. This info, along with this shape, says that beyond any shadow of a doubt, this fish did not weigh an ounce over 19 lbs, but more likely was closer to 18.
This is not just MPO, but rather, it is straight up fish science.

Peace,
Fish

It's definitely a nice fish but if you calculate the weight using the most generally accepted weight formula for bass (bass weight = (length x length x girth) / 1,200) the weight is roughly 17.52 lbs.

If you use the formula for trout/salmon (trout/salmon weight = (length x girth x girth) / 800) then it's a different story. The weight calculates to 22.66 lbs.

My previous PB before this year was 24"long X 24"girth. If I used the trout formula that fish would have weighed in at 17.28 lbs. I don't think so!

Mitch

The formula the IGFA will use is based on their data base containing hundreds if not over a thousand bass submissions they've recognized in the 10 lb Bass Club. The formula is the same except the denominator is 914:

For this spring lake fish:
(LxGxG)/914 = (29x25x25)/914 = 19.83 lbs

By comparison, Mike Long's 20.75 lb Dixon fish:
(27x27x27)/914 = 21.53 lbs

If the length and girth measurements don't add up to the claimed weight, or come at least close, it's a no go. They're off by almost 12%. When you need to beat it by 2 oz, and you're off by possibly 2.67 lbs, they (IGFA) will mull this over for a while, enjoy the publicity and use it to enlist new members (which they need) and kill it.

Interesting. I used those IGFA calcs on two of my fish and one was near dead on and the other was off by a pound. I guess in the end only a certified scale is the most guaranteed way to tell the truth. I think ultimately length is more accurate to correct weight than girth is. I have a friend who stick big pigs all spring and he has an adhesive tape measure on the lip of the boat. Everytime he catches one and it measures 24 inches long, he says it's a ten. I've said he was full of it countless times and weighed the fish and guess what, every time he was right. He said a 22 is almost always an eight. Conversely an 11.2 I caught was 24 inches long while a 26 I caught was 15. I caught a spawned out 23 incher that only weighed 6.7 pounds once. So anything is possible. Again I think the certified scale is the most accurate means of knowing the truth about each fish.

I'll write a caveat to what you posted. An easily readable certified scale. It should be readable in a photograph showing both the scale and the fish. Digital leaves no rounding estimate that you get with a pull scale or dial scale. No one questions a fish on a certified readable digital scale. No one.

BTW I had a 13.8 on a certified digital scale that measured L 26 by G 22.

(26x22x22)/914 = 13.76

Had a 12.0 on a certified digital scale that went L 26 by G 21:

(26x21x21)/914 = 12.54 (I will note that the length was with the mouth open, closed it was 25.5" which gets you 12.3 lbs.

Hawgdog, thanks for the IGFA formula. I searched all over the web and couldn't find that one. I agree about the certified digital scale too. Can't argue with that. I guess the IGFA will make their decision and that will put an end to all the speculation. Now we wait...
Mitch

You won't find that formula on the web. I got the denominator directly from Doug Blodgett, record keeper at the IGFA. It is derived from their data base of bass record submissions and 10 lb Bass Club submissions. Therefore, it has to be the most accurate available for the species.

I just received my copy of IGFA's International Angler Quarterly Newsletter. Prominently featured is the color photo of Leaha Trew with her Spring Lake bass thrusted way out. However, I'll note that they report a length of 29" overall, 25" girth. Fork length was 27.5".

OK warm up the calculator:

(27.5x25x25)/914 = 18.8 lbs

Very nice fish. Leah looks better in color. Game Over!

Hey tell your buddy he needs to get a scale because length is no indicator of weight.

Here is a fish that was just a hair over 23" long and weighed 10lbs 4oz

http://www.calfishing.com/images/daily_reports/2_17_03_rob_tape.jpg

Here is a fish that was 25" long that weighed 9lbs 12oz

http://www.calfishing.com/images/daily_reports/7_13_03_rob_9-12_8.jpg

And here is a fish that was 26" long and weighed 14lbs 6oz

http://www.calfishing.com/images/daily_reports/4_09_03_rob_14-6_6.jpg

Without the girth, the length means nothing.

I'm stayin out of this pending world record drama for now though. Let's let IGFA make their ruling and go from there.

Rob nice fish!

Drama can be good message board fodder! :+
Nice fish, Rob.

Chris

P.S. I'd like to catch that fish sometime around the end of febuary though! }(

The Orange County Register has an article about the fish. It was caught on a 71/2" storm jerkbait. The lady was with her son and they thought they were stuck in the grass. Typical line for someone hooking a big fish and not knowing it. They weighed it on a Certified Boga grip (didn't know they could be certified? But what do I know. They said the boga grip only weighs in incriments of 8oz's and was probably rounded down to 22.8oz's. Thats right rounded down. Took the picture and had some witnesses' Then they released the fish, went home and looked up the weight of the current record of 22lb 4oz. They didn't even know that! I hope this goes down as not being the record cause I would not like to see the world record being caught by people such as these.......BassMan

Oky doky. Well this pending record stirred up a lot of emotion and controversy. We had some good discussion and some lame discussion. I left the good and got rid of the lame. Let's do our best to take this whole thing as a learning experience for all anglers who dream of catching the record. I know I dream about it all the time!

-Rob