New state record Muskie ?

[joelo7]

I am also an avid muskie fisherman. 99 percent of the time i am on the water i am fishing for muskie.
Just wanted to chime in about the State Record topic.
I personally think this fish was a state record, at the time in wich it was caught. I just dont understand why people get so caught up in the hype. I believe there are multiple records, that something went "wrong" in the process and the fish is not what it is claimed to be. That being said it was an impressive catch to say the least.
I have to agree with Catfish though as far as being in the Muskie circle there are quite a few fish each year caught by the same few fishermen in the 48-50 something inch range. That dont get posted here, or on any forum. Im not saying any of them were a state record, just saying there are multiple nice fish caught annually. I believe the current record can and will be broken. NJ has an impressive muskie fishery as far as im concerned and it continues to improve, thanks to the our friends at hacketts town.
I personally would release a fish that was potentially a record. I would get more enjoyment out of watching the fish swim away, and knowing another angler can potentially catch that fish also. I think as long as you know what you caugth and so do your buddies thats all thats important. All im trying to say is I think more people share the same view as Catfish than you think.
I think there is something to be said about people who spend hundreds of hours on the water, casting big blades and lures weighing up to a pound, and wouldnt think twice about snapping a few photos, taking measurements and releasing a potential record. I personally would get more pleaseur out of making a replica for the wall, and giving another angler a shot at landing that fish.
Again not trying to take away from the catch in any way, as i think resluts may have been different had it been weighed sooner than later.
It is the anglers choice what they want to do with the fish and im not looking at anyone different for choosing to keep it.
Point of wich i am trying to say is there are Multiple large fish caught each year. The state record will eventually be broken again. The muskie fishery is continuing to improve and so are the caliber of the fish.
Each year my numeber of fish caught goes up a little, and there are a few nice ones in the mix. To me consistently boating fish is what its about!
just my .02

[UglyStick]

I agree 100% with Catfish and Joelo7 and couldn't have said it any better myself. As an avid musky fisherman and conservationist I would also release such a fish. I too believe that there are many would be record fish caught and released and have seen a number of credible photos to that end.

You had a great catch and regardless of whether the fish was kept or released, be happy with that and move on.

[Gatto1227]

Originally Posted by UglyStick

I agree 100% with Catfish and Joelo7 and couldn't have said it any better myself. As an avid musky fisherman and conservationist I would also release such a fish. I too believe that there are many would be record fish caught and released and have seen a number of credible photos to that end.

You had a great catch and regardless of whether the fish was kept or released, be happy with that and move on.

X2

congrats on the catch. absolute fish of a lifetime regardless if it was kept or released. Youre intitled to do what you want with a legal fish. ive fished for them hard the last couple years and have seen a bunch of absolute monster fish caught. I know a guy that caught a "54 incher" out of one of the lakes I fish and saw the pictures. record or award was never a thought to the guy. Only concern was getting her bacK in. A lot of people put in a lot of work to get the fishery to what it is now. Most guys out there including myself release everything.

[catfishonthelake]

Originally Posted by lennysky

I think you are only telling me this is because those 10 guys which constantly fish for murkies and are after the record have not succeeded while a relative novice musky fisherman has. How many of you holding a record in your hands would opt to release vs keeping it for an official weigh in. I don't know anyone who would not strongly consider it.
I don't keep what I don't eat and I would not eat a musky but I would certainly weigh in a potential record if I thought I had one as I think many of us would.
Yes, there r many questionable records but the honesty lies with the fisherman to a point with the other side of it remains with the validity of the size based on witnesses and a valid scale, I had 3 people on our boat witness my fish and its original weight. I only wish the State can take our word for it they did for Bob. iGFA can certainly certify our scale as they do for line class records.
Good night.

Ha ha. C'mon man? Novice musky fisherman? You were fishing for walleye. Don't make it seem like you were out there hunting monster ski's and just happened to catch the state record. Are you really going to try to tell me that you were out there targeting musky with 6-lb. test? At the end of the day you got lucky, plain and simple. Nothing like letting this go to your head.

And if you want to talk honesty, where exactly on the lake did you catch this fish? We know you launched from the NY side of the lake, and all the deep water I know where guys fish for walleye is in NY. Would you even be eligible for a NJ record if you launched from NY and the fish was caught in NY? Maybe you should start working on debunking Arthur Lawson's 69-pound fish from the Larry in case it comes out that you're not being HONEST.


Give it a rest man. You caught a great fish and plenty of people are aware of that and have given you credit for it. You're really taking away from you catch by crying like a little girl.

[catfishonthelake]

BTW, in case you were interested to see what real musky fishermen do when they catch a state record.

http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/boar...sts=23&start=1

[lennysky]

Originally Posted by catfishonthelake

BTW, in case you were interested to see what real musky fishermen do when they catch a state record.

http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/boar...sts=23&start=1

Apparently I upset you somehow. Sorry about that. But several things that you should know: I conceded that I got lucky. I caught fish in 17-18 feet and you telling me Nj side does not have this depth? NJ fish and wildlife traps numerous mu skies off of south end. And finally, if I did catch this fish in NY side, because it is a bi-State lake NJ is my jurisdiction for registration or at least this is what I've been told. None of your claims hold water, but I understand why you are skeptical. It's ok as it is human nature and your right

[catfishonthelake]

Originally Posted by lennysky

Apparently I upset you somehow. Sorry about that. But several things that you should know: I conceded that I got lucky. I caught fish in 17-18 feet and you telling me Nj side does not have this depth? NJ fish and wildlife traps numerous mu skies off of south end. And finally, if I did catch this fish in NY side, because it is a bi-State lake NJ is my jurisdiction for registration or at least this is what I've been told. None of your claims hold water, but I understand why you are skeptical. It's ok as it is human nature and your right

You upset me when you started acting like a jackass trying to discredit someone else's fish so that you get your name in the record books in the name of "honesty."

And actually, my claims do hold water. I believe the reciprocity for Greenwood has to do with fishing licenses, not state records. State records need to be caught in the same state as the state record. You may want to check up on that.

And yes, the state does net muskies on the south end IN APRIL WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO SPAWN. Those nets are set at the mouth of Belcher Creek when water temps start to come up into the high 40's. Most of those fish leave after spawning and very few remain when water temps drop back down below 50 in the fall. You asked about the odd color of your musky, well here it is. The color of your musky is typical of a fish that has spent it's entire life in deep water. I know that there is 17 to 18-feet of water on the South End of the lake, but I actually do have a very hard time believing that this fish came out of 17 to 18-feet of water. Why don't you just tell us where and clear up all the uncertainty.

[stevejordan]

who care if this guy wants to get more info on the old record... he probably did catch a state record, and if that happened to me and i kept the fish id be asking questions too. also plenty of musky come out of water even more shallow than 17ft so i dont understand that argument either... ease up fellerz

[lennysky]

Thank you. Exactly right, I killed this fish knowing it was a record therefore I challenge the validity of the old one. Otherwise the fish died in vain. Many expressed to me the need to challenge the book. I did not come up w it myself.

[catfishonthelake]

I don't really want to belabor this anymore. I just think it's wrong that he's trying to poke holes in someone else's story. Like I said, let it go and enjoy looking at the magnificent fish on your wall.

I'm done ranting.