Conference wahoo::fishing

1553.0. "Possible World Record Wasted (Largemouth Bass)" by RANGER::MACINTYRE (Terminal Angler) Thu Mar 07 1991 19:47

    
    
    (The following was reprinted w/o permission from B.A.S.S. Times 3/91)
    
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- Chances are if you ask Leo Bardo of North Hollywood
how he would handle his nect bass weighing over 20 pounds, he would probably
say alot differently than his last one.

While trolling a green mackeral Rapala along the shore at Lake Castaic near Los
Angeles last month, Bardo hooked a largemouth bass that by all estimates could
have been the new all-tackle world record.

Trouble was, the 46-year-old Bardo didn't know what he had.  According to Larry
Denny, owner of All-Pri Bait & Tackle in North Hollywood, Bardo kept the fish
on the floor of his boat for 7 1/2 hours before it was finally weighed at
Castaic Mini-Mart.  At that time, the fish pushed the scales to 21.97 pounds,
according to one of the employees who witnessed the weight.

Denny said that by the time the fish was weighed again on certified scales -
sometime after 9:30pm - it weighed 20.86 pounds.  Several experts estimate the 
fish weighed at least 23 pounds when it was first caugth at 10:30am on Monday,
Feb. 4.  Had it been weighed on certified scales immediately the huge bass
would more than likely have broken George Washington Perry's coveted world
record of 22 pounds, 4 ounces, which has stood since 1932.

Larry Bottroff, a fisheries biologist for the California Department of Fish and
Game, was quoted in a recent Los Angeled Times article as saying "If he (Bardo)
left it out of the water, then it is conceivable it [the fish] could loose
several pounds."

"He just didn't know what he had," said Deny.  "In fact, he was getting ready
(to clean it) when he called next door to a fishing buddy of mine to ask him
what was the largest fish he had ever caught.  When he told him he had one
sitting on the garage floor that weighed over 20 pounds, my buddy rushed over
to see it."

The neighbor, Stan Bolton, called Denny and the search for a certified scale
began that night.  If Bardo had not called Bolton, he would never have known
that he probably broke the existing world record.

One thing is certain - Bardo knows he will never again handle another big fish
the same way.  A new world record for largemouth bass could be worth as much as
$1 million to the angler who manages to catch it.  (BT, Sept/89).  Insiders say
it could potentially bring even more if it can be kept alive for captive
display.

    Las spring on Lak Fork, dey found three dead wuns all ober 20 pounds!
    
    Musta died ob ole age??
    
    Coonass

>>    Musta died ob ole age??
   
Either that or Coonass sicked Ole Phideaux on them and they died of fright!

-HSJ-

    
    
    I don't understand...this 46 yr old fisherman, assuming he's
    an avid fisherman, had a 23 lb bass in his boat, & didn't 
    realize he had the biggest catch of his life?? Shoot, if I 
    caught a 5 lber I'd have it framed!
    
    				Buck

    
    
    
    		>>caught a 5 lber I'd have it framed!<<
    					
    					      mounted  
    
    				Buck

    Maybe there is more to the story.
    
    Back in high school in Mississippi a friend of mine went camping and
    fishing at a nearby private gravel pit.  They stayed up drinking most
    of the night, slept a couple of hours, got up, finished drinking all
    that was left, and went fishing.  Well, that &*%^$# caught a nice one,
    It took 6-7 hours before he came to his senses enough to have it
    weighed.  13 lbs 2 oz to *tie* the long standing state record.
    
    Maybe I should change my fishing "technique".
    
    Mark,