[Bill @ S.O.B. Lures]

Look at the top 5 results from Bass Champs there today !!!

1) DERICK KUYRKENDALL-BERGHEIM , TX & FORREST WILSON
BULVERDE , TX
5 15.56 38.82 - $20000.00 + $1000.00 Big Bass + $5000 Skeeter+$200SureLife+AllStar

2) ELROY KRUEGER-THREE RIVERS , TX & CHARLES WILSON,
PEARSALL , TX
5 15.20 36.96 - $5000.00

3) JAMES BRAY, SAN ANTONIO , TX & BEN STOGSDILL, SAN ANTONIO , TX
5 9.42 35.68 - $3000.00

4) MIKE BATES, CANYON LAKE , TX & TYE HEINEMAN, WIMBERLY , TX
5 0 34.40 - $2000.00

5) DUSTIN FRIESENHAHN, HELOTES , TX  & CLINT KIDWELL, HELOTES , TX
5 13.20 31.00 - $1200.00

[email protected]

 

[Starkfishes]

Unreal. That makes me want to quit my job and head straight to Choke.

 

[RPB]

Unreal.  That makes me want to quit my job and head straight to Choke.

You have to have someone names Wilson in the boat to catch one over 15 lbs lol

 

[RO]

Sort of reminds me of a Tom Hanks movie: Wilson! Where's my 13 lb'er?!
;D

 

[5-20]

I was there on Fri and Sat for another tourney. One guy in our tourney also caught a sharealunker on friday that went 13.1.

And on saturday I was lucky enough to break my PB (out of LA) by an ounce with a 10.6 swimbait fish.

 

[bassfantastic]

Choke is sure producing the SAL's this yr. I cant wait to get out there and search for some of those girls. We are going down the first weekend in April for my birthday. :

Jim

 

[Texas Hawgs]

Looks like there's 3 sharelunkers caught by guys from Helotes, TX. Maybe they're sharing a good spot. hmm..

 

[rmvfishing]

Unbelievable. That's 5 fish from Choke over 15lbs this year.

 

[bassfantastic]

A question just popped in my mind. What does TPWD do with the SAL's after breeding them? Are they returned to the lake from which they come? If not, then IMO they are hurting a fishery like choke canyon when they remove so many SAL's in one yr. Not to mention making it more difficult to break the Lake record as well as maybe producing a world record. Which we all know will be a million$ fish.

It takes over 10 yrs to produce a fish over 13lbs. With the harvest of SAL's this yr, I have to believe we are ultimately gonna hurt this fishery

Jim

 

[McBass]

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/sharelunker/rules/

Benefits of Participation

At the end of spawning season, the ShareLunker will be returned to the angler for live release, or the angler may donate it permanently to the program. Either way, the angler receives a fiberglass replica of the catch made by Lake Fork Taxidermy, ShareLunker clothing, and recognition at an annual awards banquet held at TFFC. In addition, the Texas resident catching the largest entry of the season is awarded a lifetime fishing license.

 

[fishndude]

I heard that they all died. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[Eric]

None of the fish were submitted to the SAL program.

This is a unique case, and I do not think that there is any blame to go to anyone.

I know TPWD would like tournament directors to try to balance competition vs conservation and think of a creative ways to deal with this sort of thing. It is sad that these fish of a lifetime, will not be breeded, or returned to Choke.

Eric

PS. I do not speak for TPWD.

 

[fishndude]

My question was not an accusation only a curiosity. There is no doubt that the reason that these fish exist is because of conservation and breeding efforts. I do however believe that tournaments will have to evolve in the way that fish are weighed and handled. Live wells were never intended to hold 38 pounds of fish all day. I believe that at least one of these fish was caught early in the day. Unfortunately the mostly uneducated public will only hear that several large fish were caught and “killed” for monetary gain. It is kinda like that joke about ONE goat…..

 

[Eric]

TJ, I hear ya.

We are working with TPWD to address these very issues in regards to the exact care and handling of big fish. There are many myths that can be cleared up, and I think it will benefit all anglers.

Stay tuned, and good fishing!

Eric

 

[Acuna]

FWIW- I heard through the grapevine it actually gave up 4 SAL caliber fish in one day. In addition to the three Bass Champs bigguns, there was another 13lber that was caught.

Amazing.

 

[Guest]

The two 15 pounders were given to the Sharelunker program. All others were released back into the lake at the end of the day. Six fish did die, but they were not the larger of the fish.

 

[Ranger_R77]

The 14 and 15lber from Choke did die...

Check this post out.

http://www.austinbassfishing.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1237892748/2#2