Dragondaddy we've been doing this for years in North Texas lakes that are tough-- it's never been a problem. Plus if putting a fish on a board and measuring it were considered possession then it begs the question: how are we supposed to know if a fish is legal in the first place if we can't take the time to measure it? Snapping a pic just takes a few more moments.

There's not a warden out there that would give a ticket for that...

Agree ^

Not really under standing your point? Because I feel it's just not about fish possession?

if you haven't had a gw interpret game laws differently than you, you have been fortunate. and the local jp is not required to be an expert in jurisprudence either. i was simply wondering whether it might be a problem. hey, i wasn't involved in any way. and why 12 for that matter. i am on your side. i am nothing if not reasonable and sensible. i grew up keeping every 12 inch bass i caught. up to either 10 or 15 a day, i can't remember.

A hawg trough is not a "holding device", it is a "measuring device"...i.e. a ruler used to measure the length of the fish to determine if the fish is of legal length...a hawg trough is not unlike the thousands of measuring devices used in Bass Boats and tournaments throughout the state of Texas. The only time you would have an issue with a 12" Bass is if you didn't measure it and kept it in a "holding device" and a game warden then used his/her measuring device to find out that the fish was under the legal length limit.

the regs used to say that after measuring, any fish not of legal length must immediately be returned to the water. that was my initial concern, because the time taken to take pictures is anything but immediate. it may be that the new regs are in deference to these type of situations. if so, that is seemingly better, at least logically, than subjecting a fish to a day of getting sloshed around in a live well. it would take a study to prove it, but i would assume that even prolonging the fishes time oow for the few minutes it takes to snap a pic would be much easier on the fish. the picturing taking process should be as shot as possible. are there any training tips or videos for newbies learning the ropes? it looks kind of dicey. and likely to end up with fish not counted as they flop away unshot.

Well ok , but I've never kept any fish that was illegal at any point in my life. But what your saying about fish possession is wrong. Sorry only way to say it.
Let me be clear. I don't want anyone who reads this think that catch picture release (CPR) is breaking any laws.

This. I can usually get a fish on the board and a pic taken within about 15 seconds or less after getting it unhooked. I think that is reasonable and not detrimental to the fish.

the fact that i agree would be irrelevant in the days of immediate return. with the new wording, it would take some backbending by a backwoods jp to say otherwise. those guys have and always will exist and i wouldn't be at all surprised if limestone county has one as we speak. sorry to get your hackles up. seems my question was more inflammatory than i intended. sorry again.

Dragon, here is my process.

First, having your board and camera pre-staged is critical. I keep the board tethered by my side and even if I have rods or other stuff laying on it, I have enough length to pull it onto my lap. The camera stays tethered around my neck, stuck in a front PFD pocket and I am familiar enough with it to turn it on and snap a pic with one hand.
Once fish is unhooked, board comes to lap, fish is being lipped with left hand and moving to the board as right hand is grabbing and turning on camera. A point and shoot, quick look at pic to make sure it captures full length of fish and the fish goes back in the water. You do enough of this and you get very good at it without much effort. Of course an uncooperative fish can add time to the process but that is seldom the case. In fact, you get a "feel" for when a fish is going to cooperate and when it needs to be given a few seconds before going to the board. I very seldom let a fish lay on the board without being lipped.....too much chance of flopping off taking more time to get a pic or losing the chance to get a pic and more potential for a flopping fish to hurt itself in the boat. Some people like the extra step of wetting the board first....while I understand the thought and potential benefits behind this, I don't.....but may rethink that one. This whole process is one of seconds.....not minutes.

i assume you have a waterproof camera. if your camera has to be retrieved from a bag, it might take a little longer. sounds like a process that would get faster with practice. i'd bet the newbies don't get it done quite as quickly. that might be something clubs could offer their members. or maybe kayak vendors. or you could do like me and simply zero out regularly.

This whole discussion of whether or not taking pictures of fish can be construed as illegal is right up there with the craziest things I've ever read on any section of this forum. There's no judge or game warden alive or that has ever lived that would come to that conclusion. In fact, "paper" tournaments are widely seen as the kinder and gentler method of tallying fish for competition.... As everyone said, Beau puts on a heck of a tournament that's run as good as any power boat tourney I've ever been a part of. He and his crew work very hard to make sure everyone has a good time

What he said ^

Admittedly, I have early released fish on many occasions. I would hope a GW would take that into consideration for holding a fish hostage for the picture ceremony.