13.3 caught out of of Bosque river/Lake Waco

I'm not sure if this has been posted here or not. I definitely could not find anything about it.

It's been a very controversial subject on facebook because there are rumors the fish died. These kids look to be in a wal-mart parking lot? I would assume to either buy a scale or a fishing license. Why are there 2 guys holding the same fish and each posted the same scale photo? Anyone have any other info?

who knows, but it's a nice fish!

I’m not surprised. I’ve been blessed to fish some great fisheries nation wide & my biggest bass was from the river on lake Waco.

Oh its dead...

They weren’t buying a scale or license they were buying grease and batter.

Well congrats to whomever caught her. I would prefer to see a giant like that released but IMO it is his right to do whatever he wants with the fish.

Gonna take a lot of corn meal for that bad boy.

Excellent fish. Sorry to hear it died. Thanks for sharing.

It happens more than you think just not everyone posts about it

We caught lot of big uns up the river , none that big , nice ,

Are you trolling? That fish looks a whole lot thinner than the one in the Walmart parking lot.

Agree

Billy caught it and sold it to Pablo for fish tacos?

That was my thought.

Obviously 2 coonasses doing their best to destroy that fishery.

Terrible waste.

At least it went to a good cause but yeah hurts to see this..

Word on the street is they tried to keep it alive in the sink until they could weigh it at cabelas when they opened in the morning. How dumb can you be.

Happens a ton at my local small lake. Have watched crappie fisherman pull them off brush piles at certain times of year and everyone in their boat keep their over. Within the law - but still pretty ignorant IMO. They don't bass fish - so it doesn't affect them - therefore they don't care. Have raised the issue with TPWD. We'll see if they do anything. Hell watched one of them that was easily a real SAL get put on a stringer last Friday.

I know some people that keep them to get them off their piles. They can't stand them.

I read on facebook they put a 3 pound weight down its mouth and that is what killed it...

I like catch and release too but hey legal means and methods it is their choice completely. Very nice fish, I hope I can catch one that big some day! BTW, It is OK, fish are here for us to use and eat. Gen 1:28-30

It’s the same fish, I saw it on Facebook, I think they kept it in that sink all night

Hey dude, let's go hang out in the Wal-Mart parking lot and take pictures of our fish.

Agreed.

Its legal and its within their right to do as they please. I would C and R but if the lucky angler chose not to more power to him.

Nice fish!

This is a interesting story lol. I'm gonna guess these guys are not experienced anglers

Probably caught it catfishing haha. I met a guy on toledo last year that only fished for catfish with juglines. He was releasing a 9+ bass near his dock and told me he catches a lot of big bass on jugs with live perch out in the lake. Evidently he thought it was illegal to keep bass off jug lines. I agreed with him and told him I thought it was too haha

Shows you how much I care about catfishing haha

I believe it is illegal to keep bass off of a jugline.

Yeah, it is illegal....lol.

Jugline

For use in FRESH WATER only. A fishing line with five or less hooks tied to a free-floating device.

May be used to take NONGAME fish, channel catfish, blue catfish and flathead catfish only.

While jug lines are a legal method(with rules) I’m pretty sure catfish ARE a gamefish: https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/general-rules-regulations/definitions

May be used to take NONGAME fish, channel catfish, blue catfish and flathead catfish only.

I don't know how you can read that incorrectly. Including non game fish, you may also retain channels, blues and flats.

Pretty much my thoughts as well.

Like others have stated already, if they were all legal, it is well within their rights to retain the fish. Myself, i would have liked to have seen the fish released, but it is what it is!

Who really cares? It’s a nice fish, he didn’t want to let it go. When all of y’all catch a big one, do whatever you want with it. Steaks, skin mount, released, just don’t waste it. Most likely you’ll waste it if you go with the steak option...it’ll be disgusting. So have a plan to get it to a top notch taxidermist asap. I’m not judging, if it’s kept legally, do what u want.

Man, that fish has spawned for YEARS in that lake/river. Her genes are there. If that's what's important to you.