Florida Fisherman Loses His Record for 805-pound Shark on a Technicality

[BananaTom]

http://gawker.com/fisherman-loses-hi...tec-1566638742

The technicality is that he ate it.

Florida fisherman Joey Polk caught an 805-pound mako shark earlier this month, apparently setting a new Land-Based Shark Fishing Association record for the largest mako. Except that he didn't, because he celebrated his victory by grilling and eating the 11-foot monster with his buddies.

It's not illegal, but eating a shark is a no-no under ILSFA rules.

"As of January 1st of 2012, the ILSFA will no longer promote or accept record applications for sharks not released," the association's website says.

Polk says he would have released the shark, but "he was too worn out to swim."

The current record holder, Earnie Polk, happens to be Joey's cousin. He caught (and ate) his 725-pound mako back in 2009, before the rule went into effect.

"No meat went to waste. Rednecks all over the county is grilling right now," Earnie told the ILFSA after he set his record.

As for Joey, says he doesn't care about the record. He just wants to catch big-*** sharks.

"That's why we decided to keep him. We don't do it for the money, for the publicity, just to catch the fish," he told the New York Daily News.

[MathGeek]

The "catch and release" religion has infected organizations, rules, and tournaments everywhere.

When harvest is sustainable and allowed by law, I have no problem with it, but NOAA is working to make all offshore fishing catch and release within 20 years.

I prefer fillet and release.

[duckman1911]

What a liberal, tree hugging, pansie azz way of thinking. When I fish im in full blown predator mode. Ya cant grill it til ya kill it.
Hell I woulda even had a picture of that shark with my tomahawk buried in its head. Thats just me though.

[Nickt87]

Eat dat!

[BuckingFastard]

agreed, filet and release.

[sparkyc4]

How is it not a record if it was caught and weighed more than the other guys catch??? What if I don't want someone else to catch it a year later and beat my record??

How does eating what you caught erase it from the history (Record) books??

[keakar]

Originally Posted by sparkyc4

How is it not a record if it was caught and weighed more than the other guys catch??? What if I don't want someone else to catch it a year later and beat my record??

How does eating what you caught erase it from the history (Record) books??

because its their record book and they make up the rules as to what qualifies to be in it.

I don't agree with it but they have a right to NOT give him the record.

the way to stop B S like this is to have the records kept by those who don't have alternant agendas other then just recording who, where, when, and how the largest fish in each class were caught.

what you do with it should have no bearing on if it breaks a record or not but if they want to keep a separate record only for released fish that's fine but the dude deserves due credit being recorded for his catch

[simplepeddler]

Record to me.......

just wished I had an invite to the grilling

[C-Bass2mouth]

Originally Posted by sparkyc4

How is it not a record if it was caught and weighed more than the other guys catch??? What if I don't want someone else to catch it a year later and beat my record??

How does eating what you caught erase it from the history (Record) books??

performance enhancing drugs..

[duckman1911]

This BS really has me PO'd. You have some guy being punished for engaging in perfectly legal activity. Tree phucking hippies is who I blame. If a person wants to release a big fish im glad he/she is doing what makes him/her happy. I would expect the same from them if they see me put that fish on ice to bring home for supper. Bunch of pansies.

[Smalls]

Most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. What does eating the shark have to do with the record? So the organization wants to overpopulate the ocean by "encouraging" catch and release by not granting records?

Idiotic. Seriously, lets boycott these idiots along with CCA.

[cajunduck man]

Originally Posted by duckman1911

This BS really has me PO'd. You have some guy being punished for engaging in perfectly legal activity. Tree phucking hippies is who I blame. If a person wants to release a big fish im glad he/she is doing what makes him/her happy. I would expect the same from them if they see me put that fish on ice to bring home for supper. Bunch of pansies.

I agree. I catch and release into the ice chest. I'm out there because #1 it is relaxing and #2 I like the taste of fresh fish. I have been with people who practice "catch and release" but I make it clear to them that if that is what they want to do then more power to them but don't tell me that I have to release the fish I have caught. (as long as it is the legal size.)

[barbarian]

According to the rules, they would have gave the guy the record if we would have let it go after trying, but not believing it would've survived. It would have washed up on the beach and just rotted. That would be ok in their rule book. Here's your sign!

[Pull n Pray]

How are you supposed to weigh a fish that size without killing it? Its not like you can just throw it in the live well or aerated ice chest and drive to the local marina.

[swamp snorkler]

Originally Posted by Pull n Pray

How are you supposed to weigh a fish that size without killing it? Its not like you can just throw it in the live well or aerated ice chest and drive to the local marina.

Super Dooper Mega Boga Grip and a Double Rigger steel hull shrimp boat

[flwo]

Filet and grease!

[bjqx]

Originally Posted by Pull n Pray

How are you supposed to weigh a fish that size without killing it? Its not like you can just throw it in the live well or aerated ice chest and drive to the local marina.

Wondering the samething, that's a big f ing shark to be playing with!!!!

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