THE BASS COLLEGE

Late last night, the man better known as Mac Weakley decided he'd had enough of the controversy behind his potential world-record catch, that 25-pound, 1-ounce Queen Kong of a bass he foul-hooked at Dixon Lake on Monday. He decided not to submit the catch to the International Game Fish Association for approval as the all-tackle, world-record largemouth bass.

?To tell you the truth, the three of us have been talking to friends and family the last day and Mike (Winn) has been checking the Internet, and we're seeing that it's 50-50 in terms of support for the catch standing as a world record,? Weakley said.

?It seems 50 percent feel it should stand as a record and 50 percent say it shouldn't. That's why Jed (Dickerson), Mike and I have decided not to submit it as a world record to the IGFA. We don't want to go out breaking the record with so many people doubting it. We want it to be 100 percent ? or more realistically 90 percent ? being behind it with no controversy. We plan to be back with a world record bass everyone will get behind.?

So ended this crew's current long and grueling quest for the world-record bass, for now. Weakley, Dickerson and Winn watched yesterday as Weakley's controversial catch went national and international. News services and sports shows and even the Drudge Report, for goodness sake, ran with the story like a bass that just gobbled a stocked rainbow trout.

?It's been more mayhem than any of us expected, believe me,? said Mike Winn, who manned the motor of the boat while Weakley and Dickerson alternated casts at the huge, egg-laden female bass. But it was Winn who posed for all pictures taken of the bass before it was released back into Dixon Lake.

Weakley caught the female from a nest she was patrolling in 12 to 15 feet of water, no more than 15 yards from shore and 15 yards from Dixon's fishing dock. The fact Weakley foul-hooked the bass from a nest in clear water kicked in the more than century-old debate over whether it's ethical to fish for spawning females by irritating them into a frenzy so they smack or inhale a lure.

?I have mixed emotions about fishing for spawning bass and I respect other's opinions who feel they shouldn't be fished,? Weakley said. ?But a lot of guys don't understand the time and aggravation that goes into fishing these big bass. The stars really have to be aligned. Conditions have to be perfect. Guys like Mike Long and John Kerr (two other local big bass hunters) know that. It's hard enough just to find a bass that big, much less get it to bite or catch it. Only the people who have caught and fought these big bass know that.?

Besides the ethical question of fishing spawning female bass, the bigger issue for Weakley's bass and Dixon Lake was whether the catch would have been approved as the all-tackle world record by the IGFA. Now that's not an issue.

Earlier yesterday, Jason Schratwieser, conservation director for the IGFA, commended Weakley and crew for releasing the bass, which, had it been approved, would have shattered Perry's nearly 74-year-old record of 22 pounds, 4 ounces, the weight of the lunker the Georgian caught June 2, 1932, at Montgomery Lake in Georgia.

Schratwieser said yesterday that Weakley's catch, like all potential record catches, would have been considered for the all-tackle world record had he submitted it.

Weakley was putting the components of the application together, but the gaping holes included the fact that Weakley unintentionally foul-hooked the fish, didn't take measurements of its length and girth and didn't weigh it on a certified scale.

?We don't have any information on the fish right now, so we don't have any comment,? Schratwieser said yesterday, not knowing Weakley was going to change his mind about submitting the catch for approval. ?But if it's submitted, it's something we'll discuss and look at. Absolutely. One thing we never want to do is penalize a recreational angler for releasing a fish. I commend the guy for releasing such a big, spawning female because she'll contribute a lot to that lake.

?A big female like that will produce more eggs, but more importantly, more quality eggs. There may be a genetic component that she passes on to subsequent generations of larger, healthier fish.?

Schratwieser added that the fact Weakley didn't take measurements of the fish ? length and girth, an integral part of the IGFA's application process ? wouldn't have mattered if the photos and video of the weigh-in he took substantiated the bass' monstrous size.

?We like to have the measurements for several reasons,? Schratwieser said. ?One is for scientific purposes, so we can get a better understanding of the size of the species. Measurements also help confirm the dimensions of the fish if the pictures are lacking in the application.?

One of the key issues would have been the foul-hooking of the bass. By IGFA rules of angling, so long as Weakley didn't intentionally foul-hook the bass, his catch would have been viable. But because the catch wasn't legal by California Department of Fish and Game regulations, it violated one of the IGFA's main principles, which is that anglers must comply with ?equipment or angling regulations.?

State fish and game regulations in California clearly say that a fish, to be legally caught, must be hooked in the mouth while it tries to take a bait, lure or fly. Weakley didn't violate the law when he accidentally foul-hooked the bass, but he and his crew did violate the law by not immediately releasing it.

?The fish has to voluntarily take the bait or lure in its mouth, and if it didn't, it's not a legal fish,? said Erick Elliott, Julian-based game warden for the Department of Fish and Game.

?By the letter of the law, it's a violation because it's been illegally taken and not supposed to be in possession. But in the spirit of the law, a fish that big, it's human nature to want to document that catch. I don't know if I would have written a ticket for that even if I was watching it.?

Jim Dayberry, who is supervisor of rangers at Dixon Lake, said yesterday that he and his staff respected the way in which Weakley, Winn and Dickerson handled the bass after it was caught and dealt with the massive publicity the catch produced.

?They saw how much Jed's 21-pounder (the 21-pound, 11-ounce fish caught in 2003 and also believed to be the same bass) was stressed by being out of the water so long,? Dayberry said. ?They knew keeping it out of the water would have been the kiss of death for that big bass. They wanted to do minimal damage. And there was a lot to be said about their honesty. These are stand-up guys we've known since they were kids. They have a lot of heart.?

Weakley Gives His Account Of The Catch

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Mac Weakley said Mike Winn held the fish for the photo because he was an experienced fish-handler.

OnMonday, March 20, Mac Weakley fished California's Lake Dixon withfriends Jed Dickerson and Mike Winn. In the early hours of that day, hehooked and landed what was potentially a new world-record largemouthbass. That record has stood for more than 70 years.

Thebass weighed 25-01 on a handheld scale  with evidence captured on video. However, the fish was foul-hooked from a nest, and Weakley returned the fish to the water before it could be measured or weighed on a certified scale. The current world record is 22-04, set by GeorgePerry in 1932.

In the days that followed, controversy erupted around the catch. The public wondered why Weakley and friendsconferenced prior to bringing the fish to the dock. Some questioned whether Weakley had intentionally snagged the fish. Other questions included why the fish wasn't weighed on a certified scale, and why the trio had first access to the fish that morning.

In the following Q&A, Weakley tells BassFan the facts from his point of view. Key points that Weakley stresses are:

    * He did offer to pay Kyle Malmstrom $1,000 on Sun., March 19 for a 30-minute chance at the fish.

    * He did purchase a camping permit at Dixon, which is in-bounds in hyper-competitive San Diego.

    * He did not intentionally snag the fish.

   * He conferenced before bringing in the fish to both celebrate with hisfriends, and discuss the ramifications of such a monumental fish.

    * He did not intend to obscure the fact that the fish was foul-hooked.

   * There was no longer a certified scale at the Dixon dock. He said itwas removed when control of the concession stand changed.

    * He released the fish without measurements and additional photos because he didn't want to risk killing it.

    * He won't submit the fish to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) for potential world-record certification.

BassFan: What did it feel like when you hooked, then landed the fish?

Weakley:You know you're fishing for something that's just huge. It was just afull adrenaline rush. Unfortunately, she got snagged on the side. It sucks, but it happened.

I caught the fish, brought it in,got it in the boat, saw it was foul-hooked on the side, and I couldn't even really think straight it was such a full adrenaline rush. It wasjust a really exciting experience to see a fish that big. To see theycan grow that large  it was pretty neat.

You've said you won't submit the fish to the IGFA for possible world-record certification. Why not?

I don't want it to be an official, or unofficial, record. The three of us had put so much time into this. At first, people were pushing the fact that it could be (a record) because was it intentional (snagging) ornot? If not, it could be.

I didn't even know those ruleseven existed. I had no idea they were there. We knew because it wasfoul-hooked there would be tons of controversy. I didn't know therules, but I didn't think it would count.

I was juststoked to get a 25-pound bass. That's what the video was for. for usto share as we get older. Everybody wanted a copy, so I gave it tothem. People are saying they'll give me money for it, but I haven't received one dollar. I don't want to receive a dollar. I've told everybody, if they send me money, I'll send it to Make-A-Wish.

I have a great job. I really don't think (potential money) would changemy life. I'm very fortunate and blessed for what I have. I'm trulyblessed with great friends, an awesome family, a good job. So I don't think it would change my life at all.

Even if I hit the lottery, I'd still be going out there with Jed and Mike. We fish saltwater too we have our own skiff. In fact, I enjoy saltwater fishing more than bass fishing.

The thing that's really sad is, I feel this record's really tarnished by everybody looking a tit for this big cash-in they're going to get. That's why I think the record is so popular.

Not only that, but the fact thatpeople are wondering if (bass) can actually grow that large. Betweenthe three of us, we know they can get bigger than that. When you see big fish repeatedly these fish are 23-, 25-pound fish  you don't seethem often, that's for sure. But you definitely know it when you seesomething that large.

Now that some of the dust is settling, are you anxious to put the whole catch behind you?

Totally.I felt I did the right thing by releasing the fish. The fish is still alive and swimming in there for anybody to have a chance to catch it whether it's a 12-year-old boy or a 60-year-old man.

That's what I feel is the most important thing  why I was in such a rush to get this fish back inside the lake.

Is that why you didn't officially weigh and measure the fish?

To set the record straight, I didn't want a bunch of people taking photosof it. It's not healthy to pass around the fish. All it takes is one person to drop it on the dock and that fish dies.

    "It was not intentional. I was trying to do everything but catch that fish the way I did."  Mac Weakley

Mike(Winn) has been a charter captain, and he has tons of fish-handlingskills. I was confident to let Mike do the handling of the fish. Again,the cool thing is the fish is still living. Catch and release is provedto be a very good thing for a lake.

But I'm pretty muchready to put this behind me. This will probably be the last interview Iwind up doing. I don't want any product endorsements. If someone sendsme free products, I'll give them away to charity.

The other thing is, I've been very open about giving away the pictures and video. It doesn't matter to me.

There seems to be some discrepancy about how you got on the water so early. Could you walk us through that?

Peoplekeep talking about that. It's a public thing, and people can go thereand do the same thing. If they get outwitted because we actuallyfigured that out (the camping permit), how is that our problem?Theyhave the same right to do the same thing.

San Diego is very competitive  especially for bed-fishing. The more that I look atit, I'll still always enjoy the sport, and there's some really good sportsmen out there like Mike Long, and definitely five stars forJohn Kerr.

The fish was foul-hooked it wasn't properly caught. Therefore, I believe, after thinking about it, that it shouldnot be the record out of respect for the rest of the guys like Long and Kerr, who've put thousands of hours into doing this.

Iwould like to see people actually try to get the rules down to thewire. All this speculation what if you're fishing a private lake?What if you have access to certain areas that other people don't have How is that fair?

So you think the world-record rules need to be refined?

Onething I always discussed is if you're fishing a private lake, and thegeneral public doesn't have access to it, how can that be considered arecord?

There's a gray area and people definitely need torefine it if we're to continue to pursue the world record. So when it'scaught there's no controversies behind it. I think the controversysells, and people want to stir everything up with it.

After you caught the fish, you went out toward the center of the lake before coming to the dock. Can you discuss that?

Wewent to the middle of the lake because it was something we wanted toexperience for the three of us. We were high-fiving each other, andstoked to see the fish. That's it. Those were our thoughts.

And,"What do we do?" It wasn't because I'm going to turn this fish in asthe official record. That's ridiculous. There were already witnesses onthe docks who saw it was foul-hooked.

People also need tounderstand, I can't respond to people's questions that everyone hasimmediately on the Internet. I don't know how many calls I got. It waslike people were pulling from every limb of your body.

Soto set the record straight, you did not intentionally snag the fish,and you had no intention of ever obscuring the fact that is wasfoul-hooked?

I don't even know how I could answer that.My intention was to catch the fish. Things happen when you're fishing.Maybe I jumped the gun, and I set (the hook) out of sequence. ObviouslyI did. You know how it is when you're bed-fishing. A big fish can comein and in a second suck in and blow out a gallon of water. There wasalso the male to contend with.

When you're fishing thatearly in the morning, and it's windy, and rainy, and I pretty much havea major astigmatism, so I can't see that well as it is. The fish wasfoul-hooked. I admit it.

Kyle (Malmstrom) told us (onSunday) that he actually saw the fish, felt it ? actually saw that itpicked it up his bait, that he got bit by it. That's the nature of thebass. That's just how it is.

We're human beings. We'renot perfect. You can't always be perfect. The guys on tour fishingprofessionally, they do one little thing wrong and they lose a bigfish. It comes out after the fact that maybe you feel bad, maybe youshould have got the net out instead of flipping it up on the boat.

I'm human. I made a mistake. Unfortunately, it happened on a big fish. But it's not the only big fish it's happened on.

Photo: Jed Dickerson

Weakley said Jed Dickerson's fish first weighed 22-09, but by the time the warden arrived, it weighed 21-11.

I'vehad other big fish eat a jig and I didn't have the drag set right.Everybody has their fish story about the one that got away. That's thething. Everybody wants to know if it was intentionally snagged. It wasnot intentional. I was trying to do everything but catch that fish theway I did.

Kyle Malmstrom told us you offered him $1,000 on Sunday for a chance to catch the fish. Is that true?

Isure did. Absolutely. Everybody thinks I'm going to stray away fromthat question. Jed offered him five rods (for the chance). We saw him(Kyle) fishing for this fish for a long period of time. He even let meinside of his boat, so I could take a look at that fish.

Thefirst words out of my mouth when I saw it were, "That's Jed's fish."(Weakley's fish is believed to be the same fish Jed Dickerson caught in2003, when it weighed 21-11. ? Ed.)

He (Kyle) wanted toborrow my cell phone. His wife was giving him a hard time for being outthere so long, so he made me talk to his wife to convince her that iswas Jed's fish, and that he needs to stay.

He kind ofstared at it in the water, and we talked back and forth. At that point,he said he's not going to leave. We decided we'd get a campsite so we'dbe the first ones out.

People are losing sight of thefact that people can actually see a fish that big on a video and photo.There's so many people here that do things like poach, and there'speople that snag ? people who do all kinds of things. And the nature ofthe bass ? that's how it is.

That's why I tell everybody,I hope it's a 12-year-old boy sitting on the dock (who catches theofficial record), so people will give it a break. If it comes from anyprofessional, they'll always be wondering, how did you catch it?

Does that controversy have you feeling down?

I'm setting the record straight, telling you right now, it's not the record, and should not be the record.

It'sthe same bad beating I watched Jed take. I saw Jed weigh his fish at22-09 (in 2003). But by the time the warden got there, it weighed 21-11.

Backthen, we were like, "That's ridiculous. All the witnesses said the fishwas 22-09, and (he) should be awarded that." Well, I'm not a biologist,but from what I hear, these fish can actually lose weight as theystress out. They regurgitate.

The ranger on the dockwatched it spit out food. Jim Dayberry, the ranger, was like, "That'sBS, I saw the thing weigh 22-09. He got robbed."

He was amember of the BBRC (Big Bass Record Club) at the time. (The BBRC wouldhave paid $1 million for a new world record. ? Ed.) We could havecaused a huge stink. I'm not going to cause a huge stink of this.

There was a certified scale at Dixon when Jed weighed his fish, but it's no longer there, right?

Before,back when Jed weighed his fish, there was a certified digital scale upon the dock. What happened was, the man that owned the dock andconcession stand ? his name was Lyle ? he got rid of the dock, andapparently the city owns the rights to the concession stand.

Lyletook his certified scale. But after the fact, (lake superintendent)Tony Smock told us they have a digital scale in the ranger station.

    "It's the same bad beating I watched Jed take." ? Weakley

Firstof all, I didn't know they had that scale. Second, I was not about togo toting that fish all over the place. It's not right when there's awhole circus around with a bunch of people poking at it and lifting itout of the water.

When Jed weighed his fish, at the endof the day, at least a hundred people had to pick up Jed's fish just tosee it. That's what people aren't looking at here. People want to bringup a bunch of negative crap because it sells, and people are jealous.

Thething they shouldn't discount is the fact the fish weighed 25 pounds.There's no doubt it was foul-hooked, and no doubt it shouldn't qualify,but it weighed 25 pounds.

I looked at some of thecomments on BassFan and other sites, and told the guys from ESPN thatit looks to be the public out there is looking at this like a 50-50thing ? 50% are wanting this thing to be the world record, then 50%don't.

Mike and Jed and myself talked (Tuesday) night. Wesaid, "We've been doing this a long time, and we know we have the edgeas far as breaking the record. We've gotten close so many times, butwe've always gone back after the fact and said, 'Forget it.'"

I looked at Jed when his weighed 21-11 and said, "Forget it. We'll go get a bigger one and blow everybody's mind."

So we decided we'll go back out, do what we do well, have a good time, and if we break it, we break it.

Ithink this thing has gotten way out of control. The thing I want to getacross is, let's keep the integrity of it ? keep that right there atall times.

I know there's a lot of people out here thatdo a lot of fishing at nighttime, and a lot of BS stuff. Hopefully,this will push people to do the right thing about it.

This is great. it makes me want to move to Cali, and spent my life hunting those once in a lifetime bass!!!