07-20-2011, 06:25 PM | #1 |
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I had honestly written this mount off, thought the taxidermist either ruined it, sold it, or went out of business. 3 whole years this took. Called me yesterday and picked it up today.
Caught this brute while smallmouth fishing on the Monocacy River in Frederick, MD. Had a great day, boated over 75 smallies and right at the end on a 3" green pumpkin flake tube I hooked this bastard right at the mouth of a coldwater spring creek, picture perfect muskie habitat in the summer. I was shocked, totally shocked when it cleared the water on its 1st jump right next to the boat. Fishing with 6lb test on a medium spinning reel I figured a 1% chance of landing this thing. 10 minutes later I was out of the boat on the shore wading around trying to control it, beached it 3 times and finally on the last beaching attempt it just flat out gave up, fish died not long after. Summer heat plus a hell of a battle just did it in. Figured the least I could do what have it mounted. After calling the fish in to DNR it turned out to be the oldest and largest male tiger muskie ever collected in the state. Each tiger muskie is tagged when its released. They are a hybrid of Pike and Muskie which have to be bred in a hatchery. Fish was released upriver on the Potomac of Harpers Ferry, swam 15+ miles on the Potomac and then around 5 miles upriver on the Monocacy over its liftime of roughly 11 years. Cool to have that info! anywho, i'm all geeked up over it. ended up being 41.5" long. Weight unknown, my guess is somewhere in the 25-28lb range. Here you go: Very nice detail work around the face and mouth Great coloration and irridescence and me with the fish when I landed it Last edited by Sniz; 07-20-2011 at 07:25 PM.. |
07-20-2011, 06:54 PM | #3 |
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I'm not a pro by any means.. i mostly fish casually when i go to florida getting snappers, sheepsheads, catfish etc. but even i can tell that that's a ridiculously good catch. congrats!
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07-21-2011, 09:38 AM | #9 |
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I believe the state record in Maryland was a 46"er so yeah, you all have much better habitat for these fish.
This one would pass in your state then caught in Georgian Bay probably 10 years ago, unreal fish. 54" (forehead to middle of shin, i'm 6') unknown weight, released alive .
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