Mass State fishing awards

[perkunas]

Hey guys- most of you probably know about this: http://mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfwsfa.htm - MassWildlife will award you a pin if you catch a fish bigger than the size on their list. You get a gold pin and a plaque if you get the biggest for the year. Here's the rub- you have to have them weighed on a certified scale. (as in "sealed by weights and measures" like you see on those gas pump stickers).

Here's my question - can you do this without killing the fish? Anybody have experience with this? Seeing as I'm regularly catching 20+ pound carp from my backyard (I live on the CT river Beerchug ), I was thinking I'd like to get a pin, but I don't really want to kill a fish for a pin!

Joe

[sodaguy2]

Last year I Weighed in a 26 pound carp and won the gold pin for the junior division. I was able to keep the carp alive. I loaded it up in a huuge cooled and put it in the bed of my truck. Also weighed in a pound and a quarter Bluegill this year, also kept alive in a bucket. I also live right on the CT and catch the carp right out of my back yard. where abouts on the river do you live?

Hope this helps, Nick

[fisher16]

Nice job Nick congrats on your pins. Please post some pic's of those beauties.

[davel]

Big cooler with Catch and release solution, small portable aeration pumps (should be available at places like Walmart or fishing supply places). In the heat I know some people who will use some ice to slow the fishes metabolism. Nothing better than letting a big fish go.

[Capt.Shay]

Sorry to be the party pooper but according to the Regs., it is illigal to transport live game fish in the state of Ma. While I totally support the idea of catch/weigh/release, unless you can get to a certified scale without "transporting" the fish, you risk getting in to hot water with the Green Sleves Sad1

Capt.