New Arkansas state record largemouth disqualified

[lhousesoccer]

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/field-notes/2012/03/arkansas-bass-wiped-state-record-books-angler-didnt-have-valid-fishing-lic

 

March 12, 2012

 

Arkansas Bass Wiped From State Record Books, Angler Didn't Have Valid Fishing License

 

Editor's Note: On Wednesday, March 7 we posted a gallery of photos and the story of a new state-record largemouth bass caught in Arkansas. Since then, the fish was disqualified when officials discovered the angler who caught it did not have a valid fishing license. Steven Hill, who wrote the original story for F&S, contacted the angler and the state game and fish commission today. Here’s what he learned:

 

by Steven Hill

 

The new state record largemouth bass announced last week by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has been wiped off the books after AGFC officials learned that Forrest City angler Paul Crowder bought his fishing license after the fish was caught.

 

The commission announced the new record on its website in early March. On Friday, March 9, the AGFC made the following announcement in a press release posted to the site:

 

 

 

 

“The AGFC discovered that a license was purchased for Crowder three hours after he claimed to have caught the bass. Crowder’s fishing license expired in April 2011. Under AGFC regulations, it is illegal for any person 16 years of age or older to fish without possessing a current Arkansas fishing license. State record fish rules require that an angler hold a valid license at the time of the catch.”

 

Reached by phone Monday, Crowder did not dispute those facts.

 

“My license wasn’t current,” Crowder said. “It was just an oversight.”

 

Crowder said he took the fish to AGFC officials not knowing that his license was expired. “I sent my friend to the store with my driver’s license and she got me a set of licenses, because we was having to wait three or four hours to get the fish weighed,” Crowder said.

 

Because the investigation is ongoing, Keith Stephens, public information coordinator for the AGFC, would not say exactly when officials first became aware that something might be amiss with Crowder’s license, but he said the information that spurred the investigation was not received until after stories announcing the new record appeared in Field & Stream and other media outlets. He said more details would be forthcoming once the investigation is complete.

 

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission goes through a series of investigations when a state record is at stake, Stephens said, including x-rays to make sure the fish has not been tampered with.

 

“The license was checked,” Stephens said. “We just found out something later. When it came to light that he hadn’t bought his license when he said he did, obviously you can’t fish in Arkansas without a license, so it makes sense you can’t have a state record if you don’t have a license.”

 

Crowder said it’s not the first time he’s been cited for fishing without a license.

 

“I should have had my license,” Crowder said. “I’ve had several tickets for fishing without a license before, me and my two kids too. It ain’t that we don’t mean to get them, we just forgot to get them.”

 

The 16-pound, 5-oz. bass weighed one ounce more than the current Arkansas record bass, which was caught caught March 2, 1976, by Aaron Mardis on Mallard Lake in Mississippi County.

 

AGFC wildlife officers seized the fish as evidence, and Crowder has been charged with fishing without a license. He faces up to a $1,000 fine and up to 30 days in jail. Crowder has a court hearing March 19 in Wynne District Court.

 

“It hurts,” Crowder said. “I’m not proud of it.”

[kickingfrog]

Just deserts. Them good eats.

[jjcanoe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObZaVgoX0zM

[misfish]

“I should have had my license,” Crowder said. “I’ve had several tickets for fishing without a license before,

 

:whistling:

[mikeseb]

Several tickets for fishing without a licence? and with his kids too!! This guys is an and should not have the bragging rights of a state record fish

[Pigeontroller]

How sure are we he's really from Arkansas???

[FUSION]

How sure are we he's really from Arkansas???

Shure enough that I can hear the banjo music playing from here... LOL!

[tb4me]

How sure are we he's really from Arkansas???

Lol now thats funny...

[Whitespinnerbait]

Just take a look at him !! says it all right there!! :blink:

[Old Man]

Three things I can't abide, mullets, bad dentistry and poachers.

[fishindevil]

in-breeding will do that !!!! he gets the darwin award for sure ...

[Harrison]

"Shoot it son"

 

"it a bass Pop, we's gotta tag fer dat?"

[bigugli]

How sure are we he's really from Arkansas???

Don't rightly know, son. Could be a toothless hillbilly, or one of them thar toothless newfies

[lhousesoccer]

UPDATE - Angler may face jail time!

 

http://www.outdoorhub.com/news/record-setting-arkansas-largemouth-bass-was-illegally-caught/?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Outdoor%20Hub%20News&utm_content=March+20%2C+2012+Instead+of+State+Record

 

Instead of State Record, Arkansas Man Could Get Jail Time for Big Bass

by Outdoor Hub Reporters on March 19, 2012

 

Previously, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) announced that a record-breaking largemouth bass was caught on Lake Dunn near Wynne, Arkansas on February 28th, 2012. The fish, caught by Paul Crowder of Forrest City, weighed 16 pounds, 5 ounces, which broke the record by one ounce.

 

Now, after an investigation by the AGFC, Crowder faces a $1,000 fine and up to 30 days in jail for catching the fish illegally. The AGFC discovered that Crowder purchased a fishing license three hours after he caught the fish. His fishing license expired in April 2011, according to an AGFC press release.

 

Under AGFC regulations, it is illegal for any person 16 years of age or older to fish without possessing a valid Arkansas fishing license. State record rules also require that an angler hold a valid license at the time of the catch.

 

Crowder’s court hearing is scheduled for Monday March 19th in the Wynne District Court.

 

That means the AGFC won’t certify Crowder’s catch as a state record and so the late Aaron Mardis of Memphis continues to hold the record set 36 years ago on March 2nd, 1976 with a 16-pound, 4-ounce largemouth bass caught on Mallard Lake near Manila in Mississippi County.