What is Your Most Exotic Catch Single Poling?

[Ketchn]

Biggest Bull Frogs I ever seen was in East Texas near Rayburn. Nothing like those around here, these look like Tree Frogs compared to Texas Frogs.

when I was much younger , I chased them big ole east Texas versions often , 24 inches long or better and big as any swamp rabbit ....
my nanny just loved her some frog legs and me as well , I gigged em , shot em , hand ketched em and jigged them as well ....
good times , a leg of panty hose tied on my belt loop ( bullfrog creel) and some thigh high waders a nice head lamp and gig and it was on like donkey kong ....AND then this ....
A BIG bullfrog is one of them things that ain't never TOTALLY DEAD , trust on that part ....

[MCG1]

Michigan has a very limited surgeon season, highly regulated. Through the ice, spearfishing. People that get them rave about how good they taste. Don't hear much about harvesting their eggs. My most exotic came through the ice. A burbot. Not a very attractive fish, but a good pull on an ice rod.

[Rojo]

Seems you can sportfish for Paddlefish but 30 inches and longer fish must be released immediately. Tenn-Tom and other waterways in that area no harvest is allowed at all.

[J White]

Seems you can sportfish for Paddlefish but 30 inches and longer fish must be released immediately. Tenn-Tom and other waterways in that area no harvest is allowed at all.

Yeah thats eye to fork of tail. Out of several dozen I’ve caught over the years, only recall maybe one that was under that. It went from no limit, to that. Pretty much shut us down. We had already seen the writing on the wall and only been keeping one or two a season. And trying to talk to anyone in Jackson goes nowhere. We were all for sensible limits, maybe even a purchased tag to keep one. But nope. From all to nothing.


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[Rojo]

Yeah thats eye to fork of tail. Out of several dozen I’ve caught over the years, only recall maybe one that was under that. It went from no limit, to that. Pretty much shut us down. We had already seen the writing on the wall and only been keeping one or two a season. And trying to talk to anyone in Jackson goes nowhere. We were all for sensible limits, maybe even a purchased tag to keep one. But nope. From all to nothing.

I do not think the one I caught would be under that measurement. I'm guessing at 4ft but look at the picture, it's pretty long in the body. You think it would have made it under the 30 inches? I would not have kept it if legal anyway but curious still if you think that fish was legal Bud.

[J White]

I do not think the one I caught would be under that measurement. I'm guessing at 4ft but look at the picture, it's pretty long in the body. You think it would have made it under the 30 inches? I would not have kept it if legal anyway but curious still if you think that fish was legal Bud.

I’m just guessing of course, but yessir I figure it would’ve been over that. This post brings back some fond memories though! When you hit one in the back with that 9/0 treble, they would make a 209 Penn reel SMOKE pulling drag. I still have my 12 foot extra heavy ugly stick. Used 80 pound saltwater fusion line, did have one break off at the boat once. Sounded like a gunshot when line parted!


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[Atimm693]

I’m just guessing of course, but yessir I figure it would’ve been over that. This post brings back some fond memories though! When you hit one in the back with that 9/0 treble, they would make a 209 Penn reel SMOKE pulling drag. I still have my 12 foot extra heavy ugly stick. Used 80 pound saltwater fusion line, did have one break off at the boat once. Sounded like a gunshot when line parted!


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It is a lot of fun. We have started using livescope on them, get right over them, drop right on their back, yank and hope for the best. Pretty low percentage hookup rate but I think it's more fun, and you can target only the bigger fish.

Meat wise, there is a lot of trimming, they have a lot of red meat and fat so you don't get as much as you would think. The white meat is excellent, texture wise I'd say it's comparable to salmon or tuna, a lot firmer than most fish. A lot of people cut it thin and fry it, I think it's better left in steaks, marinated, then grilled or smoked.

My exotic catches, probably carp and a couple flatheads. Many walleyes but I target those. Every once in a while I'll bring up a blacknose crappie.

[mozingo1952]

Not so exotic , but I consider it remarkable. 43 lb flathead , quite a tussle on an 8 ft ProAnger rod.

MO

[Rojo]

Not so exotic , but I consider it remarkable. 43 lb flathead , quite a tussle on an 8 ft ProAnger rod.

MO

Still, Way Cool Bud!

[J White]

Occasionally you’d get one that would jump several feet clear of the water and head shake - we called em the poor mans billfish. At first I was gaffing them at boatside, but when we started releasing most of them, we all bought tools from the co-op called a hog catcher. Had a loop of steel cable that tightened and only released when you hit the lever. Padded them with rubber tubing over the steel cable so as not to damage their bill. I caught and released a couple that had lost half or two thirds of their bill to I assume to boat props, healed over and did not seem worse for wear. They are a tough critter.
Hung into the biggest longnose gar I’ve ever seen one night. Had him stuck somewhere around the head, he did a power dive when I got him to the boat, his tail fin looked a foot or more wide. Absolutely drenched me, and hook finally pulled out. I was relieved, those things don’t quit and I was dreading trying to get my hook out! Snagging was a curious thing, not fishing, not hunting - full contact wrestling with a fish. I’d throw my back out every year and be hobbling around wearing a back brace. Don’t think I could handle much of that now!


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