WOW, nice Flat for sure, I don't think that record will stand for long as I know there are bigger ones in there along with several other record species like the spotted bass and channel's and even smallmouths , a buddy of mine caught a fat black crappie in june that was over 18 inches and would have been close if not broke the state record (current record 3-7.84 lbs and 17.472 inches) he took a few pics and threw it back, when I told him it "could" have been a record he said "i aint interested" so it really don't surprise me. Very nice catch though.
Hey bratfish, I did, however I did tell him I would have took a picture of the fish next to a tape and a picture of the fish's weight on the scale, then put it back, I mean you have to have bragging rights amongst your friends and family right, after that comment he did whine a little lol, had he done that and it did break the record, he/someone can still say they broke the record, just not in the record books but the fish would live/reproduce.
I know this is like beating a dead horse but I think they should evaluate the method on how a fish needs to be identified to be considered a "record" i mean couldn't they just "clip" a part of one of the fins for the "DNA" to verify the species, and x-ray the body to check for "foreign" debris so the weight is verified..... there has to be a different way with todays technology so the fish doesn't need to die in the event that the person don't want to keep it.