Just hoping some got just about as much enjoyment as I did from this fish...its what some of our dreams are made of.

Thanks to all that came to my defense on the pic in question now...(some good stuff guys)

Showmemore & others,..like I said earlier I am a man of integrity and...

I take full responsibilities for my actions in taking that fish out of the water for a quick shot to have a replica mount made by Luke of "Blackwater Trading Co". What I did was wrong and against current WDFW regulations.

If WDFW sees fit to write me a ticket for it, so be it...I was in the wrong on this one. I know just about every WDFW Officer on a personal level on every system I fish and all will tell you my first concern is always with the fish and all can vouch for my integrity.

Not in defense of my actions but for those concerned about the fish's well being,..the out of the water shot was done very quickly (as noted earlier you can still see the water coming off of the fish) and done by a very experienced fisherman while being held over the water. We watched the fish as we ate lunch sit and sulk and then swim off in good condition.

About the current "Sparkey's Law",...I can see where the concern was on past miss-handled fish (drug on beaches, dropped, flopping around in a boat, ect.) but personally find the current law dangerous to fish and anglers;

1. It is dangerous to anglers hanging off the side of a boat trying to get a pic of their fish while holding it in the water (and everyone wants a pic of their fish, especially the larger ones) I've got pics of myself hanging over my sled just about to fall out on many fish. Will it really take someone falling in and drowining to overturn the law?

2. For those in an area where one could make it to a wadeable part of shoreline for a pic outside of a boat,...holding a fish in a net trying ones best to keep its head in the water while getting to shore, in my opinion causes a ton of stress on the fish.

What should be done is to have an educational section of current regs showing proper handling techniques.

Just my 2 cents for what its worth!

Good Karma points to all those that got some enjoyment from the pics and a little pick-me-up to, "hey there really are some big fish around making it into our systems!" Them be some good genes back in the gene pool for sure!!

PS..what do ya call that thing at the bottom of your posts? "Signature" I think. Well mine is a line from Jimmy Buffet...and I think he's got it right!

P.P.S. Time to let it go guys!!!!...Flame fests are just plain stupid and continue to pit angler against angler...Fishing is supposed to be fun !!