greenfrog Loc: Central NJ

Angler learns why his record fish was rescinded; it’s not good
David Strege Mon, Feb 19, 2024

A Kansas fisherman who had his state-record white crappie voided and “didn’t understand why,” now knows the reason his record fish was tossed out and the old record reinstated.

After an investigation prompted by a tip, officials from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks discovered weights inside the “record” catch, as reported by KSNT.

Bobby Parkhurst submitted for state-record consideration a crappie that weighed 4.07 pounds on a certified scale. It was confirmed by John Reinke, the KDWP assistant director of Fisheries, as previously reported.

Parkhurst had caught the fish last April from Pottawatomie State Fishing Lakes No. 2, and it was reported that it topped the 59-year-old record of 4.02 pounds caught by Frank Miller of Eureka in 1964.

That was before a witness called the KDWP with a tip, saying the weight of the crappie in question was initially 3.73 pounds.

“To preserve the integrity of KDWP’s state-record program, KDWP game wardens met with the angler who voluntarily presented his fish for re-examination,” KDWP spokeswoman Nadia Marji told KSNT. “When staff used a handheld metal detector to scan the fish, the device detected the presence of metal.”

The game wardens then took the fish to the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center where an X-ray showed two steel ball bearings in the fish’s stomach.

When the KDWP rescinded the record, it did not mention weights in the fish, only saying that the “written application form was not ‘true and correct,’” pointing to the listed weight on the form.

Parkhurst had insisted he filled out the application properly, saying, “I don’t understand why they’re doing this to me.”

“I did it the whole way they wanted me to do it,” Parkhurst told KSNT. “I went through the procedures, I wrote down what I caught it on, I did everything they wanted me to do by the book. I did everything I was supposed to do. Their biologists looked at it more than once.”

In this case, the stakes were much smaller. Katie Garceran of the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office told KSNT that after an investigation, it was determined that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute the case concerning the creation of false information.

Photos courtesy of Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
Link: https://sports.yahoo.com/angler-learns-why-record-fish-170133630.html

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

With all these weights in fish now I am wondering how many have gotten away with it.

Mhicks0407

He should have been prosecuted! That's the only way to stop this. I don't understand why someone would want to cheat just for the record. I would know if I cheated so what's it worth? I guess I'm just not cut out that way. If I beat the record I want it for real!

NJ219bands Loc: New Jersey

Wow 😮

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

I don't know what the heck is wrong with these people thinking they'll get away with it.. There are cameras all over the world watching, x-ray, metal detectors, etc... Nothing but Greed and Stupidity!

nutz4fish Loc: Colchester, CT

He may have been looking for a way to get some $'s for endorsing some fishing products, or maybe just a little bling ?

Bcmech1 Loc: Clinton Wisconsin

So he could have his 15 minutes of fame

UncleRob Loc: NE Maryland

Sounds familiar.

Grandpa Knows How Loc: OC, California

Maybe someday the recording will change from weight to length. Kind if hard to stretch a fish.

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Them type of people will figure out a way.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

step on it to stretch it. That idea does not make me one of those people.

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Humm ?

NJ219bands Loc: New Jersey

IGFA now has a length category for world records but the fish 🐟 must be measured with an IGFA measuring device that costs $55.

Cybertyger Loc: Medford OR

👍Absolutely!

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

You know it's 2024 I can solve this problem, lets just give everyone a trophy and be done with it.