Largemouth bass mounts, how big for NJ?

[GhostBear]

I did some fishing yesterday, not to long because of injury I hurt to much after a very short time, but I did manage a few bass on a Black/Blue 3/8 jig to about 5 pounds, with several in the 3-4 pound class, and it got me wondering, what would be considered a fish worthy of mounting? First, let me say, I'm a huge fan of reproduction mounts, there is something about killing a big breeder bass I find distasteful, but too each their own. Anyway, the biggest bass I ever caught in NJ was just over 7 pounds on my scale. To me that's a toad for NJ!!! What do you guys think?

 

When I was in Florida I caught two good bass, one I did weigh at 9 pounds even, the other I did not have a scale with me. When I got home, I had AllGame taxidermy do a repro of it, was holding out for a 10 but never got it! Lol

 

First the bass, then the repro and last the one I didn't weigh.

 

[Buck154]

Paul....That first bass might have been what's hurting your back   .  I'm with you about kill a bass. The repos are great and you can have a chance to catch them the next year and be BIGGER

[GhostBear]

Plus, I think they look better than a skin mount, I mean the skin will still have to be painted right? A good quality cast will have the detail, and a good photo of the fish can be used to reproduce any uniqueness in that fish. Length and girth are good to have too.

[Buck154]

Yes on a skin mounts have to be painted. they are faded white after they dry before getting painted. Fish mounts are 95% in the painting, have to be a great artist to do fish

Edited August 13, 2017 by Buck154

[Lunatic]

I never knew they get this big in NJ. I caught some big bass on Lake Okeechobbee Fl, but never here,

In two days we landed north of 20 bass of significant size. 

[hemlock]

That's a great looking bass mount. I am getting a repo on a upper Delaware river brown I caught this year the repos look amazing. 

[GhostBear]

I never knew they get this big in NJ. I caught some big bass on Lake Okeechobbee Fl, but never here,

In two days we landed north of 20 bass of significant size.

 

these are Florida fish, the biggest I ever caught in NJ, was a 7+ pounder, the best smallie I ever got was just over 6, but that was years ago.

[Nomad]

Replicas are great. You can have one made of any size.  I am having one made of a 30 pound brown that I had hooked briefly 15 years ago.  Going to look great on the wall!

Edited August 13, 2017 by Nomad

[JHbowhunter]

Nice pics - great mount.  I favor replica mounts. 

[Lphunsjr]

I'm w you,,,,,7lb Jersey bass is a toad and worthy of a replica mount

[TroutandBucks]

I had a 7 pounder from FL in the late Spring and I thought about doing a mount but am holding out for a bigger one. In NJ a bass anything maybe even  anything over 5 pounds and up you can think about doing a mount. 

[Rusty]

Great fish Paul, nice looking mount.     

[Bones]

I would say 7lb is definitely a good size for NJ

Anything over 5 is a slob.

[GhostBear]

That's what I figured, there's a few spots I fish where a few 5's in a day is not unheard of, but getting harder to do since the bucket guys found it, that and the two bad freezes put a hurting on them. I've gotten a few in the 5 pound class in greenwood and Hopatcong, but that was out of boats. Pompon river was a great place for big smallmouth back in the day, I fished there a few years ago and it was devoid of even bluegills.

 

The spot I was yesterday, I've seen really his bass swimming around

, and had one break me off on 17lbs test xt! That fish had to be over 8. Lol

[1957Buck]

I never knew they get this big in NJ. I caught some big bass on Lake Okeechobbee Fl, but never here,

In two days we landed north of 20 bass of significant size. 

 

Lunatic maybe you're looking in the wrong places in NJ. 

The biggest mistake is Thinking Big Bodies of water means bigger Bass.  

There are some spots very close to you that have produced Large Mouth Bass in the 7-9 lb range with a hidden monster maybe.

I have been fishing 3 Small Lakes in my area on and off for some 30 years At first I had no idea bass of that size existed in one of the lakes. till I was Say Invited by a Local into their circle.  Guess my Grand son had something to do with that.

Ever hear the one the bigger the Bait the bigger the fish well how about 8" Plugs   The photos I have posted before and all but one was caught on that Plug  One on a Purple Worm buy its self. The Color has a lot to do with it also.

Every Bass is released immediately don't need to kill just for show and tell. Have no interest in Mounting any either want a dust collector just get a Replica.  Or a Nice Print from your Photo. 

 

In about 3 weeks will be back on that lake with Grandson God Willing.  Besides The Bass, there is Stocked, Trout Spring and Winter & Pickerel. usual Pan Fish  

And       Cormorants