very big bluegill found dead by the landowner

So I got a couple text messages yesterday from the owner of a 1.1-acre pond I have managed since June 2014. Last year this pond produced two bluegill over two pounds; a couple weeks ago I took my mother fishing there and we weighed seven bluegill over a pound. So yesterday the owner saw some turkey vultures eating on something at the edge of the pond, and went up to investigate...Attachment 340872
He said the portion of carcass pictured above measured 10.5", so the bluegill was was at least 14," or better, alive. He said it was 7" from its back to its stomach, so it probably had a girth of at least 16".

Not that it isnt a HUGE gill, but I think he was telling a bit of a fish story.. using his tape, i measure just shy of 9". Still a massive fish!Attachment 340875

Could have been old age... would have been a nice one to see whole...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kevin22

Not that it isnt a HUGE gill, but I think he was telling a bit of a fish story.. using his tape, i measure just shy of 9". Still a massive fish!Attachment 340875

---

I think he measured to the fin on the side.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That’s a big fish. I bet it did die of old age. No telling how many fish of a life time die of old age with out anyone catching it.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tcounty

I think he measured to the fin on the side.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

I did look at the measuring tape. If you look closely, the furthermost part of the chewed-off carcass goes to around or just shy of the 10" mark. Then if you look at the other end of the fish, the lower lobe of the tail extends a good .5" past the end of the measuring tape. So I think that's how he arrived at 10.5". I'd say 10.25 to 10.5".

A big one, anyway!

That was a gaint BG!