What is Your Most Exotic Catch Single Poling?

So today I went to beat up on more Crappie before the front moves thru but didn't expect a catch like I had today. I caught a Paddlefish about 4ft long on a #4 Eagle Claw jighead single pole fishing deep cover. Blue Pearl head with Monkeymilk Baby Shad.

Attachment 476192Attachment 476193Attachment 476194Attachment 476195

I didn't want to take it out of the water for pictures, this was the best I could do with the jig pole in my other hand. I also hooked a Sturgeon 10-12 years ago. A big one. As soon as it decided to leave all I could do with the jig pole was Wave Goodbye.

3' gator

Definitely an interesting catch

They actually target them up in these parts, and they say they only eat plankton and such. So they use heavy rods and giant treble hooks and snag fish them. I don't care for that action and try to leave them alone. Bet that was a heck of a fight on a jig pole...

Two mermaids in the same day, but both of them flipped back out of the boat. My camera was out of digital film so I have no photos. Still, it was a great day. lol :Rofl:scratchhead

A cold! But cool paddlefish you caught. Thanks for sharing

We don't have those in Texas. The strangest thing I have ever caught was a bowfin/grinnel. It was about 3.5 pounds and put up one heck of a fight.

That’s pretty cool. Probably a pretty good fight I’d imagine.

My most "exotic" catches :

baby Saugeye:

https://www.crappie.com/crappie/atta...507_141736-jpg

keeper Saugeye :

https://www.crappie.com/crappie/atta...416_214511-jpg

Add to these ... 5 keeper Walleye (no pic, sorry ... they were caught before I had a cell phone or carried a camera on the boat)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BuckeyeCrappie

A cold! But cool paddlefish you caught. Thanks for sharing

---

Bud you will keep catching a cold fishing till you quit doing the Jimmy Houston with your catch.

Attachment 476205

Interesting fish, that paddlefish. Glad to hear you don’t go in for snagging.
Bob

never ketched me a paddlefish , hear tell some spots in Texas have a few .
did ketch a goldeye one time up in Texoma , shad with teeth are rare in these parts...:crazy:
a bowfin in Fork one time , pretty strange dino fish ...
used to single pole crappie jigs for big bullfrogs ....
You just don't have a clue till one takes the jig .....nothing fights much better , ducks are also pretty tough ...
but a big ole monster bullfrog on your line is about a fight to the finish ....:Rofl:Rofl
congrats on your paddler fishee bro :cheers2

A redbelly piranha in Iowa

Sent from my SM-A516U using Crappie.com mobile app

Attachment 476211
I’ve posted this before but this is about as exotic as I get. 5lbs 10oz on a 4lb rig and one heck of a fight. Being invasive you aren’t supposed to release them so he became someone’s dinner. Funny thing was he never was hooked in the mouth and he was caught on a 1/43 hand tied jig. Wrestled with five of those over a few weeks. Seems they like Deepfry’s tiny jigs.
Attachment 476216

I caught a paddlefish on a crappie jig as well, maybe a 3 footer about ten years ago. Have pictures somewhere. Hooked it in the bill a few inches above it's mouth. Caught several big fancy goldfish on jigs as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JUNGLEJIMJIGS

I caught a paddlefish on a crappie jig as well, maybe a 3 footer about ten years ago. Have pictures somewhere. Hooked it in the bill a few inches above it's mouth. Caught several big fancy goldfish on jigs as well.

---

You can see my jig stuck right in the nose of the bill on the Paddlefish. I kinda think the Saltwater had it a bit sluggish as it took a bit to tire it out but I expected it to be a bigger Gar the way the line went back and forth. Never occurred to me what was on the end of the line. The jig location made it easy to release the fish. The Saltwater concentration is so high it's pushing all kinds of fish way up the Jourdan where they're running out of water. I hooked this one in 10-12ft of water in heavy large timber cover. If it was hooked anywhere else I don't think I would have landed it.

I ketched goldfish a few times too , no piranhas or pacu though and more than a herd of tilapia in the mix ....
bullfrog is the word , go jig one up one time , it's ridiculous stupid on fire when one hits ....
like a bigtime wet rodeo for sure , some in the water and some on the bank action in high gear .....
best bring a net , just saying :Rofl:Rofl:Rofl

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ketchn

I ketched goldfish a few times too , no piranhas or pacu though and more than a herd of tilapia in the mix ....
bullfrog is the word , go jig one up one time , it's ridiculous stupid on fire when one hits ....
like a bigtime wet rodeo for sure , some in the water and some on the bank action in high gear .....
best bring a net , just saying :Rofl:Rofl:Rofl

---

Biggest Bull Frogs I ever seen was in East Texas near Rayburn. Nothing like those around here, these look like Tree Frogs compared to Texas Frogs.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rojo

You can see my jig stuck right in the nose of the bill on the Paddlefish. I kinda think the Saltwater had it a bit sluggish as it took a bit to tire it out but I expected it to be a bigger Gar the way the line went back and forth. Never occurred to me what was on the end of the line. The jig location made it easy to release the fish. The Saltwater concentration is so high it's pushing all kinds of fish way up the Jourdan where they're running out of water. I hooked this one in 10-12ft of water in heavy large timber cover. If it was hooked anywhere else I don't think I would have landed it.

---

how did it taste is my question , always wondered what one really tasted like , never hear much about them on the table ...?
folks ketch them and sturgeon in some cases just for them fish eggs ....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rojo

Biggest Bull Frogs I ever seen was in East Texas near Rayburn. Nothing like those around here, these look like Tree Frogs compared to Texas Frogs.

---

when I was much younger , I chased them big ole east Texas versions often , 24 inches long or better and big as any swamp rabbit ....
my nanny just loved her some frog legs and me as well , I gigged em , shot em , hand ketched em and jigged them as well ....
good times , a leg of panty hose tied on my belt loop ( bullfrog creel) and some thigh high waders a nice head lamp and gig and it was on like donkey kong ....AND then this ....
A BIG bullfrog is one of them things that ain't never TOTALLY DEAD , trust on that part ....:Rofl

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ketchn

how did it taste is my question , always wondered what one really tasted like , never hear much about them on the table ...?
folks ketch them and sturgeon in some cases just for them fish eggs ....

---

Years ago when it was legal, we snagged for them in Sardis spillway.
Biggest I ever caught was 48 pounds, but lots of 30-40 pound fish. There is a little learning curve to dressing them, but I rate them as good as crappie at the table. Different, but pure white and very mild tasting. Pulls apart with a grain like tenderloin instead of flaking like fish. But there is too much money to be made off them, the caviar folks who are apparently politically well connected have gotten laws changed so the average Joe who wants one to eat is out of luck. I actually considered going rogue, but after researching the penalties NOPE.
It’s a higher level violation than poaching a deer or turkey out of season, I think they call it a level 3 violation. Money talks in MS, grinds my gears [emoji35]


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

Michigan has a very limited surgeon season, highly regulated. Through the ice, spearfishing. People that get them rave about how good they taste. Don't hear much about harvesting their eggs. My most exotic came through the ice. A burbot. Not a very attractive fish, but a good pull on an ice rod.

Seems you can sportfish for Paddlefish but 30 inches and longer fish must be released immediately. Tenn-Tom and other waterways in that area no harvest is allowed at all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rojo

Seems you can sportfish for Paddlefish but 30 inches and longer fish must be released immediately. Tenn-Tom and other waterways in that area no harvest is allowed at all.

---

Yeah thats eye to fork of tail. Out of several dozen I’ve caught over the years, only recall maybe one that was under that. It went from no limit, to that. Pretty much shut us down. We had already seen the writing on the wall and only been keeping one or two a season. And trying to talk to anyone in Jackson goes nowhere. We were all for sensible limits, maybe even a purchased tag to keep one. But nope. From all to nothing.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by J White

Yeah thats eye to fork of tail. Out of several dozen I’ve caught over the years, only recall maybe one that was under that. It went from no limit, to that. Pretty much shut us down. We had already seen the writing on the wall and only been keeping one or two a season. And trying to talk to anyone in Jackson goes nowhere. We were all for sensible limits, maybe even a purchased tag to keep one. But nope. From all to nothing.

---

I do not think the one I caught would be under that measurement. I'm guessing at 4ft but look at the picture, it's pretty long in the body. You think it would have made it under the 30 inches? I would not have kept it if legal anyway but curious still if you think that fish was legal Bud.

Attachment 476304

Not so exotic , but I consider it remarkable. 43 lb flathead , quite a tussle on an 8 ft ProAnger rod.

MO

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rojo

I do not think the one I caught would be under that measurement. I'm guessing at 4ft but look at the picture, it's pretty long in the body. You think it would have made it under the 30 inches? I would not have kept it if legal anyway but curious still if you think that fish was legal Bud.

---

I’m just guessing of course, but yessir I figure it would’ve been over that. This post brings back some fond memories though! When you hit one in the back with that 9/0 treble, they would make a 209 Penn reel SMOKE pulling drag. I still have my 12 foot extra heavy ugly stick. Used 80 pound saltwater fusion line, did have one break off at the boat once. Sounded like a gunshot when line parted!


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

Occasionally you’d get one that would jump several feet clear of the water and head shake - we called em the poor mans billfish. At first I was gaffing them at boatside, but when we started releasing most of them, we all bought tools from the co-op called a hog catcher. Had a loop of steel cable that tightened and only released when you hit the lever. Padded them with rubber tubing over the steel cable so as not to damage their bill. I caught and released a couple that had lost half or two thirds of their bill to I assume to boat props, healed over and did not seem worse for wear. They are a tough critter.
Hung into the biggest longnose gar I’ve ever seen one night. Had him stuck somewhere around the head, he did a power dive when I got him to the boat, his tail fin looked a foot or more wide. Absolutely drenched me, and hook finally pulled out. I was relieved, those things don’t quit and I was dreading trying to get my hook out! Snagging was a curious thing, not fishing, not hunting - full contact wrestling with a fish. I’d throw my back out every year and be hobbling around wearing a back brace. Don’t think I could handle much of that now!


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mozingo1952

Attachment 476304

Not so exotic , but I consider it remarkable. 43 lb flathead , quite a tussle on an 8 ft ProAnger rod.

MO

---

Still, Way Cool Bud!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by J White

Occasionally you’d get one that would jump several feet clear of the water and head shake - we called em the poor mans billfish.

---

Sounds a lot like the "Tennessee Tarpon" (ie: Skipjack Shad) that I could also add to my list of "exotics" caught while one poling. They do like to go airborne when you stick the metal to them !! :ThumbsUp

A needle nose gar.

Attachment 476330
Common Carp on 1/16 oz gold/chartreuse hand tied jig.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by J White

I’m just guessing of course, but yessir I figure it would’ve been over that. This post brings back some fond memories though! When you hit one in the back with that 9/0 treble, they would make a 209 Penn reel SMOKE pulling drag. I still have my 12 foot extra heavy ugly stick. Used 80 pound saltwater fusion line, did have one break off at the boat once. Sounded like a gunshot when line parted!


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

---

It is a lot of fun. We have started using livescope on them, get right over them, drop right on their back, yank and hope for the best. Pretty low percentage hookup rate but I think it's more fun, and you can target only the bigger fish.

Meat wise, there is a lot of trimming, they have a lot of red meat and fat so you don't get as much as you would think. The white meat is excellent, texture wise I'd say it's comparable to salmon or tuna, a lot firmer than most fish. A lot of people cut it thin and fry it, I think it's better left in steaks, marinated, then grilled or smoked.

My exotic catches, probably carp and a couple flatheads. Many walleyes but I target those. Every once in a while I'll bring up a blacknose crappie.

once hooked me a by stander who slid up behind me when the pickerel were on top waters in the early morning dew ....:Rofl
seems me hammering them was entertaining and to be very sure so was the moment that big top water hung in the back of his head ...:Rofl
p.s. AND YES sir he pulled some drag backing up FAST on that there slippery morning dew grass.....rotfl

I also one time ketched my bestest ever faithful dog buddy right in the rear end , he pulled drag nicely as well :Rofl

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ketchn

once hooked me a by stander who slid up behind me when the pickerel were on top waters in the early morning dew ....:Rofl
seems me hammering them was entertaining and to be very sure so was the moment that big top water hung in the back of his head ...:Rofl
p.s. AND YES sir he pulled some drag backing up FAST on that there slippery morning dew grass.....rotfl

---

I did that to myself fishing Duram lake as a kid. I was fishing a Carrot Top with the short freshwater rods of the day. Being used to longer Saltwater rods I left too much line out when making a cast. Off to the Emergency room we went. A doctor in the Rusk Hospital Be Bopped in wearing a green sear-sucker suit (I thought the ugliest clothes I ever saw on a mans back) leaving little to the imagination as to what was fixin' to take place. A couple of shots, some deadening, hearing scratching thru my skull as the scalpel freed the hook, then the final Klink noise of the hook falling into the stainless bowl placed to catch any drips and drops. After the stiches I wanted to go back fishing but they made me stay back at the house the rest of the day. Moral of the story, hook someone else so you can keep fishin'.

Biggest fish I ever caught was a grass carp I caught this summer while fishing for bluegill using 2# Maxima and a little 1/48 jig and a #10 hook. Have a short video of the fish on Instagram. It was too heavy for me to lift out of the water, probably in that 50-60 lb. range. Tried grabbing it by the gills and it was over after it gave me a stinky mud bath.

Well I've looked into it and I can buy a 50in fiberglass replica for about $250 and finish it myself. Y'all think its weird to want to memorialize that catch? I caught it on a homemade jighead to boot. Once in a Lifetime catch to me.

I caught this fish over 25 years ago and it is a skin mount. The homemade jighead is still in its mouth as the line broke when we netted the big fish. I ask the Taxidermist to leave the hook in.

Attachment 476429Attachment 476430

I didn't want to kill the Paddlefish. I can't imagine there are a whole lot in the little river here by my house.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rojo

Well I've looked into it and I can buy a 50in fiberglass replica for about $250 and finish it myself. Y'all think its weird to want to memorialize that catch? I caught it on a homemade jighead to boot. Once in a Lifetime catch to me.

---

Nah not weird at all. Be a cool memento.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com