Awesome fish Stargazer but can I make two suggestions? As a taxidermist I get bass in now and then that have the bottom lip internally cracked in half right in the center bottom from lipping a fish like that. This probably wouldn't kill a fish but it could stress them or prevent them from eating until it heals up.
And if it was me, I'd go to single hooks vs. treble hooks. They can really do a number on fish let alone kill them if the hooks are far enough back in the mouth.
Just saying and I know you didn't ask my advice.
I have a niche market where I raise and sell trophy fish to other fish taxidermists, and most of the fish are harvested by hook and line. I avoid treble hooks like the plague as the fish I sell need to be in pristine condition. I have to discount them if they have any flaws.
Keep up the good work. Nice fish!
Last edited by Cecil Baird1; 01/03/13 06:50 PM.
