Awesome catch and story along with video.
We're fortunate to have this species in Utah for folks to target. Thank you to the DNR/DWR for doing this.
Glad you found one willing and another almost committed.
With that being said here's some constructive educational feedback:
Boga grips are great for controlling the head of a fish but to hold them in an extended vertical position for pictures isn't recommended.
Boga grips are to control the fish especially its head and as I see it not hold them for photo ops. If the fish thrashes about well literally you'll cause extensive damage to fish. May seem okay but highly unlikely it survived even when released especially if it thrashed about before pictures.
Never hold a tiger muskie (or any fish unless you keep it) suspended in a vertical position as this causes displacement of internal organs. Those organs and connective tissues are actually fairly elastic.
The most pronounced and long-lasting damage from vertical holds for a large fish occurs in ligaments, skeletal and muscular structures around and immediately behind head and gills including gill lamellae and rakers. Resulting in serious injury to fish’s respiratory system, mobility, and ability to forage for prey.
Now laying on the ice for a measurement like with any fish its cold plus you are potentially removing protective slime from the fish that can lead to skin infections later. Just saying. Same goes for shore fishing with any fish one will be releasing. Try to keep the fish off the ground and ice.
Again great catch and I'm sure experience but strongly recommend learning how to properly hold the fish in a horizontal position in a horizontal hold or tail grip hold.
Congrats as this species even though large and awesome need to be handled properly for the preservation of the species and you indicated you released. Good on you and hopefully the fish is okay. Yes just a fish but they are sterile and put in Utah bodies of water for a reason.
Just a little bit of proper fish holding education on my part regarding Tiger Muskies as I'm more than willing to help educate on this species were all other fish are just bait with pretty colors.[

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