Whooohooo.. just caught a 30lb snapper!

[mcginnis6010]

Well as i was leaving to go to wally world there not 30ft. down the road from my house was a big ole snapper sittin in the middle of the road like he was just waitin on me to find him well i stopped the car and got out and went to go pick him up and not once did he snap or hiss at me. I have NEVER caught a snapper that didnt hiss and snap at me. I was simply amazed because i have had several lines out for the past 3 weeks and havent caught anything in them yet but here was a big 30lb. snapper not 30ft. from my driveway.

[Adam]

Nice job! How much meat do you get out of a turtle that big?

[PEARL DRUMS]

Thats a big snapper righ there. We dont get many over 10-20# up yonder. Much shorter growing season I guess. "SNAP" a pic?

[mcginnis6010]

well i will be dispatching and cleaning him tomorrow as its pouring rain here today and hopefully tomorrow will be clearer but i should get a good amount of meat out of him Adam.

Thats a big snapper righ there. We dont get many over 10-20# up yonder. Much shorter growing season I guess. "SNAP" a pic?

Ill try to snap a pic today or at the latest tomorrow.

[mcginnis6010]

Finally a break in the rain

[mcginnis6010]

Another one

[Pat B]

If it is a female she might be ready to lay eggs.

[mcginnis6010]

If it is a female she might be ready to lay eggs.

Its a male Pat. if it was a female the vent (circular opening on the underside of the tail) would be located under the plastron and in the pic you see that the vent in past the plastron. If it was a female i wouldve let it go to produce more turtles. I always check them before i take the turtles from where i caught them.

[mullet]

Nice catch! Our season opens this weekend, Red Snapper in the Gulf, that is.

[Adam]

This is kind of a stupid question, but how do you dispatch them?

[osage outlaw]

Save the skull.  Simmer it for several hours and clean it up.  They are cool looking skulls.  I just did a box turtle that the mowers hit at work.  I would love to get a big snapper skull.

[mcginnis6010]

Save the skull.  Simmer it for several hours and clean it up.  They are cool looking skulls.  I just did a box turtle that the mowers hit at work.  I would love to get a big snapper skull.

Yea i think i will save the skull on this one.

This is kind of a stupid question, but how do you dispatch them?

The easiest way is to stun them and cut the head off quickly before they recover.

[osage outlaw]

Let me know if you need help along the way.  I've done a few skulls 

[mcginnis6010]

Let me know if you need help along the way.  I've done a few skulls 

Ive done a bunch of snappers before but ive never kept the skulls of any so if i need any help ill let you know.

[Parnell]

That's probably an old animal.  I grew up dreading those swimming in lakes, but I can't help but figure they're becoming more rare as they live and breed slowly.  Are they protected at all?  I'm not an animal rights nut, but I don't see the point in killing it.