Fish Care and the ShareLunker Program
Handling a giant
- Keep her in the water. TPWD's rule of thumb: keep a fish out of water no longer than you can hold your breath (TPWD bass catch and release).
- Hold big bass horizontally. For bass over about 5 lb, hold the lower jaw with one hand and support the belly with the other (TPWD catch and release tips). Never hang a giant vertically by the jaw analysis.
- Hot water is the danger. TPWD warns about fish stress when water is above 70°F and especially above 80°F (TPWD bass catch and release). Lady Bird reached about 81°F in mid-summer 2026 (Captain Experiences).
- Land her quickly. TPWD: "Play and land fish as quickly as possible," and keep slime on the fish by wetting your hands (TPWD).
- Photos fast. Have the camera ready before you lift her; take a few shots and get her back in the water inference.
- Deep-hooked? Cut the line close to the hook rather than digging it out inference.
Entering a ShareLunker
ShareLunker has four classes (TPWD):
| Class | Qualifies | When | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunker | 8 lb or 24 in | Year-round | Enter the catch in the ShareLunker app or at TexasSharelunker.com; release |
| Elite | 10 lb or more | Year-round | Same |
| Legend | 13 lb or more | Year-round | Same |
| Legacy | 13 lb or more, loaned for spawning | Jan 1–Mar 31 | Call (903) 681-0550, 24/7; keep her alive for pickup |
All entries get a catch kit and a decal; Legacy anglers also get a replica mount. Optional DNA scale samples earn a Lew's reel while supplies last (same source).
If you catch a 13-pounder between January 1 and March 31 analysis:
- Call (903) 681-0550 right away (TPWD).
- Keep her alive in the water. Pipkin and a friend held the record in a large mesh bag in the lake for about 90 minutes until staff arrived (Outdoor Life). A boat's aerated livewell also works; TPWD links livewell-management guidance from its catch-and-release page (TPWD) inference.
- Weigh on a certified scale. Legacy fish must be weighed on a certified scale. TPWD keeps a list of official weigh and holding stations (TPWD). The nearest I found is the self-serve station at the Loop 360 ramp on Lake Austin unverified; call the hotline first.
- Don't fizz unless you're trained. Fizzing (venting a swim bladder) is for fish caught from deep water that can't stay upright; Lady Bird's fish come from 35 ft or less, so it is rarely needed inference.
- Enter the data in the ShareLunker app even if you don't loan the fish.
Lunker-size fish outside the Legacy window
For an 8–12 lb fish, or a 13-pounder from April to December: photograph her on a measuring board, weigh her quickly on a hand scale (in a weigh bag or net, not by the jaw), release her, and enter the catch in the ShareLunker app (TPWD).