Alton Jones had been set up on a spawning bed for several minutes before setting the hook on what appeared to be a 2 1/2-pounder. But a close examination of the bass revealed it had been hooked on the outside of the jaw, and therefore, according to the rules, had to be released.
Keith Poche had the same thing happen to him on Day 2 and it cost him. Poche landed a 2-pounder right before check-in time Friday that would have filled his five-bass limit, if it hadn't been foul-hooked. Poche came to the scales with only four fish and missed the 50 cut by one ounce.