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FOR SALE: World record walleye (ice fishing division). Saskatchewan record (open division), too. It's 18.3 pounds, 36.5 inches long. Beautifully mounted. Seek big bucks so proceeds can be used for youth fishing and outdoor activities in Canada and U.S. E-mail Father Mariusz Zajac at canmartyrs@sasktel.net with your bids.

And so it goes. Father Mariusz Zajac has his big walleye up for sale.

Why? Because, he says it's the right thing to do to help others.

The Carrot River, Saskatchewan, priest caught the Saskatchewan provincial record and world ice fishing record walleye while saying his daily prayers in his ice shack on Lake Tobin in January.

onthenet Record walleye up for bids in auction at Catch-n.com

Praying your way to a huge fish? It was just the type of story that attracted the attention of all kinds of media across Canada and the U.S. - appearances on TV news shows, radio programs and plenty of newspaper articles.

Father Mariusz pretty much took it all in stride. After all, he felt fortunate to catch the fish - but he never really figured catching it was something God did for him.

"I don't know what God's plan is," he said. "I do believe that God has a purpose in this. It's more and more clear to me. I have to pray more to be humble. I have to listen and try to make the right decisions."

Shortly after catching the big walleye, Father Mariusz read something about the plight of fishermen in India in the wake of the big tsunami that hit that part of the world in late December. The fishermen lost their livelihood to the big waves.

So he started using the media attention to try to gather money to help the fishermen of India rebuild their lives. Father Mariusz started a Tsunami Fishermen Relief Fund through the local credit union in Carrot River and contacted a priest working among the affected families there. You can learn all about it at its Web site: www.pikemasters.com/tsunami.

The Tsunami Fishermen Relief Fund recently transferred the first $3,000 to India which purchased a fishing boat, motor and nets that will help support six families through a cooperative agreement. The fund is well on its way toward a second boat for six more families. Hopefully, there will be many more.

Students at the CUPAR School, northeast of Regina, made the biggest donation of all - $622 - that they raised for the relief fund. Many individual donations came from Minnesota. And the Montana PikeMasters donated $250.

onthenet Father Mariusz Zajac interview with CTV Canada

Father Mariusz also began getting mail and e-mail, especially from children. They told him their fishing tales and asked him questions. He learned about their schools and their situations.

One youngster from Ontario named Joe wrote him, saying, "I think he deserved that fish. I think the Good Lord gave him a present."

Gradually, it became clear to him that God did have a reason for giving him the present of the record walleye. It was to help others, particularly the children who touched his soul so much by their interest in his big fish.

"I'm going to sell it. There are a lot of areas I can help with what I get for the fish," Father Mariusz said. "I'd like the money for youth projects that relate to outdoor activities, not just fishing. We'll use the funds to channel money wherever we figure it's needed - including youth outdoor projects in both Canada and the U.S."

In a way, the decision was tough for him. Some people from the Lake Tobin area have said they would like to see the fish stay there. With tourism a major economic factor there, the big walleye would be a big draw.

But Father Mariusz decided that the dollars it might bring to help youth and others was more important. He needed a bigger market to do that.

"Cabelas maybe? Bass Pro Shops? In-Fisherman? Other companies? Maybe a wealthy person who knows the money is going to a good cause and wants to help," he said. "I'm not sure what interest this fish might bring."

Some people have told him it could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Father Marius admits that he doesn't know. He just knows what he plans to do with whatever is raised and feels strongly that it's God's will for him to help others with it.

"Pope John Paul II said go into deep water, so I go into deep water," he said. "I had a friend, a non-Catholic, ask me, 'Is there any divine intervention in this fish? I'm not a Catholic.' I told him you just have to be a man of faith. You don't need to be a Catholic to be a man of faith.

"I think this fish was a blessing and it will bless whoever buys this fish," Father Mariusz said. "I believe that God has a purpose in this."

To talk to Father Mariusz about the big walleye or to submit a bid, contact him by e-mail at: canmartyrs@sasktel.net.

And for the lucky bidder, who knows?, Father Mariusz told me he'd even throw in a couple days of fishing on Lake Tobin, plus a reserved seat at one of his Sunday services. After all, a good fisherman should pray even when he's not out there fishing for the big ones.

Mark Henckel is the outdoor editor of The Billings Gazette. His columns appear Thursdays and Sundays. He can be contacted at 657-1395 or at henckel@billingsgazette.com.