Bass record broken

[great white]

I have just been emailed from total fishing

 

The 19 year old shore Bass record has just been smashed at Shanklin Pier on the Isle of wight

 

a really fat fish of 19lb.12oz

a picture is on the web

 

Interesting to see that it came from so close, it shows that our area must hold potential national record fish for boats as well

 

My money is on Alan and Rupe

 

I do not know how to put a link on this forum but I have emailed Paul to ask him to

 

Charlie

[TomBettle]

There is a very extensive thread about it over on WSF in the general sea fishing section.

 

The guy chose to keep the fish (which apprently you no longer need to do when claiming a record) and is getting the usual flak for doing so.

Whatever your feeling about him keeping it, it's huge and the picture of it is quite amazing.

[Paul D]

link here

 

[TomBettle]

Here's the link to the WSF thread:

http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91601

 

Alledgedly there is also another claim in progress for a record Bass of over 20lb caught and released a while ago from South Wales.

I can't substantiate that, but the rumours seem pretty good.

 

In addition: It now appears that a record can be claimed assuming it is witnessed, correctly identified (easy with a Bass eg: no gill raker count, tooth shape etc) and the scales used to weigh it on are checked.

So, there is no longer a need to kill the fish.

[Paul D]

In addition: It now appears that a record can be claimed assuming it is witnessed, correctly identified (easy with a Bass eg: no gill raker count, tooth shape etc) and the scales used to weigh it on are checked.

So, there is no longer a need to kill the fish.

Tom,

 

I understood this to be the case too. However, I think weighing has to be done on land and with a witness - so no weighing and release at sea ?

 

[TomBettle]

Olly, the angler that caught the fish has just called me after I asked for a scale.

 

Nice guy and speaking to him it would have been a very tough call as to whether or not I would have kept the beast.

 

Anyway, he has kindly said he will send me a scale which I shall pass to the nice people who help out with BASS at the next club meeting.

 

Tom

[Paul D]

That will be interesting. In the article it states the fish was 36 inches long. Was this exactly 36 inches do you know ?

I checked on the bass tape measure and this gives around 18lb - but the fish looks pretty fat though. Would be interesting to compare the exact length with the measure.

 

[Wedger]

Mmm......... Scale sample required!!

[Swainiac]

T....we'll need about six scales for a decent reading surely?? <gg>

 

Rich

[Wedger]

Looking closely at the picture, it looks very much like a sample was taken from the right spot!! Hope there are enough for a conclusive reading ....... one's just not enough to be sure.

[TomBettle]

That will be interesting. In the article it states the fish was 36 inches long. Was this exactly 36 inches do you know ?

I checked on the bass tape measure and this gives around 18lb - but the fish looks pretty fat though. Would be interesting to compare the exact length with the measure.

Hi Paul

 

We should be getting half a dozen scales come through sometime shortly, but also, for interest, the Bass was actually 37 inches long.

 

Tom

[Swainiac]

The length weight tape has been drived from scientific data compiled from proportionate Bass. If Bass appear lean, one would expect them to be less than the stated weight, and similarly, if they are oversize, as in this case, one would expect a heavier fish. (Not rocket science lads!).

 

Rich

[Wedger]

You'll see from some of my early bass posts that sizes vary quite a bit. The weight length thing is a rough guide only for catch and release purposes, and all you should be claiming is a length, with a comment such as fat, lean or average to give you a personal notion as to the possible weight.

[toerag]

Alledgedly there is also another claim in progress for a record Bass of over 20lb caught and released a while ago from South Wales.

I can't substantiate that, but the rumours seem pretty good.

Hmm, the british record committee met about 3 or 4 weeks ago so I would have expected the welsh fish to have been ratified if it were true.

 

Claiming records - fish do NOT have to be kept provided that the following criteria are satisfied:-

1. fish is fairly hooked

2. line is not touched apart from trace on landing

3. Capture is witnessed or affidavit sworn

4. Fish is identified BEYOND DOUBT. Things like conger, bass, ballan wrasse are easy and good photos should suffice. Shads, mini wrasse, hounds, mullet etc. are not so easy and a marine biologist's opinion should be sought.

5. Fish is weighed on dry land

6. Fish is weighed on certified scales. Most angling clubs keep certifed scales, and all scales used for trading (eg. shop, fishmarket scales) should be certified. They key is repeatability - if the captor says the fish weighed 12-2-0 on his digi scales, but the scales weigh the same load differently everytime it's hung on the scales, then that won't count. If the scales weigh the same everytime, but happen to be 2oz over each time then the error will be compensated for.

 

With point 4 - you can always put the fish in an aquarium to be IDed at a later date. If anyone is serious enough about keeping fish alive, then there's always a way to do it.

[great white]

Weighed on dry land seems to be the hard bit

 

Although if a live bait tank is fitted getting it back alive should not be impossible for several species.

But getting a 134lb conger back alive may be a tad difficult

 

If I were fortunate enough to be in that position , and decided to try and claim a record then release the fish I think I would put it in to the livebait tank and take it into harbour to be weighed.

 

There is a wet fish shop on the quay at Mudiford and Greenslades is close to the small quay by Sunseekers in Poole.

 

If it was not an easy species to identify I suppose a call to the aquarium or sea life centre is the best option. I would think that they would welcome the publicity and would be willing to help.

 

What would you consider doing?

 

Charlie

[Fugazi]

I've thought about investing in a keep net which seems a good idea for competitions like the open where you only need to weigh in the heaviest fish. I assume it would work for sea fish the same as fresh water, the only problem being if you need to move location. Any recommendations on best type to get?

 

Gordon H

[great white]

I have seen articles with boats using keep nets

 

Fine for small fish in calm water and small tides, not sure about the congers though and hard when it comes to a move

 

I have kept congers alive for hours in the bilge locker on GW, by adding buckets of sea water occasionaly, with the lid down they just go quiet in the dark.

They soon liven up when its time to get them back out

 

Flounders are OK in a few inches of water in a fish box

 

Wrasse and even bass have been ok in the bait tank

 

Charlie

 

I think its better to try and keep them alive and fail than to just knock them on the head straight away. But I do not let them suffer if I think its not going to work they get released or knocked

Charlie