I recently bought a 60 Rapala Lock and Weigh scale... I know it is not Boga but have heard many good things about them. I sent it in to the IGFA to have them certify it (in case I land a world record sometime soon :hihi:), but it made me think, if they trust people who use a pre-approved scale, why not have tournaments allow people that have approved scales of their own use them? I mean, I know its a long shot, but is this allowed in any tournaments that people fish in? Honesty is already a huge part of many of the tournaments we fish (who reallly know if a fish is boat caught or shore caught or if someone has a striper farm in their backyard that they grow giants in), so why not allow anglers to weigh their own fish and document it just as you would for an IGFA event... I'm just interested in what people had to say. I was so interested myself because if I had the opportunity to save a cow and release and still submit it for a tournament, I would be all over this and I think many others would be too. What you guys have to say?


mike

Not sure whether weighing your own fish is allowed in any tournaments, even if the scale is certified. You need an unbiased witness if the fish is being submitted for a record or prize. Bringing a fish to a certified weigh station that has a reputation beyond reproach (like CC Tackle, SWE or Red Top) is still the best way IMO. Weighing and releasing a live, writhing fish is sure to result in many people questioning the validity of said fish due to the difficulty involved in getting 100% accuracy, even though the intention is good. As far as using the scale for your own personal records it’s a good idea.

No, not allowed in any tournament. We had this discussion a few years ago at an M.S.B.A. meeting. The meeting didn't turn ugly, but could have. Former president Rick Ramos spoke about why it shouldn't and does not happen. And all agreed.

I would trust a none cerified scale in the hands of an honest person over the worlds most accurate scale in the hands of a dishonest person.

So , the scale is not the issue.

I don't know why but past experience indicates that people have said that their fish are bigger than they really are. :)

We allow catch, weigh and release on hand held scales in our year long fishing club tournament. We run our tourney on the honor system. Only requirement is the weigh-in must be witnessed by someone 16 or older. We instituted this rule many years ago to allow the release of large fish. Most of our members like this aspect of our tourney - very few gripe about abuse. Prizes for winners vary from 10-30 dollars so there doesn't seem to be a great incentive to cheat. The most prestigious trophy we award is for the largest bass caught and released which has no cash prize - but has an honor not easily matched when your name is engraved on it.

DZ

That's why "fish stories" always include the words "the fish/beast/monster/cow was THIS BIG" (use hands spread apart to indicatee size), instead of saying the fish WEIGHED this much.
Remember, the more a fish story is told, the bigger the fish seems to get.

In any tournament, unbiased officiating is key. If an unscrupulus person wants to cheat, they'll find a way to try. Lord help them if they get caught.

I remember a fishing show a couple of years back, I believe it was something like the "Mad Fin Challenge", that covered an East vs. West shark tournament. One of the boats had what was an undersized fish, and claimed it was legal size. When the boat docked at the weigh in station, the fish was weighed and IMMEDIATELY cut up, preventing any verification of the fished size.
Keep in mind, the fish weighed less that what a legal size fish should weigh, meaning either the fish was sick and malnourished or the fish was undersized. The worst part was that they had comments from the crew stating that it was short, but they still called it in as a legal fish.
So, like I said, if there's a will (and money) there'll find a way.

As for me, I give whoever is running the tourmanent the benefit of the doubt.

The old saying you can't legislate against those already willing to break the rules may be ignored by pro gun control nazis but has some merit. Tournament organizers have a lot to think about when determining what rules to create and for what reason. When there are large prizes on the line most organizers feel they have to make sure the fish actually existed and having the actual fish present gives the opportunity to view it's condition. Both of these go a long way toward deterring cheaters. Yes, there will alwasy be those that will cheat and that is why tournament committees go round and round in an endless debate on rules.

Depending on the size of the tournament...there is also the angle of sponsors and advertisers wanting a weigh in event as a marketing opportunity and even as a photo op for advertising purposes. Pictures of fisherman holding big fish sell product.

There is no coincidence that C&R tournaments or divisions in tournaments tend to have little or no value associated with them.

There is no coincidence that C&R tournaments or divisions in tournaments tend to have little or no value associated with them.

Patrick,
Many progressive tournaments such as Bass Masters and Redman Redfish award huge prizes for Catch and Release. Striped Bass tourneys in the Northeast have not changed much with the times and still rely on dead fish entries for the most part. Dead fish tourneys are pretty much out of vogue in the rest of the U.S. - bad publicity.

DZ

Patrick,
Many progressive tournaments such as Bass Masters and Redman Redfish award huge prizes for Catch and Release. Striped Bass tourneys in the Northeast have not changed much with the times and still rely on dead fish entries for the most part. Dead fish tourneys are pretty much out of vogue in the rest of the U.S. - bad publicity.

DZ

but the fish are brought to a public weigh in and then released - not really an option with stripers

but the fish are brought to a public weigh in and then released - not really an option with stripers

Not so - could be done. Redfish get just as big as stripers but they only allow slot fish. Striped bass tournaments would have to take the high road and institute a slot limit for qualifying fish - say 28"-36" or whatever size will fit in a live well. Release them at the dock.

DZ

We allow catch, weigh and release on hand held scales in our year long fishing club tournament. We run our tourney on the honor system. Only requirement is the weigh-in must be witnessed by someone 16 or older. We instituted this rule many years ago to allow the release of large fish. Most of our members like this aspect of our tourney - very few gripe about abuse. Prizes for winners vary from 10-30 dollars so there doesn't seem to be a great incentive to cheat. The most prestigious trophy we award is for the largest bass caught and released which has no cash prize - but has an honor not easily matched when your name is engraved on it.

DZ

Best aspect of our humble club DZ! :love:

Our own S-B.com 4 leg is a catch and release tourney. measurements must be witnessed and attested to in writing on a form. Again , as DZ said , the prizes are low enough so hopefully the urge to cheat is gone.

Our own S-B.com 4 leg is a catch and release tourney. measurements must be witnessed and attested to in writing on a form. Again , as DZ said , the prizes are low enough so hopefully the urge to cheat is gone.

i find it hard to believe that people would not cheat when the prizes are high and so much honesty on the line. just thought it would make for a much more conservative way of holding a tournament... then again, as posted before, these tournaments are such a drop in the bucket compared to the total amount of bass taken commercially and by other recreational means.

Several bonefish tournaments I have fished go completely on the honor system and they seem to work pretty well. Another option is the release tanks that are used in the flw striper events. They're a huge pia but they do save fish.