World record and slot limits?
 

Not something that will ever concern me. But with slot limits, it seems impossible for a rec to break the ifga record. True?

Huh. Good point.

Do commercial guys count they could do a submission ?
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I have also been wondering the same thing....

If a potential record-breaking striped bass is illegal to harvest in order to properly weigh and document according to IGFA, does that mean the current record is locked in and "safe" from being beaten ? I would think...... technically thats exactly what it means, like it or not.

I think the biggest impediment is the regulation that a potential record fish can't be weighed on a boat. You can get a good hand scale pre-certified, and take care of all of the photos and measurements with the fish alive, but unless you have a live well aboard big enough to hold a record sized fish, you'll never get it back to land alive to be weighed. And then there's the whole "possession" aspect of the law---in MA, a fish in a livewell is deemed to be in your possession.

I'd say the record is safe so long as the current slot remains in effect.

Good !
Super big fish should be released anyway… IMO

I lean that way too... but if I ever landed a record shattering cow it would really test my metal.
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It would all be for naught if you kept it and submitted it for the record---the IGFA won't accept a record fish that was caught in violation of the law.

No ... I get that. I was talking about even if it was legal
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A similar case might also be Redfish. Are giant redfish legal to be kept anywhere? Or do all redfish states have a slot for them?

I think they all have a slot. It is such a tremendous fishery. Gives me some hope for bass, if the slot holds for the long term.
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I've been saying for a long time, they NEED a tag system, you purchase a tag for a bonus trophy fish, you place the tag upon retention, and register the fish with F&G real simple,IF you do not place the tag( with date CUT out on the fish and get caught, heavy fines and restitution will be the penalty, Texas is one state that requires a tag for red drum over the slot...it's a simple and effective system but everyone in our fisheries control group finds excuses not to follow through on it..

A commercially caught, rod and reel fish would count ONLY if rec and commercial regs are the same. This means that if recs have a slot and coms have a higher harvest length, the com-caught fish may not be entered for consideration which means that in the case of striped bass, it is not possible under the current regulations for the IGFA all tackle weight record to be broken.

The only IGFA world record currently able to be broken is for the length which currently sits at 124 cm or 48.82 inches.

I discussed this concept with an ASMFC SB board member back when the slot was being proposed. The "problem" (excuse) was that there is not sufficient data for harvest of large fish to accurately account for how many fish over a certain length would be harvested annually with a trophy tag scenario.

As you said ... excuse.. all those comercial fish and there is no data.. what are they using to set seasonal quotas with.. those people take inept and "bought" to a new level, when I was a younger man, I attended many, many meeting and hearings etc, in several states.. its was and still is the same old tune..
Thanks for at least bringing it up..
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How is the length record possible to break?

I thought I had read something in that past that it was possible to break the records but given I read it on the internet that info. is suspect.

I would be thumbs down on a tag. Big fish alive is better than any "trophy." One could get dimensions and photo and make a taxidermy replica if that is important to them.

Second that
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Length records equate to catch and release. Don't quote me exactly as it has been at least a year since I looked into it but you need to be an IGFA member and then submit a photo of the fish next to their official ruler.

Third!!!!!

Unlike the situation with weight, the rules do allow for measuring a fish on a boat. The movement of the boat doesn't affect a ruler, like it does with a scale.

But how many of those big fish released die???

It sucks when I see a nice 40+ inch fish floating 10 minutes after I release it because of the awesome Circle hook in the gullet and it goes to the crabs

The circles are just another sore point with me. I kill plenty of fish with circles. Just as many of not more than a live bait hook.
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Goal is long term sustainability. I don't like released fish dying, but far more will die if guys can start killing again for ego.

I have seen plenty of deeper hooked bass with circle hooks fishing in my buddies boat chunking in a boat with rods in the holder. I don't ever fish bait for bad otherwise. I can say i chunk for red drum with rod in hand and in over twenty years i have never had anything but lip hooked.
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