Awesome stuff, TLap!
And that is my ultimate goal as well, the New IGFA World Record 80#'er!!!! To offer an opinion as to why 50# is so vaunted or referred to, i think it boils down to this. In that, that mark/weight is just that a referrence point. I believe that it is similar to golf and its 0 handicap or becoming a "scratch golfer". In fact, I use that as an analogy frequently when talking to the non-fishing community.
It is only an indicator, to be sure, and does not a fisherman make. However don't we install these markers to somehow measure our selves against others and our own goals? Aren't we all competetive by nature ~in varying degrees? To me, like you, my biggest competitor is myself...............sheet i'm out there to beat me, myself, and eye everytime i set foot on our majestic shores
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