okay I looked for awhile on my states fish and wildlife site, but i couldn't find my answer. I was wondering what do you do if you catch a state record or even a world record fish. Do you have to kill it and take it in to them to see it? or just take a picture with a bunch of witnesses or something else? I'd rather just let the fish go and be happy that I caught it even if nobody believed me about it. insted of killing it.

Has to be weighted on a certified scale and witnessed by 2 people in most cases.  It is up to you to keep the fish alive.

What's considered a certified scale?  do you have to take the fish to a place that has one? or can you buy one and have witnesses?

i believe this question was answered be for

and i think something was said about a grocery store scale...?

but im not sure.

Also Post Office.

Certifying the catch is a process that will involve witnessing by a state biologist amongst other things. For an accurate answer for your state contact you state's DNR. For IGFA regulations for certification go to: http://www.igfa.org/

A. Not a dumb question

B.  THIS is the particular place you want to look.  This is from the site GWelcome linked you to.  They (IGFA) are the authority on records

Must be witness by at lest two people,more if possible

must be weighed on a certified IGFA scale( from my understanding you must send your scale to them so they can test and certified it)

and if your shooting for a state record then a biologist must see and weigh the fish on the states scale

and this is a regulation on my home lake not sure if it is on the IGFA level, It must be caught on a artificial lure, live bait not allowed

which I think is kinda unfair

as for keeping the fish alive you are on your own, anyone have ideas on how to do this ??????

I like your optimism!

Find the phone # of your states closest DNR office and keep it with you. Depending on where you are if you do catch it, keep it alive and if possible they will send someone out to assist you. If not, 2 witnesses and a post office or supermarket scale. If nothing close by use the nearest scale, keep accurate measurements of length, girth and keep your fingers crossed that the scale can be certified later.

Most important, keep it alive as long as possible. and have as many people as possible see it weighed.

in some states it is illegal to transport live fish so you must kill it to bring it to a store scale

its one of a fishes lives injustices

Has to be weighted on a certified scale and witnessed by 2 people in most cases. It is up to you to keep the fish alive.

These are the requirements in Ky, whee I used to live.  It will vary from state to state with the exception of World Record.  Measure length and girth.  I would also take pictures of weighting and measuring.

I know this is a pretty old thread, but it's a question that has been at the forefront of my mind.

Yes, a state record fish does have to be weighed on a certfied scale. That's why I have mine certified every year.

It's also has to be looked at by a state fisheries biologist.... Which is why I carry phone numbers for Ca state fisheries biologists in my wallet at all times..... and have a couple who have promissed to "get there at all costs".

I don't plan to kill a state record fish (if I don't have to) but I will be able to weigh the fish on a certified scale, and have it looked at by a biologists, without transporting it anywhere.

If the fish is able to survive the time and hassles it takes to get it witnessed / certified by a biologist, then its free to swim (and bite my hook again) another day :-)

BTW, you can go to any gas station, and on each pump will be a little certification sticker, by your local Dept of Weights and measures. On this sticker should be a phone number. Call that number and they will tell you what you have to do to have your scale certified :-)

Takes about 30 minutes, and in my county, costs $30. Totally worth it for me.

Peace,

Fish

If it's a smallmouth and a Tennessee State Record,

I'm killing it immediately and keeping it on ice for

the state officials to perform a necropsy. Certified,

pictured and witnessed with officials, skin mounted

and 1000 replicas.

But hey RW, that's a little different....

The Tenn. state record Smallie would also be the World Record ! And as I have said for a long time, if I catch a world record of any species, its not going back in the lake. What would be the point ? A World Record is a World record. That's just as good as it can get. Any bigger, is still no better.

I'd have to release a CA state record though, as that fish would quite possibly be the best shot for a new World Record someday down the road. In other words, a CA state record would still have something left to prove ;-)

Peace,

Fish

But hey RW, that's a little different....

The Tenn. state record Smallie would also be the World Record ! And as I have said for a long time, if I catch a world record of any species, its not going back in the lake. What would be the point ? A World Record is a World record. That's just as good as it can get. Any bigger, is still no better.

I'd have to release a CA state record though, as that fish would quite possibly be the best shot for a new World Record someday down the road. In other words, a CA state record would still have something left to prove ;-)

Peace,

Fish

I know, I was just playing.

We are EXACTLY on

the same page.

-Kent