RE: So close no cigar
2010/07/30 08:26:09
(permalink)
Any record is determined by the total weight of the fish when brought to a certified scale. Does not matter if it is full of eggs or not. Thats why IMHO, I feel records should be determined by a combined length + weight calculation or average if you will AND NOT by weight alone.
In muskie fishing for example....I feel a muskie which is 58" long and weighing an average weight for that fish in the 38 to 45 lb. range is more impressive than a 48 or 49" fish that weighs 45 to 50 lbs. The whole "weight" thing has gotten out of hand IMO...pumping up these fish with fatty baitfish and imposing them in southern waters allowing them to grow faster/fatter in shorter periods of time. Therefore that 58 incher from Canada that is potentially 25 to 30+ years old, would be far more desirable and more of an impressive catch for my liking.
This spring, a friend of mine caught a 49.5" PA fish that weighed approx. 46.5lbs!! Thats a hog! However, and not taking anything away from THAT fish, I'd be willing to bet that if that fish was caught today; you'd be lucky to get 35lbs out of her.....Yup I said her....she was a fat female FULL of eggs, probably nearly 10lbs worth.....That 58 incher will always 58"-never less, but potentially even longer....until the fish dies.
IN this day and age of technology, a length + weight calculation should be devised to determine TRUE record fish...Its only the fair recognition to the fish and angler alike IMO.