Founded in 1955 ISFC Irish Specimen Fish Committee is an
independent voluntary body, representative of angling in Ireland, whose
principal function is to verify and publicise the capture of large (i.e.
specimen) fish caught on rod and line by anglers in Ireland, both in freshwater
and marine waters. The Committee also ratifies Irish record rod caught fish. The
ISFC co-ordinates and administers the unique specimen awards scheme which is
designed to recognise any angler who catches a specimen fish. Successful anglers
are awarded a certificate and a commemorative badge. Specifically commissioned
silver medals are presented to captors of record fish and special awards are
also made to captors of multiple fish (on a cumulative basis).
Some important points for claiming specimen fish:
1. Use official ISFC (Irish Specimen Fish Committee) claim
form and complete all relevant sections fully
2. Print your name, address (including country)
and telephone number in block capitals in Section 2.
3. Weighing: Fish must be weighed
(on land) on certified club scales etc or alternatively, on a shop scales. If
in doubt, use a shop scales. Fish must not be weighed on board a boat.
4. Scales must be certified annually by a
competent independent authority and a certificate of accuracy must be current
at time of weighing. Certificate must accompany each claim.
5. Fish scales, actual bodies or photographs
of some species are required
6. You must sign and date Section 6 of the Claim
Form. Ensure witnesses sign the Claim Form.
Schedule of Specimen Weights 2003
Species |
Irish Record |
Specimen Weight |
Salmon |
57lbs River Suir |
20lbs (9.072 kgs) |
Brown Trout Lake |
26lbs 2ozs Lough Ennell |
10lbs (4.536 kgs) |
Brown Trout River |
20lbs River Shannon, Corbally |
5lbs (2.268kgs) |
Sea Trout |
16lbs 6ozs Shimna River Co Down |
6lbs (2.722kgs) |
Slob Trout |
|
10lbs (4.536 Kgs) |
Irish Specimen Fish
Committee
This committee consists of representatives of the
Irish Angling Federations and the Government Departments and official
organisations interested in angling. It's objectives is to verify, record and
publicise the capture of large fish on rod and line in Irish waters. A list of
Specimen Fish is published annually by the Committee. Only fish which can be
fully vouched for as to weight and species can be accepted and listed by the
Committee.
Fair Angling
"Fair Angling" means any legitimate method
of angling with rod and reel which is a fair and sporting method. A fish must be
hooked in or in the vicinity of the mouth when it has taken the bait or lure;
fish which have been foul hooked, even accidentally, are not eligible. A fish in
respect of which claim is made must be hooked, played and brought to gaff or net
by the angler unaided, though the fish may be gaffed or netted by another, and
is permissible for the person using the gaff to take hold of the trace or
doubled line 9 in the case of big game fishing) to steady the fish when it has
been played out and brought within reach. Breakage of rod, reel or line or
alteration or substitution of tackle, while the fish is being played, disqualify
it for claim or record purposes. A fish may not be shot, lanced, clubbed or
harpooned before landing. Claims for fish caught during the statutory close
season for the species (where this applies) cannot be accepted.
Weighing
Fish must be weighed in the presence of
independent, reliable witnesses on a properly certified scales. e.g., a shop
scales or an official club scales which is covered by a certificate from the
local Weights and Measures Officer. Claims cannot be accepted in respect of fish
weighted on scales inappropriate to the size of the fish e.g. fish in the 2 to
5lbs range weighed on balances weighing up to 100lbs or over and graduated in
large divisions. Claims cannot be accepted in the case of fish which have been
weighed on board a boat.
Please note: Weighing scales must be covered by a
Certificate of Accuracy at the time of weighing. They cannot be certified in
retrospect, i.e. after the fish has been weighed.
Weighing Scale
Certification
List of Regional Verification Centres
Legal Metrology Service, National Standards
Authority of Ireland (NSAI), Glasnevin, Dublin 9
Region and Area |
Contact |
Telephone
Number |
Cork Regional
Verification Centre contact NSAI Legal Metrology Service, Rossa Avenue,
Bishobstown, Cork 4
|
James Stapleton |
Tel: 021 346 256 Fax: 021
326 999 Mobile 087 224 5533 |
Dublin Regional
Verification Centre, NSAI Legal Metrology Service, Poppintree Industrial
Estate, Ballymun, D 11 |
John Heery |
Tel: 01 864 3848 Fax: 01
864 3880 Mobile 087 284 8735 |
Limerick Regional
Verification Centre, NSAI Legal Metrology Service, Plassy Technical
Park, Castletroy, Limerick |
Denis Corkery |
Tel: 061 330 708 Fax:
061 330 698 Mobile 087 223 1053 |
Sligo Regional
Verification Centre, NSAI Legal Metrology Service, Finiskillen
Industrial Estate, Sligo |
Tony Marren |
Tel: 071 507 38 Fax: 071
507 39 Mobile 087 223 1058 |
Waterford Regional
Verification Centre, NSAI Legal Metrology Service, Northern Industrial
Estate, Waterford |
Garry O'Gorman |
Tel: 051 358 020 Fax:
051 358 021 Mobile 087 223 1062 |
Dundalk Regional
Verification Centre, NSAI Legal Metrology Service, IDA Small Business
Park, Coes Rd, Dundalk, Co Louth |
Brendan Connolly |
Tel: 042 933 2758 Fax:
042 933 2791 Mobile 087 223 1078 |
Galway Regional
Verification Centre, NSAI Legal Metrology Service, Ballybrit Industrial
Estate, Ballybane, Galway |
Dave Conneely |
Tel: 091 771 943 Fax:
091 758 932 Mobile 087 223 1051 |
Dublin HQ Regional
Verification Centre, NSAI Legal Metrology Service, Glasnevin, Dublin
9 |
Pat Farragher |
Centre Tel: 01 807 3811
Fax: 01 808 2030 Comtact Pat at 01 807 3811 |
Identification
The identification
of a fish must be fully documented where there is a possibility
of its confusion with any other (and particularly larger)
species. For this reason, the Committee in respect of some
species insists on scales from the fish, close up photographs or
the actual body as actual proof of identification before it will
consider claims. Scales must be submitted in respect of claims
for SALMON, SEA TROUT, BROWN TROUT, (including SLOB TROUT). Any
brown trout taken in tidal waters i.e., in the sea or in an
estuary below the freshwater boundary as defined for that river
will be regarded for claim purposes as a slob trout. About 50
scales scraped from each shoulder of the fish should be sent with
the claim.
The fish itself
should be forwarded for identification to the Irish Specimen Fish
Committee, Mobhi Boreen, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, in the case of fish
taken in the Republic of Ireland. In the case of marine fish taken in
Northern Ireland send to Dr R Briggs, Aquatic Systems Group AESD, Department of
Agriculture, Newforge Lane, Belfast, BT9 5PX Tel: 0801 232 255503; Fax: 0801 232
382244. In the case of fresh water species send to Dr Walter Crozier, D.A.N.I., River Bush Salmon Station,
21 Church St, Bushmills,
Co Antrim, BT57 8QJ. Tel: 02657 31435. Fax: 0801 2647 32130
The actual body
must be forwarded for identification in the case of the following
species: DACE, RUDD/BREAM HYBRID, ROACH, ROACH/BREAM HYBRID,
MACKEREL, SCAD, HERRING, SHAD, FLOUNDER, DAB, BRILL, MEGRIM,
GURNARDS, GREY MULLET, ANGLER FISH, LESSER, SPOTTED DOG FISH,
THREE BEARDED ROCKLING, SMOOTH HOUND, RAYS, BREAM, CUCKOO WRASSE,
TORSK, "RIVER" EELS taken in tidal waters and GARFISH (head and gills
only).
Clear,
sharp, close - up photographs, showing the entire fish with its fins
and other features easily seen, and not fore - shortened or
obscured by shadows or bystanders must be provided in the case of
TOPE, SHARKS, SKATE, RAYS, MONKFISH, POLLACK, COALFISH, BALLAN
WRASSE, TRIGGER FISH.
If necessary, the
fish should be hung up. In this case skates and rays, photographs
of both back and belly surfaces should be provided and
particulars of the coloration given (with particular reference to
the presence of dark or grey spots, or streaks or patches on the
belly side). Samples of the teeth should be furnished in the case
of Porbeagle and Mako Sharks. In addition, there should be a
clear close-up photograph showing the jaws and teeth exposed.
Limitation
on number of claims
A maximum of three
awards will be made to any particular claimant for a single
species in any one year. However, provision will be made that
when an angler achieves this target and subsequently captures
larger fish, these will be taken into account but the final
number of awards for any species in a single year will not be
more than three awards. By including this latter provision, it
will ensure that anglers competitive spirit is kept up and higher
achievements could still be sought.
Sending
Fish to the Committee
Please
Notify the
Committee when a fish is being sent in for identification
Tel: Dublin 01 8379 206 Fax: 01 8360060 or Email to isfc@cfb.ie
Do not
forward fish to the Committee before Bank Holidays or
weekends; ( keep in a cold store or preferably frozen if
fish cannot be delivered quickly on or before Friday
afternoon )
Please
attach a label to each fish forwarded for identification
giving the captor's name and address, date and place of
capture and the weight of the fish.
Fish
(except small examples which have been previously soaked
in formalin for at least 12 hours) should not be sent in
polythene bags or wrapped in aluminium foil as this
causes very rapid decomposition. They should be wrapped
in greaseproof paper and then in newspaper and brown
paper.
Awards
Anglers whose
claims have been accepted by the Committee will be awarded
special " Merit Badges" in the case of Specimen Fish
and Silver Medals in the case of Record Fish. Specimen Fish
Certificates will also be ratified specimen fish, special medals
to anglers who have captured ten or more species and special
badges are issued each year for fish of exceptional merit though
not of record size.
Important
Correspondence to Ballnagowan House, Mobhi Boreen, Mobhi Road, Glasnevin, Dublin
9(Tel: Dublin 01 8379206). Fish should be sent to Ballnagowan
House, Mobhi Boreen, Mobhi Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
In the case of marine fish taken in
Northern Ireland send to Dr R Briggs, Aquatic Systems Group AESD, Department of
Agriculture, Newforge Lane, Belfast, BT9 5PX Tel: 0801 232 255503; Fax: 0801 232
382244. In the case of fresh water species send to Dr Walter Crozier, D.A.N.I., River Bush Salmon Station,
21 Church St, Bushmills,
Co Antrim, BT57 8QJ. Tel: 02657 31435. Fax: 0801 2647 32130
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