Make your claim
So now you have everything you need to make your claim, here is what to do next, along with a little more information:
1. The Claimant should contact the BRFC Secretary, Nick Simmonds, either by email to brfc@anglingtrust.net, or by telephone on 07415 444939.
2. Advice will be given on identification, the claims procedure and, if appropriate, preservation of the fish.
3. The Secretary will record the date and place of capture and in the case of sea fish, whether shore or boat-caught, the species of fish, the claimed weight and details of the scales used to weigh the fish and will request that clear coloured photographs be forwarded so that identification can be confirmed.
If the fish has been killed and retained, the claimant will be advised to keep the fish pending identification. Small and medium-sized fish can be preserved for considerable periods by refrigeration (deep freeze). If a fish is required for inspection, advice will be given on packing and transportation.
4. Claims must be confirmed by email to the Secretary, stating the date and place of capture, the species of fish and the method of angling, the weight claimed and details of the scales used to weigh the fish and clear coloured photograph(s) to be forwarded so that identification of species can be confirmed.
5. Once the photographs have been received, and the fish’s identity established, the claimant will be informed and issued with the claim forms. Advice will be given on the procedure for testing of the scale used to weigh the fish. The claimant will then have 56 days to complete the forms and provide the necessary evidence for the claims.
When digital images are submitted, all available images of the fish shall be accessible to the Committee on request and in some cases the Committee may require the memory card or other device holding the images to be submitted.
6. Once the completed forms have been returned, the Secretary will acknowledge them, make copies and forward by email to the Members of the Record Committee for their consideration and if acceptable their endorsement of a new record.
7. Once the Committee have agreed the claim, the claimant will be advised of provisional confirmation of the Record.
8. All claims will then be brought to the next BRFC meeting, which takes place twice annually, to ratify the claims and to conduct all the business of the BRFC.
9. A Certificate to commemorate the record will then be printed and sent to the claimant.
10. Press Releases informing of the new accepted records will be issued by the Secretary following each meeting, or as and when required.
11. A current list of the records will be lodged on the British Record (rod-caught) Fish Committee’s web page.
WORLD RECORD FISH
World record marine and freshwater fishes are the concern of the International Game Fish Association, 300 Gull Stream Way, Dania Beach, Florida, 33004-9968, USA Tel: (954) 927 2628.
World record claims for sharks should be made through the Shark Angling Club of Great Britain, Looe, Cornwall. Shark records on the British List are for the heaviest fish of each species, irrespective of the strength of line used; for records of sharks caught on different breaking strains of line please refer to the Shark Angling Club of Great Britain.
EUROPEAN SEA FISH
Please refer to the website of the European Federation of Sea Anglers
IRISH, SCOTTISH AND WELSH RECORDS
The British Record (rod-caught) Fish Committee has in membership both the Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers and the Welsh Federation of Sea Anglers. Scottish and Welsh sea records which are also British records are submitted either direct to the BRFC or by the respective organisation to which the initial claim is made.
Claims for fish caught in Northern Ireland are dealt with by the British Record (rod-caught) Fish Committee, but claims for fish caught in Eire should be made to The Irish Specimen Fish Committee c/o Inland Fisheries Ireland, 3044 Lake Drive, Citywest Business Campus, D24Y265. Click here for website
