Registration of New Records

Initial contact — the claimant should contact the BRFC Secretary, Nick Simmonds (see contact details opposite).

Guidance — the Secretary will provide advice on species identification, the claims procedure, and, if appropriate, the preservation of the fish.

Recording the capture — the Secretary will record the following details:

• Date and place of capture
• For sea fish: whether shore- or boat-caught
• Species of fish
• Claimed weight
• Details of the scales used to weigh the fish. Clear, colour photographs must be forwarded to confirm identification.

Confirm by email — 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.

Claim forms issued — 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 claim.

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.

Forms returned — 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.

Provisional confirmation — once the Committee have agreed the claim, the claimant will be advised of provisional confirmation of the record.

Ratification — 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.

Certificate — a certificate to commemorate the record will then be printed and sent to the claimant.

Press release — press releases informing of the new accepted records will be issued by the Secretary following each meeting, or as and when required.

Published record — a current list of the records will be lodged on the British Record (rod-caught) Fish Committee's web page.