The BRFC met at Fishmongers’ Hall, London, on 4th December 2014.
Present were: Mike Heylin OBE (Chairman), Nick Simmonds (Secretary), Oliver Crimmen (Scientific Advisor, Natural History Museum), Nigel Hewlett (Scientific Advisor, Environment Agency), David Rowe (Angling Trust – marine specialist), Keith Speer (Angling Trust – freshwater specialist) and Andrew Nellist (Angling Trust – freshwater specialist)

The following claims were ratified by the committee as new records:

Sea fish:

Whiting
(Merlangius merlangus)
4lb 8oz (2.041kg)
Shore-caught record
David Backler 14/05/2014
Orford Ness
Previous record: 4lb 0oz 7dr

Black-faced blenny
(Tripterygion delaisi)
2.95 grams
Mini-species record
Nina Frapple 18/06/2012

Greater Weever
(Trachinus draco) 1lb 9oz 6dr
(722 grams)
Paul Robinson 31/05/2014
Porthtowan, Cornwall
Previous record: 1lb 8oz 10dr

Thin-lipped mullet
(Liza ramada)
6lb 15ozm (3.147kg)
Boat-caught record
Gerald Gavey 19/07/2014
Previous record: 6lb 9oz 6dr

Thin-lipped mullet
(Liza ramada)
6lb 15oz (3.147kg)
Equal boat-caught record
Derek Kane 27/07/2014

The following fish was added to The Notable Fish List:

Common Skate
(Raja batis) Estimated 226lb
(Length 87 inches, wingspan 74 inches)
Shore-caught Craig Mackay 15/06/2014
East coast of Scotland

Notes from the meeting:
• The Committee would like to take the opportunity to remind readers that anglers are invited to submit claims for fish to be included on the Notable Fish List.

The Notable Fish List has been established to record exceptional captures of sea fish when it is not possible to accurately verify the weight of the fish.

This may be because the fish has been caught and returned from a boat, or as in the case of Craig Mackay’s skate, is too big to weigh on the shore when the fish is to be returned alive, in which case the dimensions of the fish are taken and the weight estimated.

• The Committee would also like to remind readers that claims are invited to establish DNA verified records for roach, rudd and crucian carp.

Claims may submitted at the following or greater weights: Roach – 3lb 12oz; Rudd – 3lb 12oz; Crucian Carp – 4lb 8oz.

An angler catching such a fish should remove one scale from the fish from the area between the lateral line and the dorsal fin.

The scale should be cut in half using a clean blade and one half sent to the BRFC for testing, while the captor should retain the other half.

The Committee is not intending to withdraw the currently recorded records for these species and will maintain record listings for fish identified from photographic evidence only and also for fish whose identification has additionally been verified by DNA test.

• The Committee would also like to advise readers that in the event of the capture of a potential record fish, the captor should first contact the British Record (rod-caught) Fish Committee without delay.

Captors of potential record fish should contact the Secretary, Nick Simmonds, at the Angling Trust, on 01568 620447 or by email at [email protected]

Nick will record the details of the capture and advise the claimant on progressing the claim.

More information about what to do if you catch a record fish can be found in the BRFC web pages
http://www.anglingtrust.net/page.asp?section=41