Big Fish Gallery II

(click on the image to enlarge)

SPECIMEN FISH

If you have caught a specimen fish on any of our waters, please send a copy of the photo with details of your catch and your membership number to the Secretary, by e-mail or post and we may include it on our web site. Could you please keep your picture sizes to below 2mb as this does not clog up the Secretary's inbox and try to avoid using a mobile phone as the picture quality does not always stand up to enlargement and may not be added to the site. You may even  be eligible to win a trophy at our Annual General meeting if you catch the biggest specimen fish.

Does anyone catch anything but Carp? Pictures of Roach, Chub, Tench, Pike anything would be welcome just to add a bit of variety.

FISH WELFARE

The welfare of your fish should be at the front of your mind. We ask that you think carefully about how you want to photograph your catch. Here are some tips to help you:

Set your camera up before you take the fish from the water. If you have a friend with you, they can take the photograph, but get everything arranged before handling the fish. Unhook the fish first, then return it to the water (in the landing net, or in a keepnet the rules allow) while you get yourself and camera ready.

Always use an unhooking mat. If you are specimen fishing, then you should have a mat with you anyway, it is a club rule. If you caught the fish by chance and do not have a mat, see if you can borrow a nearby angler's. Soft wet grass is a decent alternative, but always have a quick check to make sure there are no hidden stones or sharp objects in the grass.

Think what will happen if you accidentally drop the fish. What will it drop onto? Hold the fish as close to the mat/grass/water as you can get away with. Never hold a fish directly over bare rock / gravel.

Handle fish as little as possible. Hold them carefully with wet hands. If you have caught a big fish, support it along the length of its body. NEVER hold a fish in a towel /rag, as this will remove the protective slime coating. Rough handling or lifting only by the jaw or the tail can damage fish’s internal organs. As soon as you have got your photo, get the fish back in the water.