The BRFC met at Fishmongers’ Hall, London, on 8th June 2015.

Present were: Mike Heylin OBE (Chairman), Nick Simmonds (Secretary), Oliver Crimmen (Scientific Advisor, Natural History Museum), Nigel Hewlett (Scientific Advisor, Environment Agency) and Andrew Nellist (Angling Trust - freshwater specialist).

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

Sea Fish:
Species: White sea bream (Diplodus sargus)    
Record weight: 2lb 9oz 5dr (1.170kg)    
Captor's name: Steve Mullins    
Date & venue: 10th Jan 2015 - St Catherine's Breakwater, Jersey 
Previous record: 2lb 6oz 14dr

Coarse Fish:
Species: Crucian carp (Carassius carrasius)
Record weight: 4lb 9oz (2.070kg) (Equal record)    
Captor's name: Peter Cardozo    
Date & venue: 2nd May 2015 - Johnson's Lake, Marsh Farm, Surrey
Previous record: 4lb 9oz

Species: Crucian carp (Carassius carrasius)
Record weight: 4lb 10oz (2.098kg) (New record)   
Captor's name:  Michael James   
Date & venue: 4th May 2015 - Surrey Stillwater
Previous record: 4lb 9oz

Species: Crucian carp (Carassius carrasius)
Record weight: 4lb 10oz (2.098kg) (Equal record)
Captor's name: Stephen Frapwell  
Date & venue: 10th May 2015 - Johnson's Lake, Marsh Farm, Surrey   
Previous record: 4lb 10oz

Notes from the meeting:

• The members of the Committee expressed regret at the untimely loss of Keith Speer, who died unexpectedly in February this year. Keith had been a member of the BRFC since 2012 and had made a significant and valued contribution to the affairs of the Committee during his tenure. Keith's presence, with his great good humour and well-considered judgement is much missed.
   
• One consequence of Keith's passing is that the Committee would like to recruit an experienced freshwater angling specialist to strengthen the freshwater sub-group. Initial expressions of interest should be made to the BRFC Secretary, Nick Simmonds, by email to admin@britishrecordfish.net
   
• The Committee would like to make it clear that the BRFC does not undertake scales checks. We may be able to assist in facilitating scales tests from time to time. The BRFC does not make any charge for facilitating scales checks. Any charge payable is that levied by the testing authority.
   
• The Committee considered the question of records being held jointly by more than one angler. The Committee is happy to consider claims for the capture of a fish at an equal weight to the current record for the species and, in instances when the claim is ratified, to award an equal record certificate to the captor.
  
  The Committee has recently had a situation where three anglers made claims for record captures of the same species within a few days of each other. In cases where multiple claims are made, claims will be dealt with in the order in which the claims are lodged with BRFC.
  

The Committee would also like to remind 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 admin@britishrecordfish.net

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 at www.anglingtrust.net/brfc

Notes for editors:
The official British Records List and procedures are available on the Angling Trust website at www.anglingtrust.net/brfc or from the Secretary.

The initial telephone contact point of the BRFC remains at the Angling Trust Head Office on 01568 620447 and email enquiries may be directed to the Secretary Nick Simmonds at admin@britishrecordfish.net

The next meeting of the full committee is scheduled for December 2015. As previously the committee will continue to consider all claims as and when they arise and to keep captors informed as to progress.

Aims and Objectives of the BRFC
The Committee exists to recognise and publish record weights of both fresh and salt water fish caught on rod and line by fair angling methods in the waters of England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, and aims:

• To provide an adjudicating body to which marine and freshwater anglers may submit claims for record fish taken by fair rod and line angling.
  
• To investigate all such record claims to the fullest possible extent and maintain a permanent record of such investigations.
  
• To establish and maintain accurately a list of British fish, marine and freshwater, of record size and to publish this list frequently and make it readily available to all interested persons.

The activities of the Committee are voluntary, and claims are considered and adjudicated upon, only on the basis that the Committee shall be under no obligation whatsoever to claimants, that its decisions shall be final, and it shall not be obliged to give reasons for its decisions.

For further information please contact:

Nick Simmonds - Secretary
British Record (rod caught) Fish Committee
c/o The Angling Trust
Eastwood House
6 Rainbow Street
Leominster
Herefordshire HR6 8DQ

Tel: 01568 620447 / 0844 7700616
Email: admin@britishrecordfish.net

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News