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Ireland specimen Tope...



 
 
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  #1  
Old September 21st, 2003, 10:39 AM
Kilmore
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Default Ireland specimen Tope...


"Skipper" wrote in message
...
With some good weather finally reaching South East Ireland, I managed to

get
afloat twice so far this week out of Kilmore Quay aboard Eamonn Hayes'
Autumn Dream. On these trips I was fortunate enough to catch two specimen
sized Tope of 48lb and 59lb respectively. (The Irish record weight for a
Tope currently stands at 66lb with 40lb the minimum qualifying weight for

a
specimen).

Details of the larger fish have been submitted (along with photos) to the
Ireland's Eastern Region Fisheries Board for classification as a specimen.
However, even though the ERFB have said they will include the catch on

their
website and promotional material, they may choose not to register the fish
as a specimen as both the skipper and I agreed that it was wrong to kill a
female tope in pup for the benefit of a non-record claim. The fish was
weighed, measured and tagged and returned to the water otherwise unharmed

by
the experience.

In Ireland, Tope are a protected species and may not be killed except in
claim for a record or specimen catch. I think the ERFB should feel ashamed
that they demand a fish of this status be destroyed just to recognize the
validity of a relatively minor claim. Perhaps there is some merit to
verifying the weight of a record catch to prevent false claims by glory
seekers, but for an accolade as minor as having your catch recognized as a
specimen there can be no justification. Surely, the image of our sport

would
be enhanced by not demanding the death of a specimen fish?

Anyhow, just my $0.02. Out again this evening for the 59lb Tope's daddy!
Wish me luck.

Tight lines.


I was in a similar situation a few weeks ago when I caught a tope well into
the sixties and it took us a long time to get it on board. One of the guys
with us is a regular competition man and rather than claim glory I am being
even a little generous when I say 60Lb because it was the largest specimen
he had ever seen. Like yourself, rather than kill it we released it again
to fight another day. I used a full mackarel after bleeding it and then
drawing the knife along its two upper sides allowing a littlle scent to
escape! We had seven in all.


  #2  
Old September 27th, 2003, 11:42 PM
k.barrett
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Default Ireland specimen Tope...

just like to add ,a tope taken from Carlingford Lough, Co Down,in August, by
John Kehoe aboard his own boat the St Jude was guesstimated to weigh 62lb by
using a conversion formula which is attached, the fish was photographed
measured (59"longX29" girth) and returned to the water quickly, alive and
well,...think wexford has a bit to do before it claims thee record!!, POPS,.




 




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