Pacific Barracuda World Record:
The Incidental Record Holder
Steve Mras talks about the circumstances behind his 12 lb tippet Pacific Barracuda world record. Next time he'll read the fine print!
| Introduction |  |
Background | |
The Plan | |
Oops... | |
Editor's Comments... |
Steve's initial misunderstanding of the IGFA rules is not uncommon. The IGFA archives are probably full of record applications that were rejected for relatively minor violations. Fortunately, he was able to recover from his mistake, although, as he notes, his fish from the day before on 16lb class tippet would have been substantially bigger. It's too bad he didn't run into the same school of fish the next day!
The IGFA rules at times seem arcane, but they exist for a reason - to create a framework for objectively comparing the conditions under which a fish is caught.They've done a remarkable job trying to define a sport which is steeped in historical convention, regional preferences and obscure nuance. And while you may not agree with everything they've done, there's no denying that their rules, for the most part, work remarkably well.
As with all regulations, there are loopholes, and I think the IGFA would be the first to admit their rules are not airtight. But they are tackling a very difficult topic, and I think they do a very credible job of managing a very complex sport.
While I don't explicitly fish for world records, I personally try to rig all of my fly-fishing gear to IGFA specs. Why? To me, it's like playing golf according to USGA rules, with a set of clubs and balls that conform to the USGA regulations.
Am I trying to turn into a pro golfer? Or apply for an official handicap? If you've ever seen me golf, you'd know the answers to those questions are "NO". However, at the end of the day, having a framework for comparing my score to the score of others makes any improvements in my game more meaningful. For me, the sport of fishing is no different.
You say you don't like the IGFA, their rules, or world records? That's OK, too! Do what you like to do, and ignore what anyone else says (other than the DFG!). That's one of the beauties of our sport - you can make it as personal (or public) an experience as you want, and still have fun doing it!
On another note - at the same time the Pacific Barracuda was added to the world records list, the IGFA also created a new category of "Pacific Bluefin Tuna". Our local Bluefin Tuna fall into this category (which is separate from the already-existing Atlantic Bluefin and Southern Bluefin categories), and ALL OF THE TIPPET CLASSES ARE OPEN. Go give it a shot!
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