How To - Fill in Capture Certificates (last updated 1100 21Mar05)
OR How to escape the Ire of your Weighmaster/Recorder and NOT be disqualified!
It should be understood that incomplete and incorrectly completed captures are liable to disqualification. The LGFC Recorder is generally Mr. Hyde but occasionally Dr. Jekyll!
Firstly: When you have some spare time read the instructions on the current certificate (No. 10000 & up). The instruction, written in red so that it will hopefully attract the attention of those who complete them, seems at first glance to be quite clear -
ALL ITEMS WITHIN THE RED BOX MUST BE COMPLETED FOR BOTH WEIGHED & TAGGED FISH
Failure to do so will attract automatic disqualification of the item or certificate
It is amazing, therefore, how many defective certificates are lodged.
Second: PRINT IN LEGIBLE CAPITALS
Third: Alterations by overwriting are not permitted - cross out the entry and re-enter separately - angler must initial each alteration.
Fourth: All capture certificates are in duplicate and bear a unique number - the duplicate is there for your own record and in case of loss of the original - Capture processing software rightly will not accept duplicates (without considerable difficulty on the part of the Recorder) - duplicates MAY NOT be used as originals and captures submitted on duplicates may be disqualified.
Fifth: Each line is a separate entry – ticks or “ to indicate ‘same as above’ are acceptable but blank spaces are not.
Here are some pointers on making the process painless for both you and your Recorder -
NAME: Angler's name (Firstname, not initial(s), where there is any possibility of confusion with another angler) - may be a non-member (which should be noted) in which case captures may be recorded for statistics BUT no points will be accrued.
DATE: Date of capture - strictly ONE day per certificate. Captures, where date of capture of individual entries is not clearly discernable, WILL be automatically disqualified.
ADDRESS: Angler's current postal address. (Does not have to be the address used in your membership application)
BOAT NAME: Self-explanatory! (Note: Boat points accrue to the boat name entered here. If the name or the boat is changed past points remain with the original name)
SPECIES: Something everyone gets right - Hallelujah!! (perhaps because leaving this one blank is absolutely automatic disqualification?)
CAPTURE LOCATION: As it says - Grid Position preferred OTHERWISE Lat/Lon OR local name 'Banks'. 'Markham', 'Buso' etc DO NOT LEAVE BLANK OR ASSUME THAT THE LOCATION WRITTEN AGAINST ANOTHER ENTRY WILL BE ENOUGH.
SCALE NO. (WEIGHED) or TAG NO. (TAGGED):
If the capture is a weighed fish enter here the Registered Scale No. of the scale used to weight the fish - this is the number provided by the Weighmaster on registration with the club. All scales used must be LGFC registered scales AND must be less than 12 months since last receiving certification from a testing authority.
If the capture was tagged enter here the Tag No.
A blank space here makes it impossible to determine whether the fish has been weighed or tagged & therefore the entry will be absolutely DISQUALIFIED.
SCALE WGT. (Weigh) or EST. WGT. (Tag) (Kg.):
If the capture is a weighed fish enter here the Weight indicated by the scale pointer or digital readout INCLUDING sling or tail rope if used - this is the reading read & witnessed by the 'Witness to Weighing'. Same for Gutted fish - enter here the actual indicated weight. ANGLERS MAY NOT PERFORM CALCULATIONS ON THIS FIGURE SUCH AS DEDUCTING THE WEIGHT OF TAIL ROPES OR ADDING A PERCENTAGE FOR GUTTED FISH. It is, however, perfectly legitimate, when using digital scales to 'Tare' out a tail rope by zeroing the scale with the tail rope only freely hanging.
If the capture was tagged enter here the Estimated (or weighed) weight as recorded on the Tag - and NO your Recorder is NOT going to dive into the pile of tags to find that!
Note that recorded weights which fall between the graduations of the scale used will absolutely DISQUALIFY the capture from club record contention.
LINE CLASS (Kg): Sounds self-explanatory and IS! - BUT NOTE - MUST also be entered for tagged fish.
BAIT? or LURE? or LIVE?: Truly self-explanatory but often left blank - a no-no of course!!
TICK if WEIGHED GUTTED: Tick this box if the fish was weighed after gutting - gutted fish attract a bonus of 10% when points are calculated, HOWEVER there is NO adjustment for record matching purposes. A 'tick' is all that is required - no other comment or notation and do NOT enter the weight or 'adjusted' weight here or elsewhere.
IF SLING USED TICK & ENTER WGT. OF SLING: If a sling or tail rope is used FIRSTLY the weight recorded under SCALE WGT. above is the weight INCLUDING the sling AND SECONDLY - here you will tick & enter the scale weight of the sling by itself. since the sling will normally be relatively light it will usually be weighed on a digital or low capacity scale.
As noted above it is however perfectly legitimate, when using digital scales to 'Tare' out a tail rope by zeroing the scale with the tail rope only freely hanging. In this case THERE SHOULD BE NO ENTRY IN THIS BOX.
POINTS: This is for 'Office use ONLY' & NO entry is required.
WITNESS TO CAPTURE: Any person other than the angler, preferably adult, who saw the fight/capture. ‘PRINT NAME’ means CAPITALS!
WITNESS TO WEIGHING: Note that ‘Financial Senior Member’ as indicated on the certificate is no longer valid. The requirement was changed to the following as from July 1, 2004 -
A person, OTHER THAN THE ANGLER, (wife/husband/partner acceptable) who is an LGFC registered weighmaster. IF you have trouble finding such a person please speak to the club Secretary about running a weighmasters course & you should ensure that suitable people attend.
SIGNATURE OF ANGLER: Last but by no means least, the angler must sign here attesting -
I hereby certify that the abovementioned fish were captured in accordance with the rules of the G.F.A.P.N.G. on regulation Game Fishing Tackle.
This is a serious statement - please ensure that you and those who fish with you have read the IGFA rules for both fishing and fishing tackle under which both we and the GFAPNG operate. They are available on the club website via the 'WHERE-HOW-WHY' page. They are the L-A-W under which we operate – all the more important because you are trusted to abide by them making competition equal for everyone.