Fish Identification Requirements

The identification of a fish must be fully documented where there is a possibility of its confusion with any other (and particularly larger) species. For this reason, the Committee in respect of some species insists on scales from the fish with, close up photographs or the actual body as actual proof of identification before it will consider claims. To find out more information about Indentification Requirements, Irish Record Weight and Specimen weight for Freshwater and Marine Speices, click on the links below

→ Indentification Requriements Overview

→ Indentification Requriements for Record Fish

→ Identification Requirements using Genetic Fingerprinting – Shad and Smooth-Hound

→ Freshwater Species, Irish Record weight, Specimen Weight and the Identification Requirements

→ Marine Species, Irish Record weight, Specimen Weight and the Identification Requirements

 

Indentification Requriements Overview

Identification requirements differ from species to species, with some species requiring the actual body for identificiation whereas other species, fish scales are sufficient. It is important that anglers provide the ISFC with the correct supporting documentation to ensure claims are ratified. The table below outlines different identification requirement (fish scales, actual body, photographs) for the the different species along with a description of Indentification features to be documented. To find out more information about a specific specimen and their identification requirements, please go to Irish Record weight, Specimen Weight and Identification Requirements

Identification Requirement	Description of Identification features to be documented
Fish Scales	Fish Scales must be submitted in respect of claims for the following species SALMON, SEA TROUT, BROWN TROUT (including SLOB TROUT) RUDD, ROACH, and their hybrids, DACE and SHAD. Any brown trout taken in tidal waters, i.e., in the sea or in an estuary below the freshwater boundary as defined for that river will be regarded for claim purposes as a slob trout. About 10 scales gently removed from one shoulder of the fish should be sent with each salmonid claim, whereas 3 scales are required from each cyprinid.
The Actual Body	The Actual Body must be forwarded for identification in the case of the following species ANGLER FISH, BRILL, DAB, GARFISH (head and gills only), LESSER SPOTTED DOGFISH, FLOUNDER, GREY & RED GURNARDS, HERRING, MEGRIM, MACKEREL, GREY MULLET, GOLDEN GREY MULLET and RED MULLET, RAYS BREAM, THREE BEARDED ROCKLING, SCAD, TORSK, CUCKOO WRASSE and BLACK BREAM. NB – Claims may be ratified where a photograph is of sufficient quality to provide conclusive evidence (i.e. key identification features clearly visible) to identify a fish, to the satisfaction of the Committee.
Photographs	CLEAR, SHARP, CLOSE-UP PHOTOGRAPHS, should support each claim. The entire fish on its side with the dorsal and anal fins fully splayed, and close up photographs of the head (side on) are requried for each fish claimed. Features should be easily seen, and not fore-shortened or obscured by shadows or bystanders. Photographs must be provided in the case of the following ALL CYPRINIDS, TOPE, SHARKS, SMOOTH-HOUND, SKATE, RAYS, BLUEMOUTH, MONKFISH, POLLACK, BALLAN WRASSE, TRIGGERFISH, COALFISH, ALBACORE, TUB GURNARD (pectoral fins of gurnard must be fully expanded), GILTHEAD BREAM (whole body and head shot showing mouth and eyes) and BLACKMOUTHED DOGFISH. Features to photograph differ for each fish species. To find out more information about features to photograph for a specific species, please go to Photographing Fish SPECIAL NOTE – Stakes and Rays: In the case of skates and rays, photographs of both back and belly surfaces should be provided and particulars of the coloration given (with particular reference to the presence of dark or grey spots, or streaks or patches on the belly side). SPECIAL NOTE – Mako Sharks: Detailed photographs of the teeth should be furnished in the case of Mako Sharks. In addition, there should be a clearclose-up photograph showing the jaws and teeth exposed.

Identification Requirements for Record Fish

If you want to make a Record Fish Claim, the ISFC states that the claim must be supported by

• A series of clear photographs showing relevant features for positive identification and;
• A clear indication of fish length (perferably a ruler/fish measurement mat). Records will be weight based only.

Identification Requirements using Genetic Fingerprinting – Shad and Smooth-Hound

The success of ongoing collaborations between the ISFC, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the School of Biology and Environmental Science at University College Dublin on shad (Alosa spp.) and smooth-hound (Mustelas spp.) meant these species can now be identified by genetic fingerprinting. This eliminates the requirement for a body to be presented for both groups of fish. An extensive study of smooth-hound carried out by Dr. Edward Farrell, formerly UCD, found no evidence of M. mustelas (Common smooth-hound) in Irish waters despite extensive sampling. Therefore ISFC no longer require a tissue sample for genetic analysis to support a claim for a smooth-hound.
Scale storage and photographic requirements are described below. As genetic analysis of scales requires considerable time to process samples anglers are requested to submit scale samples as soon as is feasible and before 15th October.

Species	Sample required	Storage	Additional information
Roach, Rudd and their hybrids	3 scales	In an envelope with fish details and date	Good quality photographs required
Shad species	3 scales	In an envelope with fish details and date	Ensure fish is retained in water as much as is feasible
Notes: As all fish can be returned alive please handle carefully. Allow envelope to dry out to preserve the sample. Do not store scales or tissue in plastic as sample will degrade

Irish Record Weight, Specimen Weight and Identification Requirements

Below is a list of Specimen fish, Indentification Requirements, Irish Record Weight and Specimen weight for both Freshwater and Marine Speices (last revised 2013). Please note that where species indentification states a body is requried, high quality photographs may suffice (see Indentification Requirements Overview)

Freshwater Species, Irish Record weight, Specimen Weight and the Identification Requirements

Species	Irish Record Weight		Specimen Weight		Length based Specimen	Species Identification reuirements
Bream (Abramis brama)	6.07 kg		3.402 kg	7.5 lbs
Carp (Cyprinus carpio)	14.24 kg		5.9 kg	13 lbs
Dace (Leuciscus leucisus)	1 lb	2 ozs	0.3 kg	0.66 lbs		Scales and Photos
Eel (Anguilla anguilla)	6 lbs	15 ozs	suspended from listings
Gudgeon (Gobio gobio)			0.035 kg	0.0772	≥14cm Fork Length	Photo on measuring mat
Perch (Perca fluviatilis)	5 lbs	8 ozs	1.2 kg	2.646 lbs
Pike (Esox lucius) (Lake)	42 lbs	12 ozs	13.608 kg	30 lbs	≥115cm Fork Length
Pike (Esox lucius) (River)	42 lbs		9.072 kg	20 lbs	≥100cm Fork Length
Roach (Rutilus rutilus)	1.425 kg		0.907 kg	2 lbs		Scales* and Photos
Roach/Bream Hybrid	7 lbs		1.6 kg	3.528 lbs		Scales* and Photos
Roach/Rudd Hybrid	2.1 kg		0.9 kg	1.98 lbs		Scales* and Photos
Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus)	-	-	0.9 kg	1.98 lbs		Scales* and Photos
Rudd/Bream Hybrid	7 lbs	10 ozs	1.2 kg	2.64 lbs		Scales* and Photos
Tench (Tinca tinca)	8.15 lbs		2.722 kg	6 lbs	≥52cm Fork Length
Salmon (Salmo salar)	57 lbs		9.072 kg	20 lbs	≥90cm Fork Length	Scales
Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) (Lake)	26 lbs	2 ozs	4.536 kg	10 lbs	≥75cm Fork Length	Scales
Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) (River)	20 lbs		2.268 kg	5 lbs	≥57cm Fork Length	Scales
Sea Trout (Salmo trutta)	16 lbs	6 ozs	2.722 kg	6 lbs	≥64cm Fork Length	Scales
Slob Trout (Salmo trutta)	-	-	4.536 kg	10 lbs		Scales

* for genetic profiling

Marine Species, Irish Record weight, Specimen Weight and the Identification Requirements

Species	Irish Record Weight		Specimen Weight		Length Based Specimen	Species Identification Requirements
Angel Shark (aka Monkfish) (Squatina squatina)	73 lbs		No Specimen Weight		≥125cm Total Length	Photo on measuring mat
Angler Fish (Lophius piscatorius)	42.985 kg		8.0 kg	17.64 lbs		Photos or Body
Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)	17 lbs	13 ozs	4.536 kg	10 lbs	≥75cm Total Length
Black Sole (Solea solea)	6.32 lbs		0.6 kg	1.32 lbs
Black Bream (Spondyliosoma cantharus)	1.46 kg	-	0.79 kg	1.75 lbs	≥36cm Total Length	Photos or Body
Bluemouth (Helicolenus dactylopterus)	1.32 kg		0.9 kg	1.9845 lbs	≥38cm Total Length	Photos
Brill (Scophthalmus rhombus)	9 lbs	8 ozs	1.6kg	3.53 lbs		Photos or Body
Coalfish (Pollachius virens)	15.1 kg		6.0 kg	13.23 lbs	≥86cm Total Length	Photos
Cod (Gadus morhua)	42 lbs		7.0 kg	15.43 lbs	≥88cm Total Length
Conger Eel (Conger conger)	72 lbs		18.144 kg	40 lbs	≥165cm Total Length
Dab (Limanda limanda)	2 lbs	5.5 ozs	0.6 kg	1.32 lbs	≥37cm Total Length	Photos or Body
Dogfish - Blackmouthed (Galeus melastomus)	1.33 kg		1.0 kg	2.205 lbs	≥67cm Total Length	Photo on measuring mat
Dogfish - Lesser Spotted (Scyliorhinus caniculus)	4 lbs	4 ozs	1.474 kg	3.25 lbs		Photo on measuring mat
Dogfish - Greater Spotted (Scyliorhinus stellaris)	23 lbs	13 ozs	7.257 kg	16 lbs	≥115cm Total Length	Photo on measuring mat
Dogfish - Spur (Squalus acanthias)	11.06 kg		5.443 kg	12 lbs	≥105cm Total Length	Photo on measuring mat
Flounder (Platichthys flesus)	4.91 lbs		1.1 kg	2.4255 lbs	≥45cm Total Length	Photos or Body
Garfish (Belone belone)	1.729 lbs		1.0 kg	2.205 lbs	≥89cm Total Length	Head and gills
Garfish (Belone svetovidovi)	1.11 lbs		0.3 kg	0.875 lbs		Head and gills
Gilthead Bream (Sparus aurata)	3.505 kg		1.4 kg	3.08 lbs	≥42cm Total Length	Photo (whole body, head shot showing mouth & eyes)
Gurnard - Gray (Eutrigla gurnardus)	3 lbs	1 ozs	0.600 kg		≥40cm Total Length	Photos or Body
Gurnard - Red (Aspitrigla cuculus)	3 lbs	9.5 ozs	0.907 kg	2 lbs	≥45cm Total Length	Photos or Body
Gurnard - Tub (Trigla lucerna)	12 lbs	3.5 ozs	2.0 kg	4.41 lbs		Photo (pectoral fins must be fully expanded
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglifinus)	5.39 kg		2.5 kg	5.51 lbs	≥63cm Total Length
Hake (Merluccius merluccius)	25 lbs	5.5 ozs	2.2 kg	4.85 lbs	≥68cm Total Length
Halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus)	156 lbs		12 kg	26.46 lbs
Herring (Clupea harengus)	0.48 kg		0.34 kg	0.75 lbs		Photos or Body
John Dory (Zeus faber)	7 lbs	8 ozs	1.814 kg	4 lbs
Ling (Molva molva)	55 lbs		11.34 kg	25 lbs	≥125cm Total Length
Mackerel (Scomber scombrus)	4 lbs	2 ozs	1.0 kg	2.5 lbs	≥44cm Total Length	Photos or Body
Megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis)	1.85 kg		0.794 kg	1.75 lbs	≥49cm Total Length	Photos or Body
Mullet - Gray, thick lipped (Chelon labrosus)	9.1 lbs		2.268 kg	5 lbs	≥55cm Total Length	Photos or Body
Mullet - Golden Gray (Liza aurata)	1.52 kg		0.68 kg	1.5 lbs		Photos or Body
Mullet - Thin Lipped (Liza ramada)	2.95 kg		1.5 kg	3.31 lbs		Photos or Body
Mullet - Red (Mullus surmuletus)	0.82 kg		0.4 kg	1.0 lbs		Photos or Body
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa)	8.23 lbs		1.2 kg	2.65 lbs	≥48cm Total Length
Pollack (Pollachius pollachius)	19 lbs	3 ozs	5.0 kg	11.02 lbs	≥80cm Total Length	Photos
Pouting (Trisopterus luscus)	4 lbs	13.5 ozs	1.361 kg	3 lbs
Ray - Blonde (Raja brachyura)	37 lbs		11.34 kg	25 lbs	≥100cm Total Length	Photo on measuring mat
Ray - Cuckoo (Raja naevus)	5 lbs	11 ozs	1.6 kg	4.0 lbs	≥63cm Total Length	Photo on measuring mat
Ray - Electric (Torpedo nobiliana)	40 kg		9.072 kg	20 lbs		Photo on measuring mat
Ray - Homelyn (Raja montagui)	8.28 lbs		2.268 kg	5 lbs	≥65cm Total Length	Photo on measuring mat
Ray - Painted (Raja microocellata)	17.21 lbs		4.536 kg	10 lbs	≥80cm Total Length	Photo on measuring mat
Ray - Sting (Dasyatis pastinaca)	33.2 kg		13.0 kg	30 lbs	≥90cm Total Length	Photo on measuring mat
Ray - Thornback (Raja clavata)	37 lbs		7.0 kg	17.64 lbs	≥100cm Total Length	Photo on measuring mat
Ray - Undulate (Raja undulata)	18 lbs		No specimen weight		≥85cm Total Length	Photo on measuring mat
Ray's Bream (Brama brama)	6 lbs	4.25 ozs	2.0 kg	4.41 lbs		Photos or Body
Red Sea Bream (Pagellus bogaraveo)	9 lbs	6 ozs	1.0 kg	4.0 lbs
Rockling – Shore (Gaidropsarus mediterraneus)†					≥30cm Total Length†	Photo on measuring mat
Rockling, Three Bearded (Gaidropsarus vulgaris)	3 lbs	1 oz	0.794 kg	1.75 lbs	≥40cm Total Length	Photos or Body
Scad (Trachurus trachurus)	1.97 lbs		0.680 kg	1.5 lbs	≥44cm Total Length	Photos or Body
Shad – Allis (Alosa alosa)	-	-	1.814 kg	4 lbs		Scales
Shad - Twaite (Alosa fallax)	1.54 kg				≥50cm Total Length	Scales No weight based claims, unless new record
Shark - Blue (Prionace glauca)	206 lbs		45.359 kg	100 lbs	≥185cm Fork Length	Photo on measuring mat
Shark - Mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)	-	-	90.718 kg	200 lbs		Photo on measuring mat
Shark - Porbeagle (Lamna nasus)	365 lbs		No Specimen weight		≥180cm Fork Length	Fish to be measured in water alongside vessel with 180 cm mark clearly visible on measuring device
Shark - Six-Gilled (Hexanchus griseus)	480 kg		45.359 kg	100 lbs		Photo on measuring mat
Shark – Thresher (Alopias vulpinus)	-	-	54.431 kg	120 lbs		Photo on measuring mat
Short Spined Sea Scorpion (Myoxocephalus scorpius)†			0.26	.573	≥25cm Total Length†
Skate - Flapper (Dipturus intermedius)	221 lbs		No Specimen Weight		≥180cm Total Length	Photo on measuring mat Previously know as Skate - Common (Raja batis)
Skate – Long Nosed (Raja oxyrinchus)	-	-	36.287 kg	80 lbs		Photo on measuring mat
Skate - White (Raja alba)	165 lbs		No Specimen Weight		≥180cm Total Length	Photo on measuring mat
Smooth-Hound (Mustelas asterias)	11.27 kg		4.5 kg	9.94 lbs	≥103cm Total Length	Photo on measuring mat
Stone Basse (Polyprion americanus)	11.72 lbs		3.628 kg	8 lbs
Tope (Galeorhinus galeus)	34.02 kg	8 ozs	18.144 kg	40 lbs	≥155cm Total Length P	Photo on measuring mat
Torsk (Brosme brosme)	4.858 kg		2.0 kg		≥40cm Total Length	Photos or Body
Trigger Fish (Balistes carolinensis)	2.54 kg		1.474 kg	3.25 lbs		Photo
Tuna - Albacore (Thunnus alalunga)	29.96 kg		12 kg	26.46 lbs		Photo
Tuna - Bluefin (Thunnus thynnus)	440 kg	suspended from listings
Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)	34 lbs		5 kg	11.02 lbs
Whiting (Merlangius merlangus)	4 lbs	14.5 ozs	1.361 kg	3 lbs	≥54cm Total Length
Wrasse Ballan (Labrus bergylta)	4.3 kg		2.154 kg	4.75 lbs	≥48cm Total Length	Photo
Wrasse – Corkwing (Symphodus melops)†			0.015	0.033	≥24cm Total Length	Photo
Wrasse Cuckoo (Labrus mixtus)	2 lbs	7 ozs	0.567 kg	1.25 lbs	≥35cm Total Length	Photo

N.B. Where species identification states body required, high quality photographs (see Rule 4) may suffice.
† Claims are invited for these species (Corkwing Wrasse, Shore Rockling & Short Spined Sea Scorpion) in order to set specimen thresholds