Eligible Species
NEW RECORD BLUEMOUTH: Sue Tait from Cork with her new record of 1.32 kg taken off Caherciveen on 28th July 2008
To make a claim for a specimen, you must have caught a fish recognised by the Irish Specimen Fish Committee which is equal to or exceeds the Specimen weight for that species. The list of eligible species is not fixed as an important function of the ISFC is to act as a focal point for data collection on the occurrence of notable, rare or unusual species taken on rod and line in Irish waters. This has led to species previously regarded as unusual being added to the list of eligible species and species suspended from the listing being returned as length based specimens.
Examples from recent years include
Bluemouth (Helicolenus dactylopterus) from 2002
Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) from 2002
Golden grey mullet (Liza aurata Risso) from 2005
Gilthead bream (Sparus aurata L.) from 2006
Blackmouthed dogfish (Galeus melastomus) from 2007
Common Skate
Gudgeon
The Irish Specimen Fish Committee recognised eligible species are divided into two different categories, Freshwater Species and Marine Species. To view The Irish Specimen Fish Committee up-to-date list (last revised 2020) of eligible Freshwater and/or Marine Species, specimen weight for that species, and Irish Record Weight of that species, click on the links below
The decision to establish a new specimen fish category is taken with due consideration of the information available to the Committee. One of the principle criteria is that the species should be captured in the ordinary course of angling. Other important factors include the numbers of the species taken over a given period, the distribution of the species and the weight of individual fish in comparison to their likely maximum achievable weight.
To begin the process of attempting to establish a new specimen fish category anglers are requested to submit a completed claim form for each fish captured. This is particularly important as it will establish a database on that species and enable further investigation and comparison of future claims. With most species the body will have to be forwarded for positive identification. Other arrangements would apply for large fish. The availability of the body is essential to allow the Committee to verify positive identification of the species. The claim form will allow monitoring of numbers and weights of the species. This facilitates assessment of the likelihood of capture, the likely specimen weight and the availability and seasonality of the species.
It is difficult to legislate for every situation that may arise but it must be stated that the final decision will rest with the Committee and will be based on a balanced review of the information available. While this process is progressing some details of interesting fish captured will be reported here and in the annual report as necessary.
| 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 | |
| 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 |
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| 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) |
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| 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 |
Exclusion from specimen status
Porbeagle:
For conservation reasons Porbeagle have been suspended from the specimen list.
Freshwater eel:
Suspended from ISFC list of eligible species. In compliance with the CONSERVATION OF EEL FISHING BYE-LAW, eel remains suspended from the specimen list.
Common Skate:
Sharks and rays (elasmobranchs) are a group of fishes requiring special consideration. In 1976 the Committee, in the interests of conservation, decided to remove the Common Skate (Raja batis) from the list of eligible fishes and not to consider any claims whatsoever, except for a possible new record (i.e. a fish weighing in excess of 100 kg (221 lbs)). It has since been retuned to the lists as a Length Based Specimen.
Undulate Ray and Monkfish:
The plight of two further elasmobranch species, the Undulate Ray (Raja undulata) and the Monkfish (Squatina squatina), has become very serious. They are under serious threat due to commercial fishing pressure and the Committee is anxious that their situation should not be exacerbated by angling. For this reason Undulate Ray and Monkfish were removed from the list of eligible species for 2006 onwards. Claims for a new record in either species will be considered provided that the fish is weighed on shore, photographed and returned alive. This moratorium continued for two further years until December 2008 when the situation was reviewed and extended gain for over 10 years. These species were subsequently returned to the lists as Length Based Specimens.