Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Tue Jan 15, 2013 7:18 pm

Yes it should Jim,the company I work for also gets a calibration company in to do all our calibration and as said before if its good enough for the FDA and BSI surely it should be good enough for them..

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Tue Jan 15, 2013 7:24 pm

Hi, can I just ask, exactly which kind of scales are required for proper fish weighing and how much do they cost?

Where can they be bought? Thanks.

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Tue Jan 15, 2013 8:41 pm

jim jim jim,hope we are not doing a u turn already,it would be no harm to let them know how the anglers feel,as its not just 50euro,its also near 16.50 to register scales and send it,eddie..........

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Tue Jan 15, 2013 10:40 pm

cathalger wrote:Hi, can I just ask, exactly which kind of scales are required for proper fish weighing and how much do they cost?

Where can they be bought? Thanks.

cathalger wrote:Hi, can I just ask, exactly which kind of scales are required for proper fish weighing and how much do they cost?

Where can they be bought? Thanks.


Basically any scales will do. It must be certified annually. You will find that the cheaper scales tend to fail sooner. The certification process is not a calibration but a check for accuracy ie: here's your scales back it did not pass or here's your cert, it passed.

In my experience the most common scales used are the Ruben Heaton 7000 series and the Salter Electro Sampson. Both of these are digital scales.

Angling shops and eBay are the usual.

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Tue Jan 15, 2013 10:49 pm

jim may be right here as to every one writing,as im sure they will be ignored anywa However if people do know the "sir willie" maybe a word in his ear hole would help and maybe get back to us with his replies sooner rather than later

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Wed Jan 16, 2013 1:25 am

Basically any scales will do. It must be certified annually. You will find that the cheaper scales tend to fail sooner. The certification process is not a calibration but a check for accuracy ie: here's your scales back it did not pass or here's your cert, it passed.

In my experience the most common scales used are the Ruben Heaton 7000 series and the Salter Electro Sampson. Both of these are digital scales.

Angling shops and eBay are the usual.



Thanks for all this Jim, must google those scales. Have been using a salter spring balance for years and replacing it now and then, they read the same a proper balance scale in a friends kitchen so its been good enough for personal use. Think mine is called a Salter Little Samson. Only goes up to 14lb though. Only once was it not big enough for the fish I was weighing.

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Wed Jan 16, 2013 10:24 am

dezzer wrote:jim jim jim,hope we are not doing a u turn already,it would be no harm to let them know how the anglers feel,as its not just 50euro,its also near 16.50 to register scales and send it,eddie..........


Not sure where you're at there Ed.

The reason for contacting the IFSC about this would be to voice our displeasure about the current expensive system that forces us to send scales to Dublin for certification and to confirm that certification from other reputable companies would be acceptable.

I am more encouraged this year. While the website still talks of "competent authorities" the 2012 report mentions "reputable agency/company" certifying scales. This would lead me to believe that other certifying companies should be acceptable. It would be great if the IFSC brought out a template for an accuracy check/certification that could be filled by the reputable agency/company.

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Wed Jan 16, 2013 11:44 am

Jim I agree with you,u turn was to do with sending emails to the isfc,although it might waste their time let them know the feelings of the anglers,I'm sure all of us anglers would like to get this sorted,eddie....

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Wed Jan 16, 2013 4:07 pm

I would not be bothered getting my scales certified for 50 euro a year, I caught a specimen 3 beard rockling last year weighed on my previously certified scales im happy with that, I was happy enough with a picture and let it back to the depts to continue living.
one way that might encourage me to certified my scales for probable future specimen catches would be if they let the cert run for upto 3 or 4 years there is no need for a decent reputable scales to be tested every year :? 50 euro devided x 3 = 16.66 a year now that wouldnt be so bad devided X 4 would be even better :wink:

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Wed Jan 16, 2013 5:33 pm

I too didn't bother to get my scales certified this year. I wasn't going to pay €50 euro. I honestly have never heard of a bigger rip off than this. I would be pay €20 for the 15 minutes work that it takes.

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Wed Jan 16, 2013 5:44 pm

Over the years the Government (Tourist Board) and the Fisheries Board were happy to quote figures from the Irish Specimen Fish Committee data, which was supplied by us anglers at our own cost, to promote angling in Ireland.

The question is how many more anglers didn’t get their scales certified.

I have 2 Samson Electro scales with different Cert dates on them so I would never have one out of date.
At the cost of getting 2 scales certified I didn’t bother renewing the certs when they expired.

Last year I had 2 specimen fish a Megrim (0.88kg) and a Red gurnard (1.05kg) both weighed on these scales.
Now that would have been two extra fish in the Specimen Book for 2012.

How many more anglers were in the same situation and did not record their specimen fish because of the new costs involved, thus giving the I.S.F.C. records a DISTORTED figure

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Wed Jan 16, 2013 5:57 pm

Your all right lads it is a Joke and would only happen in Ireland..
I will not be paying 50 euro so hopefully this my change soon before I catch all my specimens this summer

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:11 pm

John1,thats a good idea,a three year cert for that money,and donal very well put,crazy money for 15 minutes work,maybe we can all chip in a euro and get a scales done,and all use the cert....

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Wed Jan 16, 2013 7:20 pm

I cant imagine a 3 year cert being allowed. What happens if the cert starts reading wrong after a year or 2 and is only noticed when its tested again? This can obviously still happen with a 1 yearly cert but is less likely.

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Wed Jan 16, 2013 7:32 pm

red wrote:I cant imagine a 3 year cert being allowed. What happens if the cert starts reading wrong after a year or 2 and is only noticed when its tested again? This can obviously still happen with a 1 yearly cert but is less likely.
Verification of your scales can be done by yourself say once a week or month if is out just get it calibrated again

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Wed Jan 16, 2013 7:38 pm

red wrote:I cant imagine a 3 year cert being allowed. What happens if the cert starts reading wrong after a year or 2 and is only noticed when its tested again? This can obviously still happen with a 1 yearly cert but is less likely.


I dont see any reason why it cant be done over a 3 year period unless it is purley a profit making excercise, the scales would only be used for standard specimen claim's. if you were to make a Record claim other rules would apply.

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:51 am

I think if you go that route John it gets very messy... I think it should be a yearly cert. Not everyone looks after the equipment and if mistreated a scales will start to loose accuracy quickly. Yearly is the way to go, they just have to STOP ripping people off... 15 - 20 quid max and people might start to take interest again and it also protects the integerity of the process. I honestly feel that the integrety will start to suffer the longer this nonsence charge goes on.

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Thu Jan 17, 2013 5:13 pm

I use Salter Electro Sampson 25kg scales... My first set started to read wrong after about 15kg(which i never needed anyway) after a few years but the guys that calibrate them can reset them to factory settings.
I have a set of calibrated weights and check my new set every couple of weeks and had no accuracy issues yet..
The main problem with Salters is the lack of waterproof housing!! Im thinking about getting a set of Rubens this year..
Anyone have info on them???

As for you guys paying 50euro,i think its defo a tad on the expensive side!!
We`ve always had to pay but its only £24(30euro) for collection only!!
Can you lot get money off if you collect them in person??

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Thu Jan 17, 2013 7:18 pm

the guys that calibrate them can reset them to factory settings.

8) my thoughts precisely - reset - and they are as good as new :D you can even find the reset code online yourself :wink:

Re: Specimen fish report 2012

Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:31 pm

Davy Murdoch wrote:I use Salter Electro Sampson 25kg scales... My first set started to read wrong after about 15kg(which i never needed anyway) after a few years but the guys that calibrate them can reset them to factory settings.
I have a set of calibrated weights and check my new set every couple of weeks and had no accuracy issues yet..
The main problem with Salters is the lack of waterproof housing!! Im thinking about getting a set of Rubens this year..
Anyone have info on them???

As for you guys paying 50euro,i think its defo a tad on the expensive side!!
We`ve always had to pay but its only £24(30euro) for collection only!!
Can you lot get money off if you collect them in person??


davy we got a set of the digital ruben heaton RH7030 that weigh up to 30kg/66lb back in 2010 fom harrys and i could'nt fault them. they have been humped all around ireland and norway in everything from tackle boxes, rucksacks and suitcases and they are still going strong. they have got a soaking a few times too and are only ever out a few g's right up at the far end of the scale when getting certified. i just take them up to the place beside tesco at belviour to get them certified each year at a cost of £25. but if you phone ahead you can drop them in then pop into tesco to do a bit of shopping and by the time you are done your scales are ready to be collected :P