Catching that State Record Fish

If an angler should catch a possible South Dakota state record fish, the
first thing to do is get it weighed on a certified scale.

Under South Dakota rules, the weight must be rounded down to the nearest
ounce. To replace the existing record, a fish must weigh at least one ounce
more. If it breaks the record by less than an ounce, the two fish will be
listed as co-holders of the record.

Once a possible state record has been caught, anglers should also contact a
Game, Fish and Parks official who will positively identify the fish and sign
a record fish form. In cases where positive identification of the species is
difficult, a qualified ichthyologist may have to look at the fish.

Anglers who think they may have caught a new state record fish should
remember that it is also important to:

* Keep the fish cool, preferably on ice.
* Have the fish weighed on a state-certified scale (with a witness
present)
* Take the fish to a GFP office for positive identification.

South Dakota's record fish information can be found online, along with some
record-fish photographs, at: <http://www.sdgfp.info/> www.sdgfp.info. From
there, click on the link to "Fishing" and then the link to "State Fishing
Records."

GFP, Pierre, SD