I recently wrote a book titled, "The Art of Fishing for Records," and I am working on some other projects concerning fishing for records. I am updating my research, and I need to know how many of you are interested in fishing for freshwater records. I know some of you out there have caught record fish that were never recorded. If you are not interested in documenting records, please let me know why. Thank you in advance.

Fishing is for fun, not work. I caught what would have been a state record carp years ago, it swam off peaceably. Plus I usually fish alone, no certified scales close, and it just doesn't seem like fun to me.

That is exactly the kind of reply I am looking for - on the not interested side. BillS2006 thanks for taking time to reply.

Check over in the bluegill/sunfish section of the forum.
Banker-always fishing which is his screen name, is our own TFF expert on obtaining the forms and information necessary to record your record catches.
He also holds many freshwater records.
I'm sure he can answer any question you may have on fishing for records!

My personal take is that it's a personal thing, and I've held records before and had for several years only to have them broken.
Records are going to be broken eventually, so I guess it's just being able to say, "I once held a record" can be satisfying as holding the record itself?

Not for me. I prefer catching numbers of fish.

Just to clarify, I have no problem with record seekers. If that's what floats their boats, so be it.

For bass, I like to read the details of the catch: moon phase, time of day, lure used, lake, etc.. But as far as just fishing for a record, no thanks.

My sons and I hold several fish records in Louisiana. It takes some work to identify locations for certified scales beforehand, as well as the location and hours of the state biologist. More time to comply with paperwork, photos, and witness requirements.

I could see jumping through all the hoops again if we end up with a top 5 fish in the boat.

When they first started the Fly Fishing section I was living on Bob Sandlin and decided to try to catch the record for every kind of fish that was in the lake. I checked the other day and they have all been replace except the Channel Cat. It was something to do but has no real meaning .

I have no interest in seeing my name in lights, or a record book . So no intentional record pursuit, here.

I have more fly fishing records than anyone else in Texas, that and $2.00 will buy me a cup of coffee. It's a fun hobby, but that's all it is is a hobby. All it means is that I took the time to file for records while most don't want to fool with the hassle. No doubt that people have beaten every one of my records but they just didn't care about it or didn't want to spend the time to file - to each his own. To me it's simply a fun hobby.

I don't fish for records but did catch a lake record smallmouth once while in a bass tournament so it was entered. Record held for a couple years before being beat out by someone fishing with live bait, last time I checked that record still holds many years later. The fact that live bait catches are included with artificial and the fact 2nd places are not listed on lake records discourages me from doing the paperwork in the future....

I enjoy BIG fish records. I honestly can't appreciate someone catching a 2 lb fish with 2 lb line and setting some kind of record for that tactic. Have a fly record and rod/reel record and be done with it.

My daughter caught a Jr. angler, water body record red ear when she was 5. Since I did not have certified scales, and no access to a certified scale nearby, I would have had to just let it die to get it certified. We gladly let it go.

If you fish enough and have everything lined up it's no big deal.
If you set out to just record fish you are setting yourself up to be disappointed on the majority of your trips.