I’ve always heard it like this, you turn the fish over and check both sides with the tail somewhat squeezed/twisted. You don’t stretch the fish, but if it easily touches the line, you have wether it’s a keeper or not.


After reading the OP’s post last night about a boat cover, I’m going to side with the tournament director in this case.

This is from TPWD.

If I'm wearing a pair of gloves like they normally do handling the fish at the measuring station, I can cram the 16" fish's face up against the board stop so hard it will be shorter by 1/4" than someone that lets the fish simply relax and pinches the tail to obtain maximum length. I have stood back and witnessed many fish being measured by a lot of guys. For the most part they do a good job.

The day the GW came to weigh in and took over measuring fish he did not adhere to these instructions. He also had the fish upside down compared to this image. I argued with him that if he flipped the fish over and remeasured the fish it would go over 24". He looked at me and said, "I am about to teach you a lesson. That fish is the same length on this side as it is the other!" He flipped the fish over and it clearly went over 24".

I pointed it out in front of Bob Sealy and several others that saw the tail go over the line. He said, "Nope, I didn't have the fish against the stop. He then proceeded to jam the fish's face against the board stop so hard the gill plate stuck up. This MADE the fish 1/4" shy of 24".

Bob Sealy came to me after I got the ticket and said, Ken, I saw that fish go over the line. I'm going to complain to the TPWD Commissioner. He must have. That was the last event the GW touched a fish at weigh in.

^ that is definitely BS.

🙏🙏🙏 and I wonder maybe a mean mouth or spot?

I wish someone from seally would of done something for me😔😔😔