In our ongoing drive to promote the wonderful species on the African Continent and especially here in South Africa we have made contact with IGFA (International Game Fish Association) regarding the status of Smallmouth and Largemouth Yellowfish in the Record Book. As yet they both are not eligible for line class, fly rod or junior records and the Smallmouth is not even in an all-tackle catergory. We believe that by promoting these species with IGFA we shall receive more international interest and thus put a value greater than already is on the species.
We have just recently had a promising response from Jack Vitek who is the World Records Coordinator for IGFA:
"Mr. Egner,
Thank you very much for your email and your interest in the IGFA. Regarding your question on adding these two species as world record fish; we currently have the largemouth yellowfish as an All-Tackle record, however we have not had a smallmouth yellowfish submitted and/or approved. The smallmouth is eligible for an All-Tackle record, as long as the fish weighs in the upper 50% of the species’ maximum weight, and the fish weighs over one (1) pound.
Currently, neither of these species are eligible for line class, fly rod, or junior records. I realize this is why you sent your email, and once again, I appreciate your interest in adding these species. We keep a running list of species that anglers have requested for line class and fly rod categories, and I will add these two species to that list. Once the species is added to the list, it will be discussed by members of IGFA staff and Board Members to see if it should be available for line class and fly rod categories.
This is not a very rapid process, so I do not want to mislead you into thinking that it will happen overnight. However, I can guarantee that these two species, along with your email, will be added to this file and discussed at our next meeting for this subject.
I hope this information has been helpful, and once again, thank you for your email. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any additional questions.
Best regards and good fishing,
Jack VitekWorld Records Coordinator300 Gulf Stream WayDania Beach, FL 33004(954) 924-4246"
So we await the outcome of the next meeting of the Board members and staff.
