Back in my club match fishing days in the late 50's/early 60's the measuring of fish(to know it was a 'goer' and therefore weighable)was always done on a special stainless steel rule with a turned-up end )against which the nose of the fish was pushed) that had the allowable length for a given species marked on it.
From memory a 'goer' dace was 7",a roach 8" and bream 12" etc etc and the length was always taken to the END of the tail and NOT the fork.
We had many matches with sometimes 3/4 clubs taking part,not to mention the Thames Championship which had hundreds of competitors and always the fish length was the overall length......
Now,I am NOT,repeat NOT saying this is the right or wrong way to measure fish,its just the way it was done by clubs around the north and west of London that I knew of at that time!
I've only raised this as Keith2 above says measure "to the fork of the tail" and I would just like to be sure if measuring to the FORK is correct and how/when (if this is the way fish are measured nowadays) this method was adopted......
To be absolutely sure I am understood; I am not aying Keith is wrong,I only want clarification!!
ps...I may well be wrong but I think the LAA stipulated the 'goer' length and to which point the measurement was taken.
I hope someone can respond to this and put me right,one way or the other............