AOTY measuring for large fish to be released

I am trying come up with an agreed upon method for recording large fish for AOTY that you plan on releasing. I am thinking of fish in the 36"+ range.
It is very difficult to get the entire fish into one picture with the measuring device clearly visible.
How do people feel about a series of pics showing the fish and include a close shot of the tail showing total length.
I am working on rigging a flexible fabric tape measure to a clip so that it can be attached to the jaw an stretched to the tail.
Thoughts?
This would be for large fish like wild kings that are legal to keep but you would rather release or large ling or halibut that you would like to return b/c they are mature brood stock.
Thanks,
~B

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I have a 42 inch ruler sticker on my paddle that I use as a backup and for fish that are bigger than my board.  I got in in a captains bag at a tournament but I think you can find them for about $5. 

Yeah, they have those stickers at SPORTCO.

Somebody is getting set for their Alaska trip ...

-Allen

I can buy a 25 foot measuring tape at home depot....
The problem is taking a picture of a 45" fish in your lap and having it hold still long enough to secure a tape at both ends.

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Just in the experimental stage but this is what I'm working on.

For the measuring device, I've attached heavy duty Velcro to the back of a soft measuring tape (cut down to 54") with corresponding Velcro on the side of my yak.  For a nose board, Velcro attachment to the yak with a piece of plastic cutting board.  I've positioned this in relationship to the kayak cockpit so I should be able to hold a large Tule or sturgeon alongside, with both hands keeping some of the fish in the water (to keep legal), while taking the photo.

For the photo, I'm using a carbon ski pole shaft, to position a gopro camera set to take stills every .5 seconds, perpendicular to the side of the yak.  The wide angle of the gopro lens allows plenty of frame width for even the largest fish.  I can fit almost the entire length of an Hobie Adventure in the frame.  After holding the fish in position for one second I know I have my shot.

OK here is my first attempt ...
The goal is that you are able to secure the front of the tape to the fish's jaw then draw back to the tail for an accurate measurement. What thinks everyone? AOTY legal?


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I think it would be difficult not to have some degree of curve in the tape depending on the species you are using it with. 

How are you going to position the fish?  Holding it head up with the tape hanging by gravity to the tail?

At what point to you trust your fellow angler that says, "got an awesome 38" whatever", shows photos and does his best to tape it out quick to get the fish back in the water?  You fellows are quite serious about this.  I suggest one of the flexible sticker rulers put into one of your foot wells, slide the old nose of the fish to the end of the foot well, snap a full length photo, tail toward nose, then zoom in on the tape.  Two shots, flip that bad boy back in the drink and everyone knows you caught a hawg bigger than the hawg trough!

At what point to you trust your fellow angler that says, "got an awesome 38" whatever", shows photos and does his best to tape it out quick to get the fish back in the water?  You fellows are quite serious about this.  I suggest one of the flexible sticker rulers put into one of your foot wells, slide the old nose of the fish to the end of the foot well, snap a full length photo, tail toward nose, then zoom in on the tape.  Two shots, flip that bad boy back in the drink and everyone knows you caught a hawg bigger than the hawg trough!

Sounds great and I wish it was that easy.  Problem is it's illegal to completely remove some species from the water if you are going to release them, as you would to measure it in the foot wells.

Personally, I don't see a problem if the tape is slightly curved on a large fish like a halibut or sturgeon.  It will not affect the overall score much due to the low points per inch.  An accurate measurement is much more important on a panfish or surf perch where a 1/4 of an inch is worth almost as much as 1 inch for a Halibut or more than an inch for a sturgeon.  I like your measuring device FG.  Too bad it won't work on a sturgeon. Stupid middle of the head sucker mouth!

I think it would be difficult not to have some degree of curve in the tape depending on the species you are using it with. 

How are you going to position the fish?  Holding it head up with the tape hanging by gravity to the tail?

The fish would most likely be laying flat in my lap. The clip to hold the tape in place then the tape pulled to the tail. The inch of deflection over 45" is quite minimal...


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At what point to you trust your fellow angler that says, "got an awesome 38" whatever", shows photos and does his best to tape it out quick to get the fish back in the water?  You fellows are quite serious about this.  I suggest one of the flexible sticker rulers put into one of your foot wells, slide the old nose of the fish to the end of the foot well, snap a full length photo, tail toward nose, then zoom in on the tape.  Two shots, flip that bad boy back in the drink and everyone knows you caught a hawg bigger than the hawg trough!

Sounds great and I wish it was that easy.  Problem is it's illegal to completely remove some species from the water if you are going to release them, as you would to measure it in the foot wells.

Good point about those species and regs that require them to be kept in the water.

What says the guys who actually matter?
Polepole Bsteves Spot Zee ....
I would like to have an official word on measuring large fish.
Thanks!

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It is true that there are guys that matter here... however the removing them from the water doesn't matter from a regs point of view... if you can't keep it, you can't submit it so it doesn't apply to the aoty... as a participant, if it matters at all, I am a fan of choice... you have to measure what is more important, if it is more important to you to return the fish and you can't get a picture, then you make a choice - points or return the fish.  That being said... how often is the final decision gonna come down to a couple of inches?... so it may be that this just isn't that important...