How do YOU meaure fish?

[jcardona1]

its easy and shouldnt be so damn complicated.

if im gonna measure a fish's length, the measurement will go from where the fish "starts" to where it "ends". none of this dohickey about head to base of tail minus 3 scales for environmental and stress related factors

tip of its mouth, to the last strand of its tail fin

 

[aspear]

tip to tip. unless the fish has streamers like a tig. catfish

 

[oscarcrazy]

bigger is better, don't end with the meat, go total length.

 

[woofy]

i always count the whole fish tail and all in all of my measuring so when i say i have a 6" frontosa it from mouth to tip of tail if not it would be a 5" frontosa

 

[xFLEAxx]

Im voitng for TL, id put a poll on this

 

[Tongue33]

I was always taught to measure from tip to base of tail (caudal peduncle) but I see many shots of fish next to a tape or ruler stating the fish is "X" inches long but it includes the tail. So, what do you think, total length or to peduncle? I do know that if I'm buying or selling a fish I get the other persons definition first, so there are no hard feelings, I'm just asking to see what the general consensus is.

I do TL... TL to me is tail included.. If the tail is not there.. well the fish is shorter.. But I have seen fish alive with not only missing tail.. But missing all the way to the anal canal.. So hence.... I go TL...

And next to a ruler on a plastic bag

If I gage it without measurements.. Your measurements would likely be smaller than mine even if you added the tail lenght I over do it alittle when i am guestimating

The last one was to Tug here.. I measured.. the Fish at 6".... He wasn;t happy when it was 12"!!! Looke like six to me