Originally posted by george:
Certification of scales, with witness weighing of fish and in some cases line tests, is required by TP&W for state records, as well a IGFA for international records.
IMO, without certification, other records are only for bragging rights, which may be a lot of fun. 
George Glazener Good point but a good digital scale with the weight visible and displayed in the picture is a close second, and that is what we require if you don't have a certified scale. It has to be one or the other.
In remote areas of the country like Texas getting to a certified scale can be very difficult to do. And I don't know about you guys, but many times my biggest fish are taken just before dark in the summer close to or after the local grocery store closes. (Usually close at 9 p.M. around here). And add to that I am being told by anglers that some grocery stores refuse to weigh fish due to health department restrictions.
