Ok, so i have noticed this term "stretching" floating around when it comes to measuring your shark. Now i know the simple anatomy of a shark and it is not made of elastic, i can tell you that much. You can't "stretch" a shark to make it larger than it already is just like you can't stretch the human body. Some people choose to measure the shark in a sort of slump form and some decide to straight it out (when you measure your own height do you slump or puff your chest and stand as tall as you can?)
That being said, you can pull the shark as straight as possible and pull the tail down to gain those few extra inches. Now is this a legal move in the BHC?... or is it looked at like standing on your toes when measuring you height?
Out of speculation from last years BHC i ask this question to stop some pointless arguments in the future. IS IT OK TO "STRETCH" A SHARK TO IT'S FULL POTENTIAL LENGTH? OR SHOULD IT BE MEASURED IN ITS (NATURAL?) FORM (TAIL STILL UP WITHOUT BEING PULLED)
I want to know that answer too!! Can you pull the tail down in the 2014 BHC or not???
I think it should be the shark in it's natural form, pulling the tail down would just be another sneaky trick; we shouldn't want to be known as the type of people trying to take advantage of the little things like that. All of the sharks I've ever measured were never stretched and the tape was always straight. If you measure a fat bull (for example) around the stomach you could gain about 4 inches. I think a true measure is more valuable than using tricks like that any day. Even the boat fishermen measure the shark straight out with the tape on the side of their boat. For the most part, the usual winners in the BHC measure their sharks in their natural form.
Just an average fisherman.
Also just to add you can physically stretch a shark.
On small one that can be lifted, if you lift from the tail you will hear popping, like popping your back, and this does give them some length. I believe it is hard on the shark so I try not to do it.
Also no shark that is capable of winning the BHC could be lifted by the tail.
In the end you are only fooling yourself. It's like cheating in golf.
Good input guys! Mark I agree with you that it should be taken in natural form but we don't live in a perfect world where everyone will do the honorable thing. I noticed how a few people lost their place in biggest bull last year because a 8'10" bull was pulled to make it 9' and a quarter inch beating the they 9 foot bull that could have been a couple inches larger if measured the same. Now if its allowed then by not "stretching" the shark you are crippling yourself aren't you?
And on actually being able to stretch you're shark, i was talking about larger sharks so you are correct there haha. im sure you could dislocate a baby sockets and vertebrates and make your newborn 4 ft tall 
SHARKS IN THE 2014 BHC CANNOT BE STRETCHED IN ANY FORM AND THE MEASURING TAPE MUST BE DOWN THE CENTERLINE OF THE SHARK ,AND THE TAPE CANNOT HAVE A WRINKLE IN IT BUT MUST BE HELD TAUT & STRAIGHT FROM TIP OF SNOUT TO TIP OF TAIL.THE REQUIRED USE OF A WOOD STAKE OR PVC IN THIS YEARS BHC WILL MAKE THE PROBLEMS OF THE PAST LESS LIKELY.THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR INPUT.
ps.....Dan why don't you set up a new Avatar,,,,look a bit naked without it
SOUTH FLORIDA SHARK CLUB -President SFSC-Founding Member est 1983 SFSC-Website Administrator BIG HAMMER SHARK TOURNAMENT -Founder Rene Memorial Sharkathon -Founder NMFS Shark Tagger
We can't have none of that!! Example--
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