FB89-May-Recognition-formatted.pdf

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Florida Fish Busters Bulletin

May 2013

Angler-recognition programs enhance pleasure

By Bob Wattendorf

Anglers of all ages enjoy showing off their

catch and recalling the memories. In fact, thats

pretty much been the case for all historical ages

as well. For instance, Chinese anglers used bamboo

rods, reels and silk lines in 3,000 B.C., and one can

imagine their pride in a big catch. Egyptian art,

from the age of the Pharoahs, shows hook-and-line

fishing not only for food but for pleasure and seems

to proudly document their prowess. The Compleat

Angler - or - the Contemplative Mans Recreation, by Izaak Walton, published in

England in 1655, boasted of the comparative size of catches between streams.

Thaddeus Norris in The American Angler (1864) referred to the need for

conservation and describes techniques for catching the biggest and best fish.

At least 46 of the 50 states have an angler recognition program to enhance

angler enjoyment and satisfaction, increase participation rates, attain fisheries data

and increase license sales. Nearly 75 percent of the states require a photo to

document the catch and more than half require use of a certified scale. Almost all

provide a customized certificate. A few also offer rewards (three states provide

Terrence Alford caught this 14 lb, 2 ozbass in April from Doctors Lake.


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drawings and seven provide incentives like shirts or lures). Special categories for

youth (13 states), recording multiple catches of different species (14 states) or

slams for catching a specific group of different species in a specified time (six

states) are also popular.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) does all this

and more for freshwater anglers.

April 30 concludes the first Hall of

Fame season for the innovative new

TrophyCatch program. No doubt about it,

though, TrophyCatch, Big Catch and the

State Record program are still going full

speed ahead year round. Read on for a more

detailed breakdown of the requirements for

each program:

State-record freshwater fish

Florida recognizes state records for 33 species of freshwater fishes. Some of

these are game fish and some are nongame fish, and some are native while others

are non-native. The poster illustrated here (also seeMyFWC.com/BigCatchto print

one) shows the various species along with the current state record. To be listed as a

state record, there are several stringent requirements. First, the fish must be

weighed on a certified scale. Second, the fish must be identified to species by an

FWC biologist. Third, the fish must be legally caught by a licensed (or legally

The first Hall of Fame bass in Florida's

TrophyCatch program was caught by Bob Williams,

with the help of his guide Sean Rush.
http://www.myfwc.com/BigCatchhttp://www.myfwc.com/BigCatchhttp://www.myfwc.com/BigCatchhttp://www.myfwc.com/BigCatch


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exempt) angler in waters where access and fishing gear were legal. State records

are only issued for active hook-and-line catches. Bushhooks, trotlines or bow-and-

arrow do not count. A certificate is issued for all state records, but specific line-class

or lake records are not maintained.

Big Catch angler recognition

This program began in 1953 as a fishing citation program to provide an

incentive for anglers to share photos of their Big Catch with Florida Wildlife

Magazine. In 1990, the FWC introduced new criteria with minimum weights for

each species. A 1996 revamp included new categories for specialists (five qualifying

fish of the same species), masters (five qualifying fish of different species), elite

anglers (10 qualifying fish of different species) and youth (approximately 25

percent smaller than adult minimum sizes). We also began allowing anglers to

enter fish based on length or weight, making it easier to document a catch. In 2012,

the FWC added slams for Black Bass, Bream and Exotics (see

MyFWC.com/BigCatch). Big Catch remains a very popular, family-oriented program

that allows legal catch-and-release or harvest, and only a simple bragging photo

and statement of the length or weight is required. Big Catch promotes fishing for a

diversity of species and, as a result, there is always a species that anglers can

target, regardless of the time of year or location.

TrophyCatch

This is Floridas newest and most rewarding angler recognition program. It

rewards anglers for documenting and releasing 8-pound and heavier bass. This
http://www.myfwc.com/BigCatchhttp://www.myfwc.com/BigCatchhttp://www.myfwc.com/BigCatch


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helps promote ecological, economic and social values while supporting conservation

efforts and providing valuable data to scientists. Largemouth bass are the most

popular recreational fish in North America, and trophies over 8 pounds take a while

to grow (typically six to eight years, although some fast growers may attain this

weight in four years, and others may never reach that size).

Since TrophyCatch helps market Florida as the Fishing Capital of the World

and generates business, industry partners provide incentives to encourage anglers

to recycle and report their catch. The data provided helps identify environmental

variables and FWC conservation efforts, such as habitat enhancement, stocking,

vegetation management and regulations, which support trophy fisheries. Since

accurate data is needed to manage trophy fisheries and to reward anglers, the

verification process is more stringent than for Big Catch.

Bass club levels

There are three club levels and for each the bass must be legally caught in

Florida and released:

Lunker Club (8-9.9 pounds)- Requirements: Photographic documentation showing entire fish

with weight and length discernable.

- Rewards: Bass King T-shirt, certificate, decal, discounts andweekly drawings for $50 Bass Pro Shops gift cards.

Trophy Club (10-12.9 pounds)- Requirements: Photographic documentation showing entire fish

with weight and length discernable.- Rewards: Long-sleeve Bass King T-shirt, certificate, decal,

discounts, $100 in gift cards for each released bass (from Bass

Pro Shops, Rapala or Dicks Sporting Goods) and drawings for

guided fishing trips.

Hall of Fame Club (13 pounds or greater)


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- Requirements: Certified by FWC staff, and verified on certifiedscale.

- Due to the need to hold the fish alive until certified, they areonly recognized from Oct. 1 to April 30 each year, when the

water is cooler and survival is better. Any other time of year, 13-

pound bass may be photographed and submitted for TrophyClub rewards.

- Rewards: Free $500 fiberglass fish replica from New WaveTaxidermy; $150 in gift cards from Bass Pro Shops, Rapala and

Dicks Sporting Goods; a hoody, duffle bag and other fishing

apparel from Bass King; a Glen Lau fishing video library; a Pro

Line Fishing Rod with US Reels casting reel; and more.

In addition, the biggest bass of the year caught in Osceola County and

verified as a TrophyCatch receives $10,000 from Explore Kissimmee. If a guide

helps to catch the fish, the guide is also rewarded with $2,500.

The biggest verified bass of the year caught in Florida wins the TrophyCatch

Championship Ring from the American Outdoors Fund.

To learn more and register, visitwww.TrophyCatchFlorida.com. Just

registering, makes you eligible for a Phoenix Bass Boat powered by Mercury. Once

registered, you can submit photos of your catch for any of these angler-recognition

award programs. Remember, for state records (33 species) a biologist needs to

examine the fish (alive or dead), and for Hall of Fame an FWC employee needs to

see certify your largemouth bass prior to its release. In both those cases, the fish

must be weighed on a certified scale. For TrophyCatchs Lunker Club and Trophy

Club, you take photos showing the length and weight and release the bass alive. For

Big Catch just take a photo and ensure the fish is longer than or heavier than the

qualifying weight. One last thing: If you have old photos for Big Catch, and know

the length or weight of the fish, they can be entered at any time.
http://www.trophycatchflorida.com/http://www.trophycatchflorida.com/http://www.trophycatchflorida.com/http://www.trophycatchflorida.com/


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Details are atTrophyCatchFlorida.com. Be sure to friend us on

FaceBook.com/TrophyCatchFloridaand like us at

YouTube.Com/TrophyCatchFlorida.

Whatever your age, wherever you fish in Florida, remember: The FWC is

ready to help commemorate and immortalize your memories. Post your photos and

share them with your social network.
http://www.trophycatchflorida.com/http://www.trophycatchflorida.com/http://www.trophycatchflorida.com/http://www.facebook.com/TrophyCatchFloridahttp://www.facebook.com/TrophyCatchFloridahttp://www.youtube.com/TrophyCatchFloridahttp://www.youtube.com/TrophyCatchFloridahttp://www.youtube.com/TrophyCatchFloridahttp://www.facebook.com/TrophyCatchFloridahttp://www.trophycatchflorida.com/


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Instant licenses are available atMyFWC.com/Licenseor by calling 888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356).

Report violators by calling 888-404-3922, *FWC or #FWC on your cell phone, or texting to

[email protected]. VisitMyFWC.com/Fishingand select more news, or scr.bi/Fish-bustersfor more

Fish Busters Bulletins. To subscribe to FWC columns or to receive news releases, visit

myfwc.com/Contact.

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