Angler Recognition Program

You're out on the water enjoying a day of fishing, when it happens -- that once in a lifetime event. You catch that trophy fish! Now what do you do? If you want to be included in the Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPW) Angler Recognition Program which includes certifying record fish, you have many options. Here are some ways you can be prepared so that the golden opportunity for your fifteen minutes of fame won't pass you by.

Before you go:

Prepare yourself for the possibility of catching that big fish. Have a copy of the current rules and the partial list of certified scales. You might even take an application form just so you'll make sure you get all the information you need. You must be following current rules and regulations for the fish species and the waters in which you are fishing. Only one person can catch the fish and the fish can't have anything in it to assist in locating the fish (like an electronic tagging device). In other words, the catch must be legal and unassisted in any way.

After you catch that trophy:

You must weigh the fish on certified scales (for a state record possibility) or measure the length if you want to release it. Then take several photos, especially for catch and release awards, state record, or water body record. When you are releasing the fish alive, you also must have a witness. If you are going to keep the fish, you have 3 days to weigh it on a certified scale; however, the sooner you weigh it, the better. The scales can be certified by the Texas Department of Agriculture, the International Game Fish Association or a commercial scales calibration company. If the fish is weighed on a non-certified scale, you have 30 days to get the scale certified.

Within 60 days, the application itself has to be sent in to TPWD with the photos and, for state records, the certified weigh that has the signature of a notary public. Photos of catches must be submitted for the three big categories, State Record, Water Body Record and Catch and Release. They can either be mailed with the application or sent via e-mail and become property of TPW. Forms can be found at the TPW web site or the nearest TPW office. This time frame will be waived if an angler submits the record to the International Game Fish Association.

Species identification will be made from photos sent with the application form. Photos of catches must be submitted for the three big categories, State Record, Water Body Record and Catch and Release. They can either be mailed with the application or sent via e-mail and become property of TPW. Once you've completed all that you should receive your certificate in a few weeks.

The program:

The Angler Recognition Program is divided into a few basic categories including where it is caught (freshwater and saltwater), method of fishing (fly fishing, rod & reel, all tackle, and other methods), age (junior angler, all ages) and special categories (catch and release, first fish award, elite angler award, big fish award, outstanding angler award, etc.). This article covers only those categories found in the saltwater section.

Several award categories have been added recently. As of June 1^st, 2003 Junior Anglers (16 years old and under) can compete in their own category as well as the regular categories. Any fish caught by a young angler can be recorded and recognized in the junior category, unless it surpasses the current record in the State Record/Water Body Record category. The fish will then be recognized in both the all ages and junior category.

The First Fish award is just that, an award for the first fish caught regardless of age. The Outstanding Angler Award is given to a noteworthy catch that doesn't fit into any of the official categories. The Texas Elite Anglers Award is given to an angler that has caught five different species in the Big Fish category. Only fish caught on or after May 1^st, 2004 will be considered for the Elite award.

Beginning January 1^st 2006 a new category was introduced, the State Catch and Release Record. This new category is for anglers who catch a noteworthy fish but don't have a scale onboard and want to release the fish. In this category the fish's length must be measured and there must be a witness to the live release. Only fish that meet or exceed the minimum length for a Big Fish Award (see list), qualify for this category. Currently there are seven fish recognized in this new category, a black drum, a red drum and common snook caught on rod & reel and a black drum and red drum caught using fly fishing gear.

These are only a condensed version of the program rules. If you are familiar with the program, note web site http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/programs/fishrecords/index.phtml has been recently updated so that users can select the kind of state records they want to see (Freshwater vs. Saltwater; Age Group; and Method of Fishing. Water Body Records are also selectable by Coastal Waters, Rivers and Streams, or Freshwaters from 7 different regions of the state).

The oldest fish record that is still on the books is a snook caught on January 1^st, 1937 that weighed 57.5 pounds. Some state records will never be broken, like the Goliath Grouper (Jewfish) that is now a catch-and-release-only fish. Legendary Galveston fisherman Gus Pangarakis caught a 551 pound Goliath Grouper in June of 1937 (rod reel category), and a 660 pound Goliath Grouper was caught in July 1975 (other method category, Jim Frith, spear gun).

So get out there and catch that trophy fish! Remember life's better outside.

Big Fish Award
Saltwater Species

Species – Minimum Length

Amberjack, Greater – 42 inches

Catfish, Gafftopsail – 20 inches

Croaker, Atlantic – 15 inches

Cobia (Ling) – 40 inches

Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) – 30 inches

Drum, Black – 20 inches

Drum, Red – 25 inches

Flounder – 17 inches

Jack, Crevalle – 36 inches

Mackerel, King – 40 inches

Marlin, Blue – 137 inches

Sailfish – 84 inches

Seatrout, Sand – 14 inches

Seatrout, Spotted – 20 inches

Sheepshead – 18 inches

Snapper, Red – 18 inches

Snook – 26 inches

Tarpon – 80 inches