Each year numerous anglers take to the water in hope of catching a trophy-sized fish. For those lucky enough to land a large fish, one way of marking the event is to enter the fish in DEC’s New York State Angler Achievement Awards Program. Started in the early 1900s and expanded in 1990, this program officially recognizes anglers for their fishing accomplishments. Awards are given for catching any of 45 different eligible freshwater fish species. You can get an award for catching a one pound perch just as easily as you can for catching a 33 pound chinook salmon. You can enter your catch in any of three categories—Annual Award, Catch and Release, and State Record.
Annual Award
The Annual Award recognizes the anglers who caught the three heaviest fish of the calendar year (Jan. 1–Dec. 31) for each species. Each fish entered must meet or exceed the minimum qualifying weights found below. The winning anglers are awarded an Angler Achievement Award lapel pin and a Certificate of Achievement.
Catch and Release
The Catch and Release Award commends the actions of those anglers who return their qualifying catch to the water. This category is limited to 21 major sportfish species found below. Anglers catching a qualifying fish are awarded a distinctive Catch and Release lapel pin.
State Record
The State Record recognizes those anglers who break current New York State records for any of the 45 eligible fish species. Anglers receive a custom engraved plaque, an Angler Achievement Award lapel pin and a Certificate of Achievement.
For more information on the New York State Angler Achievement Awards program contact (518) 402-8891.
Rules of Entry
- Fish must be taken during their respective open season by angling or ice fishing in New York State waters in accordance with New York State Fishing Regulations. Angling does not include any method by which the fish are foul hooked. Fish showing signs of foul hooking, gill nets, tampering or foreign objects will be disqualified.
- Qualifying fish must be entered on an official entry form or facsimile. All applicable portions of the entry form must be completed.
- Entry forms must be received by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Bureau of Fisheries within 30 days of the catch.
- All entries must be accompanied by a clear, side-view photograph of the fish or if possible, the angler with the fish. Information provided on the entry form and any associated photographs become the property of DEC and may be used for promotional purposes. Photographs cannot be returned.
- Pins awarded annually will be limited to one pin per angler per species.
- To enter a fish in the Annual Award category:
- Make sure the fish is one of the 45 species designated under the Annual Award category.
- Make sure the fish is weighed on a certified scale by the owner or an employee of the business where the scale is located. Certified scales can be found at post offices, supermarkets and bait shops, just to name a few. Fish weighed on personal handheld scales will not be accepted.
- Make sure the fish meets or exceeds the minimum qualifying weight for the species.
- Make sure weighing is observed by one witness other than the scale owner or business employee.
- Make sure sections A,B,C,D,E, and G of the entry form are completed.
- Make sure a side view photograph of the fish (angler with the fish, if possible) is enclosed with the entry form.
- To enter a fish in the Catch and Release category:
- Make sure the fish is one of the 21 species designated under the Catch and Release category.
- Make sure the fish is measured from tip of nose to tip of tail.
- Make sure the fish meets or exceeds the minimum qualifying length for its species.
- Make sure sections A,B, C and G of the entry form are completed.
- Make sure a side-view photograph of the fish (angler with the fish, if possible) is enclosed with the entry form. Photograph must be taken at the catch site; entry forms accompanied by photographs taken at the angler’s home, bait shop, etc. will be disqualified.
- Make sure the fish is handled properly. Fish should be measured, photographed and released quickly. Improper handling (i.e. fish hanging from stringers or scales) will result in disqualification. Fish not released promptly (ie. weighed off-site prior to release) are not eligible for Catch and Release consideration.
- To enter a fish in the New York State Record category:
- Make sure the fish is one of the 45 species designated for State Record consideration.
- Make sure the fish is weighed on a certified scale by the owner or an employee of the business where the scale is located.
- Make sure weighing is observed by one witness other than the scale owner or business employee.
- Make sure sections A–G of the entry form are completed.
- Make sure a clear side-view photograph of the fish (angler with the fish, if possible) is enclosed with the entry form.
- Make sure the fish is identified and examined by a DEC fisheries biologist, or a designee, prior to any cutting of the fish or removal of entrails. Section F will be completed by the person verifying the fish.
- Fish fed or otherwise grown with the intention of breaking a state record will be disqualified.
- For fish entered in the Annual Award or Catch & Release categories,* send completed entry forms to:
New York State Angler Achievement Awards
NYSDEC–Bureau of Fisheries
625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4753
* Completed entry forms for fish entered in the State Record category should be sent directly to DEC’s Bureau of Fisheries regional office nearest you.
- The DEC Bureau of Fisheries reserves the right to reject any Angler Achievement Award Application on the basis of erroneous species identification, improper handling, illegal fishing methods, evidence of tampering or foreign objects, or inability to adequately document any of the circumstances relating to the catch.
Qualifying Criteria
To enter a fish in the Angler Achievement Awards Program, it must meet the minimum qualifying weight or length for the species in the entered category. The following list shows the minimum qualifying requirements for each species.
