Award Programs

Rhode Island Game Fish Award Program

Each year, RIDEM-Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes anglers who have caught freshwater and saltwater game fish of notable size with our Game Fish Award program. To be eligible, an angler must catch a qualifying fish by rod and reel, tie-up or handline by legal means in Rhode Island waters. Fish must be caught in Rhode Island waters open to the public without charge, fee, special permission or membership (private pond restricted to use by club members or their guests are not considered open to the public, even is no fee is charged). To accommodate both ‘catch and release’ and harvest fishing, the angler can either take a photo of the fish using a hand-scale and ruler or bring the catch to an official weigh station. The angler must then complete the Game Fish / State Record Award Application, available at www.dem.ri.gov/programs/fish-wildlife/records/index.php. One award per person per year is issued for each species of game fish caught that meet the minimum size requirements listed. Game Fish Awards are mailed out in the spring of the following year the fish was caught.

RI State Record Award

The Division of Fish and Wildlife maintains state records on each species of game fish caught in Rhode Island waters. To be eligible, an angler must catch a qualifying fish by rod and reel, tie-up or handline by legal means in Rhode Island waters. Fish also must be caught in Rhode Island waters open to the public without charge, fee, special permission or membership (private pond restricted to use by club members or their guests are not considered open to the public, even is no fee is charged). To apply for an RI State Record, the angler must bring their legally-caught fish to an official weigh-in station. The fish must be identified, measured, and weighed on a Rhode Island certified, digital scale. The station operator must fill out a Game Fish/State Record Award Application and sign it. State Record Game Fish Awards are mailed out in the spring of the following year the fish was caught. For a list of official fish weigh-in locations and applications please visit www.dem.ri.gov/programs/fish-wildlife/records/index.php.

First Fish Award Program

First Fish Awards are available for children who catch their first fish in Rhode Island. To qualify, an angler must have caught a fish by rod and reel, tie-up or handline by legal means. Applications can be processed without the need for an official weigh-in. The First Fish Award application can be found on page 22 or it can be downloaded: https://dem.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur861/files/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/kidsapp.pdf. First Fish Awards are processed twice a year: once in the fall and prior to the opening day of the following year.

Completed Applications

Please send all completed applications to: RIDEM- Fish & Wildlife, 1B Camp E-Hun-Tee Place, Exeter, RI 02822, for verification and processing. For questions about any of these award programs, email [email protected] or call (401) 539-0019.

Gamefish Award Qualifying Lengths/Weights (Except First Fish Awards)