First Fish & Master Angler Awards
First Fish Award
Catch a memory when your favorite young angler hooks their first fish! It’s easy and free to participate! Apply for a first fish certificate online through the Iowa DNR First Fish certificate page. Print the certificate yourself from an electronic file posted online or request a printed certificate. Species, size of the fish or age of the angler is not important, only that it be the first fish that the angler has successfully landed.
Master Angler Award
The Iowa DNR recognizes memorable-sized catches for more than 40 fish species in Iowa. A Master Angler award certificate and car/boat decal will be sent for each qualifying entry. Silver and gold levels will also receive a medallion.
Apply online through the Iowa DNR Master Angler program page.
Master Angler Award Rules
- All entries must include both a photo of the angler with their catch and a photo of the catch on a flat surface next to a standard ruler or measuring tape to verify length. Make sure the measurement is clearly visible. Entries submitted without a length photo will be rejected. Learn more about length photo requirements on the Master Angler webpage.
- Fish must meet the minimum species length.
- Length is measured from tip of the snout to the tip of the tail, except paddlefish, which are measured from the front of the eye to the fork in the tail and sturgeon which are measured from the snout to the fork in the tail. If there is some doubt about species identification, contact the nearest DNR personnel for verification.
- Any fish believed to be a new state record must be verified by a DNR Fisheries official.
- The fish can be released and still qualify for an award.
- You must have a valid Iowa fishing license and fish must be caught by legal methods according to Iowa law.
Which Level Will You Achieve?
1. Species Specialist - catch five of the same species meeting the minimum length criteria listed on this page.
2. Master Angler - catch one fish meeting the minimum length criteria listed on this page.
3. Silver Master Angler – catch five different species meeting the minimum length criteria listed on this page.
4. Gold Master Angler - catch ten different species meeting the minimum length criteria listed on this page.
Your name and Master Angler fish will appear once your registration is processed on the Iowa DNR Master Angler website.
Please Note: Master Angler certificates will be mailed automatically, unless Species Specialist level has been achieved. At that time, no other certificates or decals will be mailed for that particular species. Only one lifetime award will be given for each Silver and Gold Master Angler level achieved. If your certificate gets damaged or lost, you can print it from the link sent in the approval email. Your entry will be added to your account and Master Angler Ranking webpage.
Master Angler Eligible Species - Minimum Lengths
Bass (Hybrid Striped) – 24”
Bass (Largemouth) – 20”
Bass (Rock) – 8”
Bass (Smallmouth) – 20”
Bass (Spotted) – 15”
Bass (White) – 17”
Bass (Yellow) – 10”
Bowfin (Dogfish) – 26”
Buffalo (Bigmouth) – 32”
Buffalo (Black) – 32”
Buffalo (Smallmouth) – 26”
Bullhead (species) – 15”
Carp (Common) – 32”
Catfish (Blue) – 40”
Catfish (Channel) – 30”
Catfish (Flathead) – 35”
Crappie (Black) – 14”
Crappie (Hybrid) – 14”
Crappie (White) – 14”
Freshwater Drum – 25”
Gar (Longnose) – 45”
Gar (Shortnose) – 26”
Goldeye/Mooneye – 15”
Muskellunge – 45”
Northern Pike – 35”
Paddlefish – 40”
Perch (Yellow) – 12”
Sauger – 20”
Saugeye – 25”
Sturgeon (Shovelnose) – 26”
Sucker (Blue) – 27”
Sucker (white or spotted) – 18”
Sucker (Northern Hog) – 16”
Sucker (Carpsucker sp.) – 22”
Sucker (Redhorse sp.) – 22”
Sunfish (Bluegill) – 10”
Sunfish (Green) – 10”
Sunfish (Pumpkinseed) – 9”
Sunfish (Redear) – 11”
Sunfish (Warmouth) – 7”
Trout (Brook) – 15”
Trout (Brown) – 18”
Trout (Rainbow) – 18”
Walleye – 26”
Find more information on lengths and species on the Iowa DNR Master Angler program page.
State Record Fish
A new all-time state record will be recognized only if the weight of the fish exceeds one ounce or more than the weight of the previous state record for that species or recognized hybrid. DNR fisheries personnel must examine and verify all new state record fish. One witness must verify the weight of the fish to the nearest ounce on scales legal for trade. All-time records are posted until broken.
Find a list of current state record fish on the Iowa DNR state record fish page.
