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ALABAMA'S ANGLER RECOGNITION PROGRAM
The State of Alabama is blessed with an abundance of freshwater fishing opportunities, including some of the best sportfishing in the country. Alabama has over a dozen river systems which have been impounded to create 563,000 acres of public reservoirs, including 1,438 miles of navigable waterways. In addition, there are 23 state managed State Public Fishing Lakes and 150,000 acres of private ponds that provide excellent angling for many species of fish.
Effective January 1, 2007, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has enhanced the Angler Recognition Program that addresses four separate objectives. The first goal is to help promote fishing in Alabama by establishing a method to publicly recognize anglers who catch large or trophy-sized fish from Alabama waters. Secondly, it will provide Fisheries Section biologists with valuable catch information for following fishery trends in the reservoirs they manage. The third objective is to establish a system for maintaining lake records for many of Alabama's sportfish species. Finally, it will allow anglers an opportunity to have their catch record information compiled, analyzed, and reported to them to help them discover when, where, and on what types of lures big fish are caught.
The Angler Recognition Program has four parts:
1. Alabama State Record Freshwater Fish: The freshwater sport fish caught in Alabama by hook and line have been listed by the Alabama Department of Conservation in the past. The list includes fish since the 1950s. The certification process includes two witnesses of the weighing on certified scales; species identification by a state fisheries biologist or certified fisheries biologist; and a side-view photograph. The record holder receives a Certificate commemorating their catch and picture posted on the Department of Conservation webpage. See Official Application Form - Alabama State and/or Lake Record Freshwater Fish.
2. Alabama Lake Record Certification: The Lake Record Certification will honor individuals who catch the largest species of BLACK BASS (largemouth bass, spotted bass, smallmouth bass, or redeye bass) from each reservoir or lake. To be considered for a Lake Record, fish must meet the minimum weight requirements (i.e. largemouth bass: 10 lbs-kept or 25" released; smallmouth bass - 7 lbs.; spotted bass -6 lbs.; redeye bass - 1 lb.), have two witnesses of the weighing on certified scales; species identification by a state fisheries biologist or certified fisheries biologist; and include a side-view photograph. Qualified anglers will receive a Certificate commemorating their catch, will have their picture posted on www.OutdoorAlabama.com identified by reservoir from which the fish was caught, and will be recognized in the B.A.I.T. Report of the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. The Official Application Form - Alabama State and/or Lake Record Freshwater Fish must be completed and returned to the Department of Conservation within three months of the catch.
3. & 4. Alabama Master and Trophy Angler Certification: The Master and Trophy Angler Certifications are intended to honor individuals who catch large sportsfish from Alabama waters. To be eligible for recognition, fish must meet the minimum length or weight requirements and an application be completed and returned to the Department of Conservation within three months of the catch. Minimum requirements are:
Master Angler Trophy Angler Weight Length Weight Length SPECIES (lbs.-oz.) (inches) (lbs.-oz.) (inches)
Largemouth Bass 8-00 23" 10-00 25" Smallmouth Bass 5-00 20" 7-00 22" Spotted Bass 4-00 19" 6-00 21" Redeye Bass 0-12 11" 1-00 13"
Qualified anglers will receive a Certificate commemorating their catch and a decal to be displayed on their boat or truck. Each angler will have their picture posted on the Department of Conservation webpage identified by reservoir from which the fish was caught, and they will be recognized in the B.A.I.T. Report of the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. The Official Application Form - Alabama Master/Trophy Angler Recognition must be completed and returned to the Department of Conservation within three months of the catch.
BLACK BASS GRAND SLAM: A Black Bass Grand Slam plaque will be presented to any angler who is recognized for catching all four species of black bass included in the Alabama Master and Trophy Angler Certification Program. Recognition for each of the species may come from the Master Angler level, the Trophy Angler level, or any combination of the two.
For more information go to: http://outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/record/
For Official Applications and Rules:
Official Application Form -Alabama State and/or Lake Record Freshwater Fish
Official Application Form - Alabama Master/Trophy Angler Recognition |