Fish Handling Guidelines:

n n n n n n

Partners:

Land the fish as quickly as possible. Use a soft, knot-less landing net. Wet hands before touching fish; no dry towels. Remove hook while fish is in the water if possible. Cut fishing line if hooked in the throat or gut. Take photos, measure length and weight, and possibly girth, in a timely manner.
Measure Girth around the fattest part of the fish

Make sure to support those companies that support TrophyCatch...

Measure Total Length with mouth closed and tail squeezed together

PRODUCTIONS

n Measure length on a wet, cool surface. Do not place n Avoid keeping the fish out of water for more than n Handle the fish only when measuring, weighing, n n n n

on hot, dry boat surfaces.

Lunker Louie is an avid angler. He had already joined the TrophyCatch Lunker Club and become an Elite Angler in the Big Catch program by age 12.

30 seconds at a time.

photographing, and placing in the live well. Aerate live well. Use 0.5% salt in live well if possible. (0.5 lbs. uniodized salt per 10 gals. water). Do not place fish in chlorinated tap water. Try not to place fish in colder/warmer water than the ambient water temperature.

Register for Phoenix boat drawings and other prizes

Ultimate Fishing

EXPERIENCE

For details, visit TrophyCatchFlorida.com

OrderYour GO FISHING Tag Now!

For more information, visit TrophyCatchFlorida.com or email TrophyCatch@MyFWC.com

Supported by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration

AJ Jackson is one of TrophyCatchs most prolific anglers. Here he sports a Lunker Club T-shirt while releasing another catch. On the cover, he holds a lunker bass showing the fish on a scale.

Purchase this specialty license plate at Bit.Ly/GoFishTag. Proceeds are used by the FWC to fund conservation programs.

Facebook.com/TrophyCatchFlorida
printed on recycled paper
6/2013

n Increase resident and nonresident angler

participation and enjoyment, sell more tackle and fishing licenses that fund conservation programs, promote tourism and create jobs. n Help create the next generation that cares about our natural resources and outdoor recreational heritage.

Application:
must submit a TrophyCatch application, including required documentation for each club level. n TrophyCatch applications that are incomplete or fail to provide full documentation of club level requirements will result in disqualification. n To have a Hall of Fame Club (13 pounds or greater) largemouth bass certified, the angler must contact the TrophyCatch coordinator by calling or texting toll free: 855-FL-TROPHY (855-358-7674). Note: The TrophyCatch coordinator should only be contacted for certification of largemouth bass 13 pounds or greater in weight. n Anglers must sign an affidavit on the TrophyCatch certification application verifying the fish was caught legally in Florida waters, the fish was not tampered with in any way to increase weight or length, and the fish was released alive.
n To enter a club level fish (see below) anglers

All fish entered into TrophyCatch must be caught legally in Florida waters using an active hook-and-line method (bush hooks, snatch hooks, set lines, and trotlines are not legal methods to take largemouth bass), and documented following club level guidelines. Bass must be released live on the same waterbody where caught. Anglers submitting a Lunker or Trophy Club fish must submit high resolution photographs (good overall clarity, 3 megapixel camera or above recommended), with one photograph of the whole fish on a spring or digital scale with the weight clearly visible, and one of the whole fish on a measuring board with the length clearly visible (see illustration below).
8.9

TrophyCatch Registration:
To participate in TrophyCatch anglers should register online at TrophyCatchFlorida.com. Once registered in the program the angler will be able to submit bass that they legally catch, document and release. Their catch will be publicized in the TrophyCatch web gallery. They will also be able to print customized certificates with details of their catch and claim rewards from the program sponsors.

Bob Williams with the first certified Hall of Fame Florida largemouth bass.

Introduction
TrophyCatch is Floridas newest angler recognition program. It is a free program that provides valuable rewards to anglers who document and release largemouth bass over eight pounds. Bass legally caught anywhere in Florida are eligible. Go to TrophyCatchFlorida.com for details on how to register and submit your catches. While you dont have to register before you catch a trophy bass, visiting the website is a great way to learn how to submit your trophy bass catches to earn rewards.

Participant Requirements
Lunker Club (8.0-9.9 pounds) and Trophy Club (10.0-12.9 pounds) largemouth bass are accepted year-round and will require photographic documentation for certification. Hall of Fame Club fish (13 pounds or greater) are accepted annually between Oct. 1 and April 30. Bass 13 pounds and greater caught outside of the Hall of Fame season (May through September) may be accepted into and receive incentives for Trophy Club level fish. For anglers to submit a qualifying TrophyCatch largemouth bass, they must have a valid Florida freshwater fishing license or be exempt under provisions addressed in Florida Freshwater Fishing Regulations and be registered into the TrophyCatch program.
License

TrophyCatch Reward Levels:

n Lunker Club: about a $100 value for submitting

verified photographs showing weight and length of bass 8.0 to 9.9 pounds n Trophy Club: over $150 value for submitting verified photographs showing weight and length of bass 10.0 to 12.9 pounds n Hall of Fame: over $1,000 value for certified catches of bass over 13 pounds. Call 855-FLTROPHY when you catch a bass over 13 pounds

Anglers are encouraged to submit two to three additional photographs of the fish: close-up on scale, being released and/or of themselves or a friend with their catch (please remove sunglasses). Since catch-and-release of trophy fish is a goal of TrophyCatch, anglers should become familiar with handling procedures (see other side) to ensure fish are healthy upon release. Largemouth bass not released live or kept by an angler will not be accepted into the TrophyCatch program but anglers may submit a Big Catch (MyFWC.com/BigCatch) application to recognize their catch. Note: Anglers must contact TrophyCatch immediately after catching a Hall of Fame Club fish (13 pounds or greater), between Oct. 1 and April 30, at 855-FLTROPHY (855-358-7674). Certified weigh stations are distributed around the state. The TrophyCatch coordinator will provide the angler with proper handling techniques and instructions to get their catch certified.

The goals of TrophyCatch are:

n Decrease fishing mortality of trophy-sized fish

through the promotion of catch-and-release. n Identify Floridas best bass fisheries and provide valuable trophy largemouth bass data that biologists can use to better create and manage trophy fisheries. n Promote ecological, social and economic values that are important to conservation and affect all Floridians.

Instant Licenses: 888-FISH-FLORIDA (888-347-4356) Report Wildlife Violations: 888-404-3922

Anglers who register may pick up a genetics sampling kit (locations listed at TrophyCatchFlorida.com). Anglers are not required but are encouraged to take a finclip of their Lunker or Trophy Club fish. Since catch-and-release of trophy largemouth bass is an important component of the TrophyCatch program, genetic information will inform FWC biologists if a fish has been caught and released multiple times.