New York State Banner
D E C banner
D E C banner

Angler Achievement Awards Program Rules of Entry

1. 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.

2. Qualifying fish must be entered on an official entry form or facsimile. All applicable portions of the entry form must be completed.

3. Entry forms must be received by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Bureau of Fisheries within 30 days of the catch.

4. All entries must be accompanied by a clear, side-view photograph of the fish or the angler with the fish (if possible). Information provided on the entry form and any associated photographs become the property of the DEC and may be used for promotional purposes. Photographs cannot be returned.

5. The number of pins awarded annually will be limited to one pin per angler per species.

6. To enter a fish in the Annual Award category:

  • a. Make sure the fish is one of the 45 species designated under the Annual Award category.
  • b. Make sure the fish is weighed on a certified scale by the owner or an employee of the business where the scale is located.
  • c. Make sure the fish meets or exceeds the minimum qualifying weight for its species.
  • d. Make sure weighing is observed by one witness other than the scale owner.
  • e. Make sure sections A - E & G of the entry form are completed.
  • f. Make sure a side view photograph of the fish (angler with the fish, if possible) is enclosed with the entry form.

7. To enter a fish in the Catch and Release Category:

  • a. Make sure the fish is one of the 20 species designated under the catch and release category.
  • b. Make sure the fish is measured from tip of nose to tip of tail.
  • c. Make sure the fish meets or exceeds the minimum qualifying length for its species.
  • d. Make sure sections A - C & G of the entry form are completed.
  • e. 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.
  • f. 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 (i.e. weighed off-site prior to release) are not eligible for catch and release consideration.

8. To enter a fish in the State Record category:

  • a. Make sure the fish is one of the 45 species designated for State Record consideration.
  • b. Make sure the fish is weighed on a certified scale by the owner or an employee of the business where the scale is located.
  • c. Make sure weighing is observed by one witness other than the scale owner.
  • d. Make sure sections A - G of the entry form are completed.
  • e. Make sure the fish is identified and examined by a DEC fisheries biologist or his designee prior to any cutting of the fish or removal of entrails. Section F will be completed by the person verifying the fish.
  • f. Make sure a side view photograph of the fish (angler with the fish if possible) is enclosed with the entry form.

9. Completed entry forms [for fish entered in the Annual Award or Catch and Release categories] should be sent directly to: New York State Angler Achievement Awards, NYSDEC, Bureau of Fisheries, 625 Broadway, 5th Floor, Albany, NY 12233-4753

10. 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.

Note: As a result of issues that arose with recent submissions for brook trout, the Bureau of Fisheries reviewed and adjusted the Rules of Entry for New York State Record brook trout so that additional problems could be avoided. The Bureau based the changes upon the conviction that recently stocked, record-sized brook trout do not meet the highest ideals and expectations of New York's anglers. Rather, New York anglers would be more honored to be recognized for the challenge of catching a wilder, record-sized brookie. To that end, the following changes have been made to the Angler Achievement Awards Program:

11. Since October 1, 2002, the Rules of Entry require that in order to qualify for a State Record brook trout, the fish must be either a wild-spawned or long-term, at-large brookie. For determining whether a fish meets this criteria, the Bureau of Fisheries has established procedures and protocols that it will follow.

12. Because of the difficulty in distinguishing a brook trout from a splake, any fish caught from waters stocked with splake will be ineligible for state record brook trout consideration.

13. DEC will only stock brook trout that are near or exceeding five pounds into waters that contain splake, or into waters which will be ineligible for state record brook trout consideration.

14. On March 31, 2003 the current brook trout state record was again placed in "historical standing." New State Record brook trout applications will be accepted subject to a minimum qualifying weight of four pounds.