Saltwater Reel Big Fish

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reserves the right to deny any application to the Catch a Florida Memory - Saltwater Angler Recognition Programs and can change these rules at any time without notice. State laws prohibit false claims or fraud when claiming prizes.

To participate in Florida's Saltwater Angler Recognition Programs, all fish must be caught by the angler being recognized in accordance with the Florida saltwater recreational fishing regulations at the time of the catch. This includes, but is not limited to, the angler being properly licensed or using an approved exemption, as well as using legal gear and fishing in saltwater where the angler has legal access.

The FWC receives financial assistance from the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The DOI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility or need more information, contact:  FWC, Office of Human Resources, 620 S Meridian St., Tallahassee, FL 32399, 850-488-6411, or:  Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Civil Rights, Dept. of the Interior, 1849 C St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.  

Contact AnglerRecognition@MyFWC.com or 850-487-0554 for questions regarding these programs.

• All submitted fish must have been caught by the angler applying for recognition.
• After a catch has been submitted by an angler and approved by staff it cannot be used to qualify a different angler for recognition.
• Fish can be either caught and released or legally harvested for these programs.
• Any photos containing nudity, violence, explicit language or sexually explicit content will be disqualified.
• Participants may not submit photos which have been digitally modified for any reason (other than protection of privacy) or photos that have been falsified in any way.
• All harvest of fish must comply with current regulations. Florida Saltwater Recreational Fishing Regulations may be found online or by calling 850-487-0554
• An undersized or out-of-season fish can qualify, as long as they are promptly and safely released and not harvested (as evidenced by submitted photos).
• Any past catches that meet the requirements are eligible, as long as the required photos and documentation are provided (does not apply to records program).
• Submitted photos must include the angler applying for recognition and show fish in whole condition with the exception of the removal of gills and guts.
• FWC reserves the right to deny any application to the Saltwater Angler Recognition Programs and can change these rules at any time without notice.
• State laws prohibit false claims or fraud when claiming prizes. Prizes are taxable and will be reported to the IRS as appropriate (please check with your tax advisor if you have any questions).
• Recognition will only be given to individual anglers, NOT groups. Do not apply for group recognition.
• Fish must be caught in Florida state waters, in U.S. federal waters extending directly outward of Florida state line boundaries, or landed in Florida.
• Anglers may receive up to 10 prize packages per calendar year for the same recognition, such as 10 of a particular Grand Slam or 10 of a particular Reel Big Fish species. After this threshold, anglers will receive certificates and website level recognition, but will not receive a prize package for those recognitions. Once a new calendar year begins, the count to reach the 10 recognition threshold starts over again.
• Current FWC employees, including OPS, are eligible for certificate and website recognition only (including State Records) and are not eligible to receive any additional awards or prizes including raffles.
• Your submissions to this program, including photos and other data provided to the Florida Saltwater Angler Recognition Program, constitute a release for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to use them without compensation or further notice for research, information and other public purposes, such as being posted on the FWC website or being used in FWC publications and promotional materials. When photographs are required, the proper fish handling techniques and photo rules below apply.
• Failure to abide by these rules can lead to disqualification of submissions and permanent removal from the Catch a Florida Memory Program. Depending upon the severity of the infraction, the FWC may choose to pursue legal action.

Proper Fish Handling Techniques for Photos:

• Anglers should handle their catch with wet hands only (do not use a towel), be careful not to poke fingers into eyes or gills and fully support the body weight of the fish by cradling it horizontally.
• If not held, fish should be photographed in a rubber-coated, knotless landing net rather than lying on a dock, cooler or boat deck.
• Measure length on a wet, cool surface. Do not place fish on hot, dry boat surfaces.
• Large fish that will not be harvested should not be removed from the water or boated, as this can injure the fish.
• Anglers' faces must be included in photographs and fish must be in an unobstructed position (side views are best) so that FWC staff can verify the species.
• For more catch-and-release techniques, see the following: Catch and Release Brochure, Fish Handling and Gear, or BonefishTarponTrust.org.
• It is preferred that anglers on vessels are photographed wearing personal floatation devices.

The Reel Big Fish program rewards anglers who catch a memorable-sized saltwater fish in 30 species categories. Youth age 15 and under are recognized for catching a fish that is 75 percent of the qualifying size for adults (see chart below for specific sizes and species).

Eligible Saltwater Fish Species and Minimum Qualifying Lengths

To determine the length of the fish, measure in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the back of the tail fin with the fin squeezed together for total length. For fish regulated by fork length, measure in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the center of the fork of the tail.

Submission Requirements

• To enter Saltwater Reel Big Fish catches, anglers must submit photo-documentation to show the species and length of their catch. To be eligible, the fish must be legally caught and meet or exceed the minimum qualifying length; length is maximum length in inches. See the Saltwater Reel Big Fish page for a listing of species and whether to measure by total length or fork length.
• The catch must be photographed over a qualifying tangible measuring device as well as in a photo with the angler who is applying for recognition. A qualifying measuring device is any length measuring device, such as a tape measure or ruler, where an accurate length measurement is clearly visible in the photograph and FWC staff can easily verify that the fish is over the required length. If the fish is longer than the length measuring device, then the verified length of the fish will be the maximum length shown on the device or the minimum qualifying length, whichever is greater. Photographs may be posted on the FWC website, in regulations booklets or in other FWC publications.
• If a submission is missing a photograph of the fish over a measuring device clearly showing that the qualifying length was met or exceeded, the angler may be awarded a Reel Big Fish Honorable Mention digital certificate (emailed to the angler). 
• All Saltwater Reel Big Fish catches are eligible as long as they can be documented and have been caught in accordance with FWC regulations. Anglers do not have to harvest their fish to be eligible and are encouraged to release their catches alive. All harvest of fish must comply with current regulations, available at MyFWC.com/Fishing or by calling 850-487-0554. Submissions that are incomplete or fail to provide full documentation of requirements will result in disqualification. 

Saltwater Reel Big Fish Recognition Tiers

• Tier 1: 5 different species
• Tier 2: 10 different species
• Tier 3: 20 different species
• Tier 4: Reel Big Master Angler – all 30 Reel Big Fish species

Prizes for Reel Big Fish Club Anglers

• Each time an angler submits a valid Saltwater Reel Big Fish Application, they will receive a t-shirt, certificate of accomplishment, various FWC saltwater publications and will become a member of the corresponding Saltwater Reel Big Fish Club. Anglers who reach at least five different Reel Big Fish species achievements (not including Honorable Mentions) will be recognized for Reel Big Fish Club Recognition Tiers for the opportunity to receive additional prizes. Successful participants will also receive one raffle entry for each verified submission to the program.
• If a submission is missing a photograph of the fish over a measuring device clearly showing that the qualifying length was met or exceeded, the angler may be awarded a Reel Big Fish Honorable Mention digital certificate instead (emailed to the angler). 
• To be eligible for prizes, anglers must comply with all rules for Saltwater Angler Recognition Programs and the Saltwater Reel Big Fish Program. Prizes typically arrive 4 to 8 weeks after approval (not submittal). All prizes are awarded pending availability. FWC reserves the right to deny any application for the Saltwater Reel Big Fish Program and to change recognition prizes at any time without notice.