Fishing  >  Fishing Records  >  NC Angler Recognition Program

N.C. Angler Recognition Program

So you caught a big fish (nice!), but it doesn’t quite qualify for a freshwater fishing state record. Good news – you can still have your catch officially recognized by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission through the N.C. Angler Recognition Program.

 

Interested in recognition for your saltwater catch? The state's Division of Marine Fisheries offers its own program for saltwater species of fish. Learn more about the NC Saltwater Fishing Tournament here.

Latest, Greatest Catches!

Charlotte Burnette Brook Trout Reems Creek Charlotte Burnette; Brook Trout; Reems Creek
Joshua Quest Largemouth Bass Ritters Lake Pond Joshua Quest; Largemouth Bass; Ritters Lake Pond
Thomas Aten Rainbow Trout Linville River Thomas Aten; Rainbow Trout; Linville River
Shepard Burnette Rainbow Trout Lake Louise Shepard Burnette; Rainbow Trout; Lake Louise
Josh Shriver Brown Trout East Fork French Broad River Josh Shriver; Brown Trout; East Fork, French Broad River
Christopher DiGiovanna Channel Catfish Badin Lake Christopher DiGiovanna; Channel Catfish; Badin Lake
Andrew Timm Rainbow Trout Fred G Bond Metro Park Lake Andrew Timm; Rainbow Trout; Fred G. Bond Metro Park Lake
Mark Morgan Blue Catfish John H Kerr Reservoir Mark Morgan; Blue Catfish; John H. Kerr Reservoir
Louise Greene Largemouth Bass Private pond in Cabarrus County Louise Greene; Largemouth Bass; Private pond in Cabarrus County
Jonathan Hoke Striped Bass John H Kerr Reservoir Jonathan Hoke; Striped Bass; John H. Kerr Reservoir
Colton Grace Brown Trout Green River Colton Grace; Brown Trout; Green River
Brian Peacock Brown Trout French Broad River Brian Peacock; Brown Trout; French Broad River
Jonas Lipe Crappie Lake Norman Jonas Lipe; Crappie; Lake Norman
Leah Isaacs Brown Trout Watauga River Leah Isaacs; Brown Trout; Watauga River
Kenneth Frost Blue Catfish Badin Lake Kenneth Frost; Blue Catfish; Badin Lake
Jonas Lipe Rainbow Trout North Toe River Jonas Lipe; Rainbow Trout; North Toe River
Barton Pepperman Spotted Bass Lake Norman Barton Pepperman; Spotted Bass; Lake Norman
Jonas Lipe Rainbow Trout Private pond in Avery County Jonas Lipe; Rainbow Trout; Private pond in Avery County
Joshua Sheaffer Channel Catfish Neuse River Joshua Sheaffer; Channel Catfish; Neuse River
Jonal Lipe Rainbow Trout Squirrel Creek Jonal Lipe; Rainbow Trout; Squirrel Creek
Jonas Lipe Brown Trout North Toe River Jonas Lipe; Brown Trout; North Toe River
Jonathan Lewis Largemouth Bass Pond in Wake County Jonathan Lewis; Largemouth Bass; Pond in Wake County
Jonas Lipe Brook Trout Watauga River Jonas Lipe; Brook Trout; Watauga River
Donna Taylor Blue Catfish Cape Fear River Donna Taylor; Blue Catfish; Cape Fear River
Donovan Davis Brook Trout Helton Creek Donovan Davis; Brook Trout; Helton Creek
John Roberts Largemouth Bass Lake Brandt John Roberts; Largemouth Bass; Lake Brandt
Gavin Byers Smallmouth Bass River in Macon County Gavin Byers; Smallmouth Bass; River in Macon County
Easton Tyree Bluegill Private pond in Yadkin County Easton Tyree; Bluegill; Private pond in Yadkin County
Francis Randall Blue Catfish Cape Fear River Francis Randall; Blue Catfish; Cape Fear River
Donovan Davis Smallmouth Bass River in Macon County Donovan Davis; Smallmouth Bass; River in Macon County
Donovan Davis Brown Trout Helton Creek Donovan Davis; Brown Trout; Helton Creek
James Thomas Ashbacher Blue Catfish Hope Mills Lake Cumberland County James Thomas Ashbacher; Blue Catfish; Hope Mills Lake, Cumberland County
Matthew Clark Daniels Rainbow Trout Helton Creek Ashe County Matthew Clark Daniels; Rainbow Trout; Helton Creek, Ashe County
Eric Ciampanella Rainbow Trout Wilson Creek Eric Ciampanella; Rainbow Trout; Wilson Creek
Henry Simmons Striped Bass Albemarle Sound Henry Simmons; Striped Bass; Albemarle Sound
Troy Sieck Brown Trout Green River Troy Sieck; Brown Trout; Green River
Troy Sieck Rainbow Trout Raven Fork Troy Sieck; Rainbow Trout; Raven Fork
Earley Baker Longnose Gar Goshen Swamp Earley Baker; Longnose Gar; Goshen Swamp
Jackson Hepler Brown Trout Linville Land Harbour Lake Jackson Hepler; Brown Trout; Linville Land Harbour Lake
John McHugh Rainbow Trout Nantahala River John McHugh; Rainbow Trout; Nantahala River
David Knapp Rainbow Trout Lake Logan David Knapp; Rainbow Trout; Lake Logan
Jimmy Hicks Bodie Bass Lake Thom-A-Lex Jimmy Hicks; Bodie Bass; Lake Thom-A-Lex
Joseph Hulon Jr Bluegill Canal in Bladen County Joseph Hulon, Jr.; Bluegill; Canal in Bladen County
Jeffrey Hayes Kokanee Salmon Nantahala Lake Jeffrey Hayes; Kokanee Salmon; Nantahala Lake
Corey Gue Largemouth Bass Lake Waccamaw Corey Gue; Largemouth Bass; Lake Waccamaw
Brayden Duckett Largemouth Bass Private pond in Alexander County Brayden Duckett; Largemouth Bass; Private pond in Alexander County
Keaton Smart Bullhead Lake Johnson Wake County Keaton Smart; Bullhead; Lake Johnson, Wake County
Keaton Smart Crappie Jordan Lake Keaton Smart; Crappie; Jordan Lake
Billy Hash Brown Trout Horse Creek Billy Hash; Brown Trout; Horse Creek
Donald Burnett Flathead Catfish Mountain Island Lake Donald Burnett; Flathead Catfish; Mountain Island Lake
Claude McInstosh Bowfin Cape Fear River Claude McInstosh; Bowfin; Cape Fear River
Robert Martin Largemouth Bass Private pond in Guilford County Robert Martin; Largemouth Bass; Private pond in Guilford County
Keaton Smart Rainbow Trout Grandfather Trout Farm Keaton Smart; Rainbow Trout; Grandfather Trout Farm
Keaton Smart Crappie Lake Johnson in Wake County Keaton Smart; Crappie; Lake Johnson in Wake County
David Knapp Brook Trout Lake Logan David Knapp; Brook Trout; Lake Logan
Jennifer Cox Largemouth Bass Private pond in Wayne County Jennifer Cox; Largemouth Bass; Private pond in Wayne County
Merrill Lynch Brown Trout Three Top Creek Merrill Lynch; Brown Trout; Three Top Creek
William Clinton Shepherd Crappie Badin Lake Montgomery County William Clinton Shepherd; Crappie; Badin Lake, Montgomery County
Brian Harvey Largemouth Bass Jordan Lake Brian Harvey; Largemouth Bass; Jordan Lake
Robbie Summers Brown Trout Little River Robbie Summers; Brown Trout; Little River
Keaton Smart Rainbow Trout Grandfather Trout Farm Keaton Smart; Rainbow Trout; Grandfather Trout Farm
Keaton Smart Bullhead Yates Mill Pond Wake County Keaton Smart; Bullhead; Yates Mill Pond, Wake County
Willam Tatum Largemouth Bass Forsyth County Willam Tatum; Largemouth Bass; Forsyth County
John Szejda Rainbow Trout Davidson River John Szejda; Rainbow Trout; Davidson River
Keaton Smart Rainbow Trout Harris Lake Park Pond in Wake County Keaton Smart; Rainbow Trout; Harris Lake Park Pond in Wake County
prev next

Get Recognized!
 

If a fish meets or exceeds either weight or length requirements (see table below):

  • Fill out this online form to receive a FREE downloadable certificate featuring artwork of the species by renowned wildlife artist Duane Raver. 
     
  • Anglers 15 and younger do not need to meet the minimum weight and length requirements in order to receive a certificate.
     
  • Catch-and-release or catch-and-keep! Either way, snap a photo of your catch (including a fishy selfie – we want to see the angler, too!) to share. Submit your photo using the online form so we can post it on this page.
     
  • Collect six unique Angler Recognition Program certificates to receive a special edition Master Angler certificate and patch, mailed to you (limited to one certificate and patch per angler).
     
  • More information or questions about the Angler Recognition Program? Email ncarp@ncwildlife.org.

 

Minimum Angler Recognition Program Fish Weight or Length Requirements

 

Species Min. Weight Min. Length
Largemouth Bass 8 lbs 24 in
Smallmouth Bass 3 lbs 19 in
Spotted Bass 2 lbs 15 in
Striped Bass 10 lbs 27 in
Bodie Bass (hybrid striped bass) 8 lbs 24 in
White Bass 2 lbs 17 in
White Perch  1 lb 12 in
Bowfin 10 lbs 22 in
Common Carp 20 lbs 34 in
Blue Catfish 30 lbs 41 in
Channel Catfish 10 lbs 30 in
Flathead Catfish 30 lbs 41 in
White Catfish 4 lbs 21 in
Bullhead Catfish (any species) 2 lbs 15 in
Crappie (black or white)  2 lbs 16 in
Freshwater Drum 12 lbs 28 in
Muskellunge 20 lbs 41 in
Chain pickerel 4 lbs 26 in
Redfin pickerel 10 oz 12 in
American Shad 3 lbs 16 in
Hickory Shad 2 lbs 13 in
Bluegill 1 lb 11 in
Flier 6 oz 8 in
Green Sunfish 1 lb 9 in
Pumpkinseed 14 oz 10 in
Redbreast 1 lb 11 in
Redear (shellcracker) 1 lb 11 in
Roanoke Bass 1 lb 11 in
Rock Bass 1 lb 11 in
Warmouth 1 lb 11 in
Brook Trout (hatchery supported or wild) 2 lbs 16 in
Brown Trout (hatchery supported or wild) 2 lbs; 8 oz 18 in
Rainbow Trout (hatchery supported or wild) 2 lbs; 8 oz 18 in
Kokanee Salmon 2 lbs 14 in
Walleye 5 lbs 23 in
Yellow Perch 1 lb 14 in
Longnose Gar 10 lbs 48 in