TrophyCatch Program Terms and Conditions

Section I Registration and Participation

TrophyCatch Program participants must complete a one-time registration through the Go Outdoors Florida online system at TrophyCatch.com. Registrants for the TrophyCatch program are also automatically enrolled in the Big Catch program and entered into the boat drawing (please see Section IV and Section VI for more information).

Program participants must comply with all applicable state of Florida recreational freshwater fishing rules and regulations, including recreational fishing license requirements, under the Florida Statutes and Florida Administrative Code. Visit the FWC website for Florida freshwater fishing regulations and license requirements.

All fish submitted to TrophyCatch must be caught legally. Program participants must register before submitting a catch for TrophyCatch and must submit a catch only under their individual account. Participants must also attest that they caught the fish they are submitting. Each catch may be submitted only once, but there is no limit on the number of fish a participant may submit per Season. The submitted data help FWC with fisheries research and management.

Only Florida bass or largemouth bass that are 8 pounds and heavier and caught in the waters of the state of Florida by hook and line on a rod and reel or cane pole qualify for TrophyCatch. Prizes are awarded to anglers that qualify for any of three club levels based on the weight of the catch: Lunker Club (8 to 9.99 lbs.), Trophy Club (10 to 12.99 lbs.), and Hall of Fame Club (13 lbs. or more).

Anglers participating in TrophyCatch may temporarily possess one (1) Florida or largemouth bass, in live condition, 8 pounds or greater, and over the applicable size and bag limits to document a catch for the TrophyCatch program. All Florida and largemouth bass temporarily possessed for TrophyCatch documentation must be returned alive to the water body they were caught in immediately after documentation.

Section II Documentation Requirements for TrophyCatch

Once registered as required under Section I, TrophyCatch submissions may be uploaded at TrophyCatch.com or through the mobile Fish|Hunt FL app. All TrophyCatch submissions must include a photo or video of an 8-pound or heavier Florida or largemouth bass. All required fields on the submission form must be completed for the submission to be considered.

Required Photos or Videos
At a minimum, photographic or video documentation of a catch must include one (1) photo or video showing the entire body of the fish from head to tail, the scale on which the fish is weighed, the scale display screen, and the legible weight of the fish on the scale display screen.

All photo or video documentation must be unmodified and high quality with clarity and resolution that allows the reviewing FWC fisheries biologists to validate the submission. Modifying or altering a submission photograph or video, such as to gain any type of advantage or misrepresent the accurate weight of a fish, is prohibited. Submissions that fail to comply with all documentation requirements will not be considered for TrophyCatch but may be considered for the Big Catch program (please see Section IV for more information).

Submissions of photos, videos, and other data (“Content”) to the TrophyCatch program constitutes a release and perpetual license to TrophyCatch and FWC for use of the Content without compensation or other consideration. Content may be used, in whole or in part, for any lawful purpose such as publishing, reproducing, distributing, and/or displaying Content. Use includes, but is not limited to, research, informational or educational, outreach, or other public purposes; publicizing the TrophyCatch program through websites, social media outlets, or other publications; and/or use in news or media releases, articles, brochures, or reports.

Recommended Photos or Videos
Any of the following photos or videos may be submitted, in addition to the mandatory weight photo or video described above, to assist with processing submissions:

A photo or video of the entire fish lying flat on its side on a measuring board or lying flat on its side next to a measuring tape so that the entire length of the board or tape is visible next to the fish. The entire fish should be visible with the total length measurement of the fish clearly legible. This is strongly recommended for all Hall of Fame Club catches (13-pound or heavier Florida or largemouth bass).

A photo or video of the angler holding the fish so that the entire fish, head to tail, is visible.

Scale Requirements
All scales used to weigh catches must be fully functional, used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, and properly tared (set to zero). The scale display screen must be functioning and visible in any submission photos or videos, and the weight must be clearly legible for verification.

Handheld scales, and any other scales designed to be suspended to function properly, must be supported solely by the designated grip or attachment point and hung in a vertical position. Scales cannot be tilted or angled in any direction.

Pan scales must be placed on a flat, level surface with the entire body of the fish fully supported by the pan.

Scales cannot be altered or modified in any way. Any manipulation, or attempted manipulation, of the scale or the fish to alter or misrepresent the weight of the fish (such as contact with the fish or scale, except to hold a handheld scale by the handle or grip point), is prohibited. Submissions that fail to comply with all scale requirements will not be considered for TrophyCatch but may be considered for the Big Catch program.

Section III Documentation Requirements for Bass Caught During Fishing Tournaments

Florida or largemouth bass caught during fishing tournaments may be submitted to the TrophyCatch program. To be eligible, tournament-caught fish may be documented and submitted either by the requirements outlined in Section II, or by any of the following three (3) Alternative Tournament Documentation Methods. Submissions of official tournament results must include, at a minimum, the angler's name, weight of the fish, date caught, and location of the tournament. Falsifying or altering, or submitting falsified or altered, tournament results is prohibited. Submissions that fail to comply with all tournament documentation requirements will not be considered for TrophyCatch but may be considered for the Big Catch program (please see Section IV for more information).

Alternative Tournament Documentation Methods
Tournament-caught fish may be documented and submitted to the TrophyCatch program by one of the following methods in lieu of the requirements under Section II:

1. Angler must submit a publicly accessible web link with official tournament results from a specific tournament, sponsor, published newspaper or magazine article, or official club/tournament social media page.
2. Angler must submit a PDF or photocopy of an official tournament weight slip.
3. Tournament director must submit the official tournament results on behalf of the angler. Tournament directors may contact FWC at [email protected] to arrange how to send tournament results.

For all tournament-caught fish, it is the angler's responsibility to ensure that FWC receives accurate and official tournament results.

Section IV Documentation Requirements for Big Catch

Any submission that fails to comply with the requirements for TrophyCatch may be considered for the Big Catch program certificate. To be eligible for Big Catch, submissions must include a photo or video that clearly identifies an eligible species of fish and the catch must meet or exceed the qualifying length or weight for the particular species. The list of species and categories for Big Catch is available here: Big Catch Eligible Species.

Section V Program Seasons and Submission Approval

The annual TrophyCatch Season starts on October 1st and ends on September 30th of the following year. All bass must be caught within the current Season (prior to, or on, September 30th) and submitted before midnight on October 16th to be eligible for prizes. Any bass caught after September 30th must be submitted in the following Season.

Although ineligible for prizes, bass caught outside of the current TrophyCatch Season may still be recognized for TrophyCatch.

FWC fisheries biologists review each submission to ensure it is accurate and meets all program requirements in determining whether to approve or deny the submission. Any submissions with documentation discrepancies may be reviewed with Photo Analytics, a statistical modeling process, and may result in FWC requesting additional information from the angler who submitted the fish. Anglers will be notified of any requests for additional information through the online system and via email at the email address provided during registration. Anglers must respond to requests for additional information within ten (10) business days of the date of the request. Any additional information provided in a timely manner will be considered, and the resulting decision to approve or deny the submission will be final. If no additional information is provided within the 10-day period, the final decision will be based on the catch information originally submitted.

All notifications related to submission status will be sent to the email address provided by the program participant during registration. Program participants are responsible for maintaining accurate contact information.

Section VI Participation and Awards

The FWC may modify, change, or discontinue any part of the TrophyCatch program at any time with or without any notification to participants. All FWC decisions related to the program are final. By registering for TrophyCatch, each participant acknowledges and agrees to abide by and comply with all TrophyCatch terms and applicable statutes and regulations of the State of Florida. This includes, but is not limited to, statutes and regulations governing fish and wildlife, hunting and fishing, fraud, and false claims. Participants who fail to comply with the TrophyCatch program's terms and conditions, as stated or referenced herein, may be deemed ineligible for TrophyCatch participation and any program prizing, as determined by FWC. FWC reserves the right to limit or withhold prizing and to suspend or revoke a person's TrophyCatch registration.

By registering for and/or participating in the TrophyCatch program, including entering into any drawing or accepting any prizes, each participant hereby releases and holds harmless the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, program or drawing sponsor(s), partners or drawing prize provider(s), and any of their commissioners, directors, officers, employees, volunteers, agents and representatives from and against any and all liabilities, costs, expenses, claims, and damages for which the FWC, TrophyCatch program or drawing sponsors, and partners and/or prize providers might otherwise become liable by reason of any accidents, or injuries to or death of any persons, or damage to property, or both, in any manner arising or resulting from, caused by, connected with or related to participating in the program, entering a drawing, and/or accepting any prizes, regardless of how, where, or when such injury, death or damage occurs even if caused by the negligence of the FWC, TrophyCatch program or drawing sponsors, and partners and/or prize providers.

FWC employees are not eligible to win prizes through the TrophyCatch program, other than photo or certificate level recognition.

FWC may limit or modify prizing, including changing the number, type, or frequency of prizes awarded.

TrophyCatch may offer additional special contests, incentives, and prizing during a single season or across more than one season. Anglers participating in special contests offered by the TrophyCatch program must comply with all of the contest's terms in addition to the general TrophyCatch program terms and conditions. Any special contests, incentives, and prizing will be posted on TrophyCatch.com.

Neither the FWC nor the State of Florida endorses any individual company, and each company is solely responsible for their products/services and fulfillment of any offers. Product prizes may require additional processing and delivery time. Participants are responsible for all applicable taxes on both cash and product prizes/awards.

This program receives Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, or if you need more information, please write to: FWC, Office of Human Resources, 620 S Meridian Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399, or Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20240.

Boat Drawing
The TrophyCatch program may conduct an annual drawing for a boat at the end of each Season. Any person who registers for the TrophyCatch program under Section I will receive one (1) entry for the boat drawing. For each approved catch, anglers will be awarded ten (10) additional boat drawing entries.

There is no limit to the number of additional boat drawing entries that can be awarded per angler in a particular Season. Boat drawing entries cannot be transferred to a person other than the awarded angler and cannot be applied to a Season other than the Season during which the entries were awarded.

The boat drawing entry period will close at the end of the Season - midnight on October 1st of each year. Five (5) finalists will be randomly selected from the persons entered into the boat drawing. Each finalist will be notified by telephone and email at the contact information provided during registration. Finalists must reply to the FWC by either telephone or email within two (2) business days of notification and confirm they intend to participate in the boat drawing. Any finalist who does not reply or does not confirm their intent to participate in the boat drawing will be removed from the pool of five (5) finalists. A replacement finalist will be randomly selected from the original pool of persons entered into the boat drawing for each finalist removed from the original pool of finalists. Replacement finalists will be notified via the same process described herein and subject to the same conditions. This process will be repeated until all five (5) finalists randomly selected have responded and confirmed their intent to participate in the boat drawing.

The five (5) finalists will then be notified by telephone and email of the date, time, and location of the boat drawing. Finalists must be present, in person, at the final drawing to be eligible to win the boat. If a finalist cannot be present, they may select a family member or other proxy to represent them in person, provided they notify FWC (via email at [email protected]) at least 24 hours prior to the actual boat drawing with the name and contact information of their proxy. If any finalist, or their proxy, is not present at the final drawing, that finalist's name will be removed from the drawing.