• Species Award (includes Catch and Release)

  Any angler fishing legally in Maryland may catch and report a trophy sized fish by landing any of more than 60 eligible species in five categories (Atlantic Coast, Chesapeake Bay, Nontidal, Catch and Release and Invasive) at or above a certain minimum size. If you catch a fish that meets or exceeds the official award size, when appropriate, lay the fish on a tape measure and photograph so that the species and size can be verified.​ Then email your photo to fishingreports.dnr@maryland.gov, as instructed on the regi​stration form. Next, Submit your catch through our online registration process. Once your catch is verified, you will receive your award certificate within 45 days. Please review proper Catch and Release techniques​ before submitting your photo (horizontal photos strongly recommended)​.

• Invasive Species Award

  The Invasive Species Award Component recognizes anglers for reporting their harvest of certain eligible invasive fish species. "Invasive" describes a species that, when introduced into an ecosystem, aggressively establishes itself and has the potential to negatively affect native plants, animals or hab​itat. Currently there are three invasive fish species which naturally reproduce in Maryland or migrate into Maryland waters: blue catfish, northern snakehead and flathead catfish. Fish must be kept to qualify. If you catch a fish that meets or exceeds the official award size, when appropriate, lay the fish on a tape measure and photograph so that the species and size can be verified.​ Then email your photo to fishingreports.dnr@maryland.gov, as instructed on the registration form. Next, Submit your invasive catch through our online registration process. Once your catch is verified, you will receive your award certificate within 45 days.​
  

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FishMaryland Milestone Awards​ Milestone awards recognize those skillful anglers who catch trophy-sized catches of different species caught after January 1, 2019. Each milestone is marked with a certificate and a limited edition FishMaryland Milestone sticker. ​

1. ANGLER AWARD - Catch three different species, meeting the minimum length. Angler receives certificate and a limited edition FishMaryland Milestone yellow sticker.
2. EXPERT ANGLER AWARD - Catch five different species, meeting the minimum length. Angler receives certificate and a limited edition FishMaryland Milestone red sticker.
3. MASTER ​ANGLER AWARD - Catch ten different species, meeting the minimum length. Angler receives certificate, a limited edition FishMaryland Milestone black sticker and becomes eligible for a ​BASS PRO SHOPS GIFT CARD.​

View the Winners of the Master Angler Award​

Nontidal: All freshwater ponds, lakes, impoundments and nontidal waters.

Chesapeake Bay: The entire Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, including the tidal Potomac River and its Maryland tributaries.

Atlantic Coast: Atlantic Ocean, Ocean City Inlet, Chincoteague Bay, Sinepuxent Bay, Isle of Wight Bay and Assawoman Bay (and their tributaries) bounded to the north by the Maryland-Delaware Line and to the south by the Maryland-Virginia Line and Federal waters off the coast of Maryland provided the trip embarked from Maryland.

 

For more information about the FishMaryland award program​​
contact ​Keith.lockwood@maryland.gov. or Erik.Zlokovitz@maryland.gov. ​​​​​​​​​​​​