FWC’s Catch a Florida Memory program: fishing for sport, recognition, prizes and conservation
With over 4,000 participating anglers and 36 sponsoring partners, Catch a Florida Memory is the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) exciting and engaging saltwater angler recognition program. This program encourages participants to learn more about Florida’s vast recreational fishing opportunities and an angler’s role in marine conservation by enticing them to target a variety of saltwater species and rewards them with prizes for submitting photos of their catches.
Launched in 2016, Catch a Florida Memory has received more than 27,500 saltwater fish photo submissions from participants of all experience levels and ranging in ages from 3 years old to 90 years old. Anglers can earn recognition in five different ways:
(1) Life List – a list of 70 different species of saltwater fish to challenge an angler to catch over their lifetime.
(2) Reel Big Fish – recognizes anglers for catches that meet or exceed a minimum length for 30 different saltwater species.
(3) Grand Slams – 9 different slams that challenge anglers to catch 3 specified fish species in a 24-hour period.
(4) Triple Threat Club – anglers are awarded this status when they have caught a Grand Slam, a Reel Big Fish and have qualified for at least the Life List 10-Fish Club.
(5) Florida Saltwater Fishing Records – state records are for the heaviest marine fishes caught in Florida waters or in federal waters extending directly outward of Florida state line boundaries, and are maintained for 81 species in all-tackle and fly-fishing categories.
This year, the program is expanding to host the very first Triple Threat Throwdown raffle challenge that will reward one lucky angler with a fully outfitted fishing kayak, valued at over $2,000 and sponsored by Bonafide and Yakattack. Learn more about the Triple Threat Throwdown at CatchaFLMemory.com; click on “Additional Raffle Details.”
“Continuing to grow this community of engaged anglers who are passionate about Florida’s saltwater fish and marine ecosystems is vital to our mission of conservation and management,” said Jessica McCawley, Director of Marine Fisheries Management. “Thanks to the support of our incredible partners and the commitment of our Catch a Florida Memory anglers, our program is a success and continues to grow each year.”
Do you want to get in on the action? Participate today by visiting CatchaFloridaMemory.com. See how you and other anglers are doing by following the Catch a Florida Memory Facebook page at Facebook.com/CatchaFLMemory.
If you have questions about this program, email Angler.Recogntion@MyFWC.com or call 850-487-0554.