FWC’s TrophyCatch Season 8 ends with incredible milestones
Rodman Reservoir (Lake Ocklawaha) had 157 approved trophy bass, making it the top producing water body of the season! The Rodman Reservoir is an artificial reservoir located in north Central Florida on the Ocklawaha River in Putnam and Marion counties, about 15 miles southwest of Palatka, Florida, between State Road 19 on the east and State Road 315 on the west.
TrophyCatch has awarded prizes for the catch and release of more than 10,000 largemouth bass since the program began in 2012. Thus far, 8,530 Lunker Club, 2,086 Trophy Club and 89 Hall of Fame fish have contributed to this landmark. TrophyCatch anglers have collectively caught and released over 97,500 pounds of bass.
Other wins for TrophyCatch Season 8 include seven Hall of Fame bass coming from Hillsborough County, which prior to this season, had contributed only one other Hall of Fame fish. Three Hall of Fame fish came from Orange Lake in Marion County, which is now back to fishing prime following a natural drawdown in 2011 and subsequent habitat enhancement actions.
“The data we receive from TrophyCatch is crucial in making management decisions and will continue to do so," said Tom Graef, director of the FWC’s Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management. "Florida anglers must remain a part of our research team for us to continue being the Bass Fishing Capital of the World.”
Since the August 10, 2020 opening of Headwaters Boat Ramp at Fellsmere Water Management Area (WMA), located in the Upper St. Johns River Basin, west of Vero Beach in Indian River County, 21 TrophyCatch bass have been approved. The citizen science information collected through TrophyCatch helps the FWC evaluate management actions, such as the habitat enhancement and stocking that occurred at the Fellsmere WMA. This waterbody was TrophyCatch’s No. 2 top producing waterbody for Season 8 and had 56 approved bass during the year.
“I have been a part of the TrophyCatch program since its inception and I am always thrilled with each conservation milestone we achieve,” said Jason Dotson, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Freshwater Fisheries section leader.
The TrophyCatch program rewards anglers who provide documentation of their catch and release of largemouth bass weighing 8 pounds or heavier in Florida. In order to be eligible for prizes, anglers are required to submit photos or videos of their catch to TrophyCatch.com, showing the entire fish and its weight on a scale, before releasing it back into the water. FWC biologists use TrophyCatch data for bass research to make informed decisions about the management of Florida bass fisheries and to promote the catch and release of trophy bass.
The FWC encourages anglers to join TrophyCatch to become citizen scientists and assist in the management and the conservation of Florida’s freshwater fisheries. The associated TrophyCare program promotes best handling practices for trophy bass to ensure that each TrophyCatch bass is released alive. For more information about the TrophyCatch program, email Laura Rambo at Laura.Rambo@MyFWC.com.
For general waterbody information, fishing forecasts, virtual tours, plant control operation schedules and annual workplans, boat ramp information, and more, visit MyFWC.com/Lake.