FWC adds vermilion snapper and saltwater catfish to Catch a Florida Memory's Reel Big Fish program
Left: Anthony Carta with gafftopsail catfish; Right: Dennis Triana with vermilion snapper.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and its saltwater angler recognition program, Catch a Florida Memory, will see the addition of two new qualifying Reel Big Fish; effective March 1, anglers will be able to earn Reel Big Fish recognition for vermilion snapper and saltwater catfish (gafftopsail or hardhead catfish).
These new Reel Big Fish additions gives inshore and offshore anglers new goals to keep them on the water, targeting two new varieties of fish species. Vermilion snapper and saltwater catfish are great table fare, worrthy of taking home to use with a new or favorite fish recipe.
To qualify for a Reel Big Fish achievement, a fish must reach or exceed the qualifying length listed for each species in two categories: youths - ages 15 and younger, or adults, ages 16 and older. The qualifying length for vermilion snapper is 17 inches for adults and 13 inches for youth, while the qualifying length for saltwater catfish is 22 inches for adults and 16 inches for youth.
All Reel Big Fish catches must be photographed over a qualifying measuring device, clearly showing the exact full length of the fish. A photo of the fish, with the angler submitting the catch, is also required.
Anglers who submit an approved Reel Big Fish will receive a colorful certificate, a t-shirt designed by Tony Ivory Art and Apparel, a Tervis tumbler (insulated cup) from Discover Martin County, monthly raffle entries to win prizes from partners like Mount This! Fish Company and SeaDek Marine Products, and other goodies in recognition of their achievement. New Reel Big Fish recipients will also be listed in the Saltwater Recreational Fishing Regulations booklet and on the Club Members page. Anglers who are missing a photograph of their fish over a measuring device can be awarded a Reel Big Fish Honorable Mention digital certificate instead (emailed to the angler).
The FWC maintains state records in conventional tackle and fly-fishing categories for 81 species caught in Florida state waters or in federal waters extending directly from Florida state waters. Saltwater record holders receive a certificate of accomplishment, a prize pack, recognition in various publications, and a custom ink fish print to memorialize their catch, courtesy of Fish Print Shop. Currently, there are vacancies in white grunt, blueline tilefish and schoolmaster snapper categories, giving anglers the opportunity to get their name on the record listing for these species.
Click here for additional information: catchafloridamemory.com.