The Master Angler Award Program began in 1985 to recognize anglers who catch trophy fish that are not state records. There are eight categories in the program: black basses, temperate basses, bream, catfish, crappie, perches, trout, and a miscellaneous category.
How Do I Qualify?
Residents and nonresident anglers of any age are eligible to participate. If you catch a qualifying fish species that meets the minimum weight requirement, you are eligible to apply for a Master Angler award. All qualifying entries must be caught on rod and reel in Arkansas. To achieve certified Master Angler status, you must catch a qualifying fish in at least four categories. They do not have to be caught in the same year.
What Will I Receive?
If you catch a qualifying fish in a single category, you will receive a pin depicting fish in that category and a letter of recognition. You are eligible to receive one pin per person, per species within each category. Once you have caught a qualifying fish in four categories and become a certified Master Angler, you will receive a certificate suitable for framing and a commemorative Master Angler coin.
How Do I Apply?
Official entry forms are available at some boat docks and bait shops and from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at 2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205, or apply using the online application form.
Black Bass |
Weight |
Largemouth bass |
8.0 |
Smallmouth bass |
3.5 |
Spotted bass |
3.5 |
Bream |
Weight |
Bluegill |
1.0 |
Redear |
1.5 |
Longear sunfish |
0.5 |
Warmouth |
1.0 |
Rock bass |
1.0 |
Green sunfish |
1.0 |
Perch |
Weight |
Sauger |
2.0 |
Walleye |
9.0 |
Saugeye |
4.0 |
Pickerel |
4.0 |
Catfish |
Weight |
Bullhead |
2.0 |
Flathead catfish |
20.0 |
Channel catfish |
12.0 |
Blue catfish |
20.0 |
Trout |
Weight |
Rainbow trout |
8.0 |
Brown trout |
10.0 |
Brook trout |
3.0 |
Cutthroat trout |
5.0 |
Temperate Bass |
Weight |
Striped bass |
25.0 |
Hybrid striped bass |
13.0 |
White bass |
3.5 |
Crappie |
Weight |
White crappie |
2.5 |
Black crappie |
2.5 |
Miscellaneous |
Weight |
Bowfin |
9.0 |
Gar |
10.0 |
Paddlefish |
30.0 |
Drum |
12.0 |
Buffalo |
20.0 |