Arkansas Legacy Lunker Program

Harnessing the trophy potential of Arkansas’s home-grown trophy bass combined with cutting-edge research and technology, the Legacy Lunker Program will push the envelope in producing and managing trophy bass like never before in the history of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. From January to March, anglers can call 833-948-BASS to donate trophy bass weighing over 10 pounds from Arkansas waters. These donated fish will be bred with selected males that possess trophy genetic markers, identified through a collaboration with our genetic partners at Red Hills Fishery. After spawning, both the donated bass and their offspring will be released back into the same water body where the trophy bass were caught. This initiative will create a lasting legacy for trophy bass fishing in Arkansas.

Each fall, anglers who catch and donate a double-digit bass during the donation period will be invited to the Legacy Lunker banquet. At this event, they will be recognized for their achievements and generosity. Donors will receive a prize package that includes lures from PRADCO and a Bass Pro Shops gift card. Additionally, thanks to a partnership with Xpress Boats of Hot Springs, donors will be entered into a drawing for a fully rigged 21-foot boat and will receive a replica mount of their catch from Harper’s Pure Country Taxidermy of Mountain Home. Additional prizes provided by Arkansas companies are in the works.

The Legacy Lunker Program aims to generate excitement for bass fishing across Arkansas by recognizing anglers for their impressive catches throughout the year. Upon launch of the angler recognition program, anglers will receive honors for catching largemouth bass weighing over 10 pounds (not donated), bass weighing over 8 pounds, and there will also be a youth category for bass over 6 pounds. These anglers will receive a prize pack recognizing their achievement, including lures from PRADCO and a gift card from Bass Pro Shops, with more prizes in the works.

To be eligible for the Legacy Lunker Club donation, a largemouth bass must meet the following criteria:

• The fish must be caught by an angler possessing a valid Arkansas fishing license and in compliance with all Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) fishing regulations.
• The fish must be caught from public waters in Arkansas that are managed by the AGFC and are accessible for public fishing. Any body of water that is privately owned, requires a fee or membership for fishing, or is not open to the general public is not eligible. This includes, but is not limited to, pay-to-fish lakes and waters managed by Homeowner or Property Owner Associations (HOA/POA).
• The fish must be caught by rod and reel. Bass caught with passive gear (such as trotlines, setlines, jug lines, or nets) or snagged will not be accepted.
• The fish must weigh 10.00 pounds or greater.
• The fish will be accepted for donation to the Legacy Lunker Club beginning at 12:00 AM Central Standard Time on January 1, 2026, and ending at 11:59 PM Central Standard Time on March 31, 2026. To be eligible, the fish must be caught and reported between these dates. Submissions that are caught and reported outside of this period will not be accepted.

To report a fish the for Legacy Lunker Club, the angler must meet the following criteria: 

• The angler must report the catch by calling the hotline number (1-833-948-2277) directed to the AGFC Legacy Lunker Program Coordinator or other AGFC Black Bass Program staff.
• The angler must use the web form or mobile app to submit their fish catch information while following all Legacy Lunker Program rules.
• Upon donation, the angler must complete the Legacy Lunker Fish Donation and Release of Ownership Waiver. Failure to comply will result in disqualification from the Legacy Lunker Program.

To be accepted for the Legacy Lunker Club donation, the angler must meet the following criteria:

• Once AGFC has been contacted by the angler and informed that the angler has caught a fish that may qualify for the Legacy Lunker Club and prior to acceptance, AGFC will confirm the weight of the fish on non-stationary certified scales. The non-stationary certified scales are professionally calibrated on an annual basis to confirm accuracy and consistency. In the event that the fish does not meet the ten (10) pound threshold as required, AGFC will deny its eligibility for the Legacy Lunker Club.
• Any attempt to alter or manipulate the weight of a fish shall result in immediate disqualification from all Legacy Lunker eligibility, recognition, and prizes. Such actions may also constitute a violation of Arkansas law and subject the individual to criminal prosecution.
• The fish must be alive and in good health in order to be transported to the hatchery. If AGFC makes the decision to not accept the fish for spawning although the fish is alive, the angler will still be eligible for entry into the Legacy Lunker Club and the grand prize drawing. If the fish, regardless of weight, is dead when AGFC arrives to weigh the fish, the fish will not be accepted and the angler will not be eligible for entry into the Legacy Lunker Club or the grand prize drawing.

If accepted for the Legacy Lunker donation, the angler agrees to the following criteria:

• AGFC reserves the right to use photographs submitted, including photographs showing the angler’s image. As a condition of registering a fish using the AGFC App or entering a fish in the Legacy Lunker Club, a person, individually or as a parent or guardian of a minor, grants to AGFC a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free license and right, to publicize, broadcast, display and/or otherwise use the angler’s image, name, city, and state for AGFC purposes, in any media now known or hereafter devised, including in AGFC publications and advertising, without additional review, compensation, permission or approval.

If accepted for the Legacy Lunker donation, the angler is eligible for the following:

• Legacy Lunker Club recognition items or prizes, including but not limited to a replica mount provided by the taxidermist of AGFC’s choosing and mounted in uniform manner as other submissions as determined by AGFC in its sole and absolute discretion, an invitation to the annual Legacy Lunker Banquet, and one entry into Legacy Lunker Club grand prize drawing per entry.
• The Legacy Lunker Club drawing prize package includes grand prize drawing of fully-rigged Xpress Boat; Additional prizes may be added to the prize package prior to the drawing’s entry deadline; all entrants will be informed of any additional prizes by email.
• Must be 17 years of age or older to be eligible to win prize drawings; however, a parent or guardian of any younger angler who has caught a qualifying fish may register the fish on behalf of the younger angler using the AGFC Legacy Lunker App.
• The winner of the grand prize drawing will be subject to any applicable taxes.

If accepted for the Legacy Lunker donation, the angler agrees to the following criteria:

• By entering the drawing and/or by accepting any prizes, each hereby releases and holds harmless the AGFC, the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, drawing sponsor(s), drawing prize provider(s), and any of their commissioners, directors, officers, employees, volunteers, agents and representatives from and against any and all liabilities, costs, expenses, claims, and damages for which the AGFC, the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, drawing sponsor(s), and/or drawing prize provider(s) might otherwise become liable by reason of any accidents, or injuries to or death of any persons, or damage to property, or both, in any manner arising or resulting from, caused by, connected with or related to entering the drawing and/or accepting any prizes, regardless of how, where, or when such injury, death or damage occurs even if caused by the negligence of the AGFC, the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, drawing sponsor(s), and/or drawing prize provider(s).
• Current employees of AGFC and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter or win drawing prize packages; however, they may register any qualifying fish caught using the AGFC Legacy Lunker App. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such persons shall be eligible to receive any donated prize pack provided to all other anglers with qualified entries, not to include the grand prize or replica mount, so long as such fish qualifies for a category that would ordinarily qualify an individual to receive such prize. 
• Winners of prize drawings will be selected from qualified entries. Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received.
• The winner of the Legacy Lunker grand-prize drawing may be required, at AGFC’s discretion, to undergo a polygraph or similar examination to confirm compliance with all program rules and regulations within one month of the Legacy Lunker Banquet.
• Failure to submit to or successfully complete a polygraph or similar test, or any finding of rule violation or ineligibility, will result in immediate disqualification from all prizes and recognition associated with the Legacy Lunker Program.
• In cases where the grand prize winner is disqualified, the grand prize will be awarded to the alternative winner drawn during the Legacy Lunker Banquet.
• Winners of drawings will be notified within one month following the Legacy Lunker Banquet by email contact information provided by the participant. Each prize drawing winner has five (5) business days after notification to accept/claim the prize package, otherwise it will be offered to the next alternate selected in the drawing.

• AGFC reserves the right to verify or investigate any entry at any time, and all AGFC decisions regarding eligibility, testing, or disqualification are final.
• Void where prohibited by law.