Are there separate applications for Master and Expert Angler Awards, or Angler of the Month and Year?
No. Anglers are automatically in the running for these awards when they register their trophy fish using the online application. Our coding keeps track of the type and size of every fish registered to every angler. The program then flags us when an angler achieves a master or expert level. We run a report each month to find out who catches the largest fish by certified weight for each species to calculate the angler of the month awards. The same report is then run at the end of the year to calculate the anglers of the year.
How can I view and print my trophy fish award?
In order to view and print your trophy fish certificates, log back into your account in Go Outdoors Virginia and click on the angler recognition icon at the top of the page. You can then click on “my submissions” to see your past trophy fish submissions. Then click on the application you want to view and print and in the top right corner click on the green “print” box which will pull up a PDF of your certificate.
How do I register a trophy fish award for a friend or family member?
Your friend or family member must create their own account in Go Outdoors Virginia, even if they are under the age of 16 and do not have a fishing license yet. Once their account has been created, they can then login and apply for a trophy fish award through the online application.
How do the new species added to the program from 2019 play into the pursuit of additional Master Angler levels?
Expert and Master Angler Details for Black and White Crappie:
- Expert angler status will be an aggregate of all black and white crappie that an angler has caught. Any trophy combination of black and white crappie that sums to 10 will allow an angler to achieve expert angler in crappie.
- If crappie currently counts towards an anglers’ master angler status, he or she will need to catch both black crappie and white crappie to achieve an extra point towards future master angler levels. This will involve an angler to re-catch one or both of the crappie species.
Expert and Master Angler Details for Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, and Other Sunfish:
- Expert angler status will be an aggregate of all Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, and Other Sunfish that an angler has caught. Any trophy combination of Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, and Other Sunfish that sums to 10 will allow an angler to achieve expert angler in Sunfish.
- If Sunfish currently counts towards an anglers’ master angler status, he or she will need to catch both Bluegill and Redear Sunfish to achieve an extra point towards future master angler levels. To get two extra points towards future master angler levels he or she will need to catch Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, and Other Sunfish. This will involve an angler to re-catch one or all of the Sunfish species.
- Species that anglers can catch that would count towards Other Sunfish include Pumpkinseed, Green Sunfish, Flier, and Warmouth.