Florida’s TrophyCatch program has opened its 15th season, again inviting freshwater anglers statewide to document and release largemouth bass weighing at least 8 pounds.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-run citizen-science program began the 2026-27 season on Oct. 1 and continues through Sept. 30, 2027. Anglers submit catch photos and weight records through the TrophyCatch website for verification.
Approved catches earn rewards while providing information used to track Florida’s largemouth bass fishery, including data on fish growth, habitat health and population sizes.
For the program’s 15-year milestone, TrophyCatch has added two prizes. The first angler to submit a verified bass weighing 15 pounds or more will receive a gear package. Fish of that size are extremely rare, according to biologists, and their documentation is especially useful for trophy-bass research.
A separate gear package will go to the first participant to log 15 approved catches of 8 pounds or more during the season. AFTCO, Lowrance and Bajío are among the industry partners providing gear for the prize packages.
“Whether it’s your first 8-pound bass or a once-in-a-lifetime 15-pound giant, every approved catch adds to the story of Florida’s trophy bass fisheries,” Summer Lindelien, director of FWC’s TrophyCatch program, said in the announcement.
