Indiana Record
Fish Program
It’s FUN and FREE! Submit your entry today!
The Indiana Record Fish program recognizes two categories of award winners:
State Record Fish
Fish-of-the-Year
If you think you have caught a new State Record Fish, please follow the
rules below for submitting your entry. The weight of the fish is required
for state record fish entries. If your fish is not a new state record,
submit it for Fish-of-the-Year and you may just win! Length of the fish is
required for fish-of-the-year entries and there can be a winner for each
species category that the division recognizes. Winners receive a
certificate and a colorful jacket patch. Entry forms and pictures will not
be returned to the angler.
Submit an entry
General Rules for Submitting an Entry
Fish must be taken legally by hook and line from Indiana waters. Fish taken
from the main stem of the Ohio River between Kentucky and Indiana, or from
the Wabash River between Illinois and Indiana will be considered for
Indiana’s Record Fish Program, provided the angler possessed an Indiana
fishing license at the time of the catch.
A photocopy of the angler’s license must accompany an entry if a license was
required to catch fish from that body of water.
Fish taken from water on artificial feeding programs are not eligible.
Entry must be postmarked by Dec. 31 of the calendar year the fish was
caught.
A good-quality side-view photograph of the fish must accompany each entry.
Blue catfish must be photographed from the side against a light background.
For State Record Fish entries, applicants may wish to consider hiring a
photographer.
Anyone can enter and multiple entries are accepted. Fish must be caught in
public or private fishing waters where there is no fee for the fish taken.
Complete and mail the entry form below along with the following:
copy of fishing license
Scale Inspection Report for all State Record Fish entries only
Rules for Fish-of-the-Year Entries
Size is determined by a total length measurement, or fork length for
shovelnose sturgeon. No weight measurement is required for Fish of the Year.
One witness, who is not a relative, who observed the length and/or weight
measurement must sign the entry form.
It is not necessary to report the location where the length measurement was
taken for Fish of the Year entries.
Provide photograph(s) of the fish (sideview) and copy of fishing license, if
required.
Rules for State Record Fish Entries
Size is determined by weight measurement first, then length, for state
record fish. Both weight and length measurements are required. The weight
measurement must be taken before the fish is frozen and on a scale that has
been certified by the State of Indiana to be accurate to 1 ounce. If you
can’t find a certified scale in a grocery, hardware, grain store, or propane
distributor, call the Indiana Division of Weights and Measures at (317)
356-7078 for the nearest location.
Obtain a copy of the Scale Inspection Report from the store owner where the
fish is weighed and submit the report with the entry form.
Submit a printed meat packaging label showing the weight of the fish, if
available
After weighing, the fish may be gutted and iced, but not filleted or
otherwise cut up. The fish must be available for inspection and
identification.
State record fish entries may require verification by a Division of Fish and
Wildlife fisheries biologist. It is the responsibility of the angler to
schedule a time to have the fish examined by a State fisheries biologist.
Two witnesses, who are not relatives, who observed the length and/or weight
measurement must sign the entry form.
Provide the location information on where the fish was weighed.
Provide side-view photograph(s) of the fish and copy of fishing license, if
required.
Entry Form
