Tara Bennett Master Angler/Arkansas Grand Slam Program Coordinator
Phone:
501-604-3962
Email:
Tara.Bennett@agfc.ar.gov
Apply for your Master Angler pin here
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 23 Joe Hogan Lane, Lonoke, AR 72086 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 |
Program Coordinator