Leader Board Updated 2026<\/strong><\/a> For 42 years the NJDEP’s Fish and Wildlife has been recognizing the talents of New Jersey anglers who catch fish of “not quite record” size, but large enough to have tested the angler’s skill and be worthy of recognition. The program also recognizes our newest anglers with its “First Fish”<\/strong> category. New anglers of any age can commemorate their first successful catch with a certificate from Fish and Wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more experienced anglers the program recognizes trophy catches of 43 different freshwater and marine fish species in addition to Specialist<\/strong>, Master<\/strong>, Elite<\/strong>, and Grandmaster Angler<\/strong> categories. Help promote the excellent fishing opportunities that exist throughout the Garden State by submitting your qualifying catch!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Leader Board<\/strong><\/a> identifies anglers with the current largest fish (weight or length) for both freshwater and saltwater. The list is updated regularly as new submissions\/leaders are verified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beginning in 2018 submitting an application<\/a> became easier than ever as applications and photo(s) can be e-mailed. Anglers submitting qualifying catches will receive a certificate and qualifier patch. Winners will also receive a certificate and Skillful Angler Winner patch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Skillful Angler Program has four divisions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adult<\/strong> – based on weight In addition to individual species the program also recognizes anglers who catch several qualifying fish in three categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anglers meeting the above requirements will receive a special patch and certificate documenting their angling skill!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Slam Categories<\/strong> recognize anglers who catch qualifying fish of specific species:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Special recognition isn’t the only program benefit. When anglers submit their entries, data of interest to Fish and Wildlife’s biologists (such as the fish’s weight, length, girth and the date, time and catch location) becomes available which may reveal insights about the waterbody from where the fish was hooked or as an indicator of the condition of a particular fishery. Combined data from many anglers can create a meaningful freshwater fisheries data set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through the Skillful Angler Program, anglers statewide can commemorate their catch while supporting Fish and Wildlife’s continuing fisheries monitoring efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Submitting An Application<\/strong><\/a>
Past Winners<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n![\"Frank](\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/ruczynski_pickerel19-1024x669.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Junior<\/strong> (under 16) – based on weight
Catch and Release<\/strong> – based on length
First Fish<\/strong> – First fish ever caught, of any species of any size, by any angler regardless of age<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n
Freshwater Slams<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
Saltwater Slams<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
Minimum Size Requirements for Skillful Angler Award:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Saltwater Species<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/fish_measuring.gif\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"