The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has reintroduced its TrophyCatch pink tag contest, where biologists have tagged and released trophy-sized bass with bright pink tags across various locations in the state. The first bass captured in each pink tag location offers thousands of dollars in prizes.
Harry Linsinbigler IV caught a prized, pink-tagged bass weighing 11 pounds and 4 ounces in Lake Rochelle, part of the Northwest Winter Haven Chain of Lakes. He will receive $1,000 worth of AFTCO Fishing Apparel & Tackle and a $1,000 check from TrophyCatch sponsor, 888-BOAT-LAW.
There are five designated pink tag locations across the state, some containing multiple tagged bass. These locations include Lake Lochloosa, Lake Beauclair, Lake Okeechobee, Porter Lake, and the Northwest Winter Haven Chain of Lakes (which includes Lake Jessie, Lake Idylwild, Lake Hartridge, Lake Conine, Lake Rochelle, Lake Haines, Lake Smart and Lake Fannie).
The 12th season of the TrophyCatch pink tag promotion concludes on September 30. Anglers still have time to catch one of these specially tagged fish.
To claim their prize upon catching a bass with a pink tag, anglers must cut and keep the tag and follow submission instructions available on the TrophyCatch website.
Participants fishing in these special waterbodies can also be rewarded as “Pink-Tag Chasers” with potential prizes such as Bajío Sunglasses. More information is available at TrophyCatch.com.
Participation in TrophyCatch aids FWC’s efforts to better understand and conserve Florida’s freshwater fisheries while informing priority work in managing trophy bass populations. For further details about the TrophyCatch program, interested parties can contact KP Clements at KP.Clements@MyFWC.com.
