State Record, Whopper and Catch & Release Clubs

State Record Requirements

1. All recognized fish must be harvested by legal methods for Recreational Fishing and come from North Dakota waters that are open for public fishing.
2. All new state record fish must be weighed on a scale used commercially and subject to certification by the North Dakota Public Service Commission.
   1. All weights must be rounded to the nearest ounce.
3. The fish must be visually verified by an employee of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
4. Angler must thoroughly complete and submit to the Department a whopper card application or a hand-written or typed note with all similar information.
5. A recognizable photo of the fish must be furnished to the Department.
6. A fin sample may be required/collected for some species for genetic analysis.

Whopper Club Requirements

Only species listed and meeting minimum weight requirements will qualify for patch and certificate. All fish entered must have been harvested by legal methods as described in the North Dakota fishing guide and come from North Dakota waters.  Entries must be weighed on scale used in trade. An application card must be filled out, giving weight and length of fish, date and where caught, tackle and bait used (if applicable), signature of applicant, and signature of person weighing the fish.  Only one application may be made for each species in a lifetime.  You receive a patch for the first whopper of a species, and Expert patch for a whopper of another species, and a Master patch for a whopper of the third species. After that only certificates will be awarded for whoppers of additional species.

Catch And Release Club Requirements

Nineteen species of fish qualify for Catch and Release Club.  Entries must meet minimum length requirements and be released unharmed back to the water.  Another fisherman must witness and verify the measurement and release. A maximum of five entries per year per species will be recognized. Anglers will receive an official membership certificate and a choice of jacket patch or boat decal.

State Record, Catch and Release Club, and Whopper Club forms are available below to print, fill out, and mail to the Department. They can not be completed on line because they require signatures.  Note: To view documents marked with requires Adobe® Acrobat® Reader™. Get it free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

  Download requirements and applications for State Records, Whopper Club, Catch & Release Club  (113Kb PDF)
  Requirements for submitting a fish for state record or to enter a fish in the Whopper Club or Catch-and-Release Club
  State Record Fish

View on-line database of Whopper Club and Catch and Release Club entries, including state record fish.

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