Alabama Extension invites everyone ages 9 to 18 to test their fishing skills through 4-H BIGGEST Catch, a virtual fishing contest! To participate, all you have to do is go fishing in Alabama freshwater anytime between June 5 and June 15. Once you make your catch, measure the fish, take a photo with it, and submit an online contest entry form. Show off your artistic side to win the fish art award.

Contest Categories

This year, there are two contest categories, with two age divisions in each category (Junior: 9 to 13; Senior: 14 to 18). First, second, and third place will be awarded in both age divisions.

Biggest Catch—Catch a big fish in one or more fish categories: bass, sunfish (bream), catfish, and crappie. First, second, and third place will be awarded in each fish category.

Biggest Fish Art—Portray a native darter (see list) in a piece of art.

Figure 1. Examples of contest entries

Biggest Catch

Official Contest Rules and Information

1. Participants must submit their official contest entries between June 5 at 8 a.m. CST and June 15 at 8 p.m. CST using the online submission form at aub.ie/BiggestCatch26.

2. All entries must include a photograph of the youth’s catch (figure 1). The photograph must include the youth and their fish, the contest code AL4H26, and the total length (inches) of the fish. This can be written on a piece of paper and held up in the photograph or written on the participant’s hand or forearm. *The entry photograph may not be edited in any way. Do not include your name or any details other than the code and length on the photograph.

3. Total length of a fish is measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the caudal (tail) fin using a measuring tape or a measuring board (figure 2 and figure 3).

Figure 2. Measure from the tip of the snout to the end of the caudal (tail) fin to get the total length.

4. Only complete entries will be considered.

5. Youth ages 9 to 13 will compete in the Junior division, and youth ages 14 to 18 will compete in the Senior division.

6. Youth must catch and land their own fish without the help of others.

7. Each participant’s catch must be submitted to the correct fish category.

8. Fish must be caught in Alabama waters.

9. Participants must follow all state requirements for fishing license and permits and creel and size limits. Visit www.OutdoorAlabama.com for more information on these requirements.

10. Have fun and be safe!

Fish Species for Fishing Contest

Figure 3. Squeeze the caudal (tail) fin to get the correct measurement.

Bass. Alabama bass, Cahaba bass (redeye), Chattahoochee bass (redeye), Coosa bass (redeye), hybrid bass, largemouth bass, shoal bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass, Tallapoosa bass (redeye), yellow bass, Warrior bass (redeye), white bass

Sunfish (Bream). Banded sunfish, bluegill, bluespotted sunfish, dollar sunfish, flier, green sunfish, longear sunfish, mud sunfish, orangespotted sunfish, redbreast sunfish, redear sunfish (shellcracker), redspotted sunfish, rock bass, shadow bass, warmouth

Catfish. Blue catfish, bullhead, channel catfish, flathead catfish, white catfish

Crappie. Black crappie, white crappie

Where Can I Fish?

Alabama has a lot of public water to explore, including more than 132,000 miles of freshwater, 23 public fishing lakes, and 24 state parks! The following are resources on locating recreational fishing areas near you:

• Alabama Scenic River Trail—www.alabamascenicrivertrail.com
• Alabama State Parks—www.alapark.com
• Outdoor Alabama—www.outdooralabama.com/wheretofish
• How to Purchase an Alabama Recreational Freshwater Fishing License—www.aces.edu

Biggest Fish Art

Official Fish Art Contest Rules and Information

1. Participants must submit their official contest entries between June 5 at 8 a.m. CST and June 15 at 8 p.m. CST using the online submission form at aub.ie/BiggestCatchArt26.

2. Youth ages 9 to 13 will compete in the Junior division, and youth ages 14 to 18 will compete in the Senior division.

Figure 4. Example of a fish art contest entry

3. All entries must include a photograph of the youth’s artwork.

4. Youth must draw, sketch, or paint their own fish without the help of others.

5. Artwork must be of a native darter species from the official fish art species list.

6. Artwork can be in black and white or in color.

7. Artwork must be neat and legible.

Fish Species for Fish Art Contest

amber darter, ashy darter, backwater darter, banded darter, bandfin darter, black darter, blackbanded darter, blackfin darter, blackside darter, blenny darter, blotchside darter, logperch darter, bluebreast darter, blueside darter, bluntnose darter, boulder darter, brighteye darter, bronze darter, brown darter, Choctawhatchee darter, coal darter, coastal darter, coldwater darter, Coosa darter, crown darter, crystal darter, cypress darter, dusky darter, fantail darter, Florida sand darter, freckled darter, fringed darter, gilt darter, goldline darter, goldstripe darter, greenbreast darter, greenside darter, gulf darter, gulf logperch darter, harlequin darter, holiday darter, johnny darter, lipstick darter, lollipop darter, mobile logperch darter, muscadine darter, naked sand darter, rainbow darter, redline darter, redspot darter, river darter, rock darter, rush darter, saddleback darter, slackwater darter, slenderhead darter, snail darter, snubnose darter, southern logperch darter, southern sand darter, speckled darter, stripetail darter, swamp darter, Tallapoosa darter, Tennessee darter, Tombigbee darter, trispot darter, Tuscumbia darter, tuskaloosa darter, vermilion darter, warrior darter, watercress darter

Emily Nichols, Extension Specialist, Alabama 4-H, Auburn University

Revised April 2026, 2026 4-H Biggest Catch, 4HYD-2429