Alabama 4-H

2025 4-H Biggest Catch

3 min read
An illustrated lomgear sunfish from the 2024 Biggest Fish Art winner, Claire Fields.

June 6 to 16

Alabama 4-H 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 6 and June 16. Once you make your catch, measure the fish, take a photo with it, and submit an online contest entry form. Try to catch as many different species as you can to win the biggest variety award. Fish as many public water bodies as possible to win the award for the biggest variety of public water fished. Show off your artistic side to win the biggest fish art award.

Contest Categories

This year, there are four 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 Variety of Fish Species— Catch as many different species of bass, sunfish (bream), catfish, and crappie as you can. Size does not matter.

Biggest Variety of Public Water— Catch a fish in as many different public water bodies as you can. Size does not matter.

Biggest Fish Art—Portray a bass, sunfish (bream), catfish, or crappie in a piece of art.

Official Contest Rules and Information

1. Participants must submit their official contest entries between June 6 at 8 a.m. CST and June 16 at 8 p.m. CST using the online submission form at aub.ie/4HBiggestCatch25.

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 AL4H25, 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.

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).

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!

Official Fish Art Contest Rules and Information

1. Participants must submit their official contest entries between June 6 at 8 a.m. CST and June 16 at 8 p.m. CST using the online submission form at aub.ie/4HBiggestCatchArt25.

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

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 fish species that is listed within the 4-H Biggest Catch categories: bass, sunfish (bream), catfish, or crappie.

6. Artwork may be of a fish you catch or a fish of your choice. Can be in black and white or in color.

7. Artwork must be neat and legible.

8. The winning artwork may be used as inspiration for the 2026 4-H Biggest Catch design.

Fish Species

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:

 

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

Revised May 2025, 2025 4-H Biggest Catch, 4HYD-2429

Download this article as a PDF