Anglers live for noteworthy catches and rarely fail to celebrate and commemorate their successes.

For as long as people have gone to the water with intentions of catching fish, the most and the biggest were measures of anglers’ skill and cunning.

The ancients rejoiced at outstanding catches as villagers feasted on the bounty. More recently, we got pumped up when the bait store proprietor took a Polaroid and tacked it to the shop’s cork board. Today, we take a phone photo and post it on Facebook for all the world’s oohs and aahs.

Whether for sustenance or for accolades, anglers have beamed with pride when their catches outshine the others. And so it is that the Fish Ohio pin is awarded to acknowledge noteworthy catches.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced recently that its Division of Wildlife awarded 10,127 Fish Ohio pins for trophy fish landed or boated in 2025.

Pins were bestowed for 26 different species. Fish Ohio catches happened most frequently in 2025 at Mosquito, Lake Erie, Alum Creek, Buckeye, Caesar Creek and Indian lakes.

To earn a Fish Ohio pin, anglers must catch a fish equaling or exceeding the length requirement for any of the 26 species. Master Angler pins are awarded to anglers who catch qualifying fish of four different species. Last year, 1,009 anglers qualified for Master Angler pins.

Lake Erie produced the most pin winners, with 3,867 qualifiers last year, mostly walleyes, steelhead trout, smallmouth bass and yellow perch.

Mosquito Lake also produced a large number of Fish Ohio catches. It was in the top three for channel catfish (minimum 26 inches). Mosquito topped the list of crappie pin winners.

Berlin and Pymatuning also made the top 10 list for crappies.

For inland waters, including the Ohio River, qualifying fish lengths are 25 inches for walleyes and 18 inches for smallmouth bass. Lake Erie walleyes must measure 28 inches to qualify, while smallies must be 19 inches and steelhead must be 28 inches. Erie perch topping 13 inches also qualify.

Statewide, regardless of whether caught in Erie or inland waters, flathead catfish length is 32 inches, hybrid stripers are 21 inches, channel catfish must be 26, crappies have to reach 13 inches, largemouth bass should be 20 inches, muskies must reach 40 inches and northern pike need to be 32 inches.

The Fish Ohio pin program was started in 1976. More than 430,000 qualifying catches have been pinned over the past 50 years.

Spring is a great time to catch the biggest members of most Ohio fishes. Mosquito, Pymatuning, Berlin, West Branch and Milton all offer great opportunities for those who would like to sport a pin acknowledging their fishing prowess.

Anglers wishing to register their catches for Fish Ohio pins can visit fishohio.gov.

Jack Wollitz writes weekly for Tribune Chronicle and The Vindicator readers and is the author of a new book, The Common Golfer, to be released in April. Contact him at jackbbaass@gmail.com.