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Certify your catch

State Record Fish Claim Wizard.

Enter your catch and state to generate a printable certification worksheet — the standardized claim steps, your catch details, and a direct link to your state agency’s official record-fish program.

Why this beats a search: AIO can name the generic steps, but it cannot hold your catch — your species, weight, length, and date — and hand you a printable claim worksheet routed to your state agency. This does.
Not legal advice. FishFig is an informational guide. License fees, size/bag limits, and seasons change yearly and vary by water, species, and zone. Always confirm the current rule with the state agency (linked on every regulations page) before you buy a license or keep fish. When in doubt, check the official source.

State Record Claim Worksheet — Texas

My catch

  • Species: —
  • Weight: —
  • Length: —
  • Date: —
  • State: Texas

Certifying agency

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)

Official record-fish program: https://tpwd.texas.gov

Compare your catch to the current record for your species on the agency’s official record page before claiming.

Certification steps

  1. Catch the fish legally — rod & reel (or the state-approved method), during the open season, on waters open to the public.
  2. Keep the fish intact. Do not freeze, fillet, or alter it in a way that removes evidence of species and measurement.
  3. Weigh it on a CERTIFIED scale in the presence of a witness (many states require an official weighmaster or agency staff).
  4. For length records, measure total length on a certified measuring board; photograph the fish on the board with the measurement visible.
  5. Complete the state’s official application form, usually within 30–90 days of the catch.
  6. Submit photos and any required documentation; some states require biological verification of the species.
  7. Check the current record for your species on the agency’s official record-fish page before claiming — numbers change as records fall.

Process is generalized across U.S. state record programs. Exact steps, forms, and current record weights are set by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). U.S. state record fish programs follow a consistent certification pattern (certified-scale weigh-in, witness, timed application). Exact steps and current record weights are set by each state agency — verify on the official record-fish page. (retrieved 2026-08-29)

Frequently asked questions

Does this tell me the current state record weight?

No — record weights change as records fall and we will not publish a number we haven’t verified. The wizard routes you to your state agency’s official record-fish page so you can compare your catch to the live, current record.

What does the worksheet actually give me?

A printable, fill-in record of your catch (species, weight, length, date, state) plus the standardized certification steps — certified-scale weigh-in, witness, timed application — and the certifying agency’s contact and program link.

Is the certification process the same in every state?

The core pattern is consistent across U.S. programs: legal catch, certified-scale weigh-in with a witness, and a timed application. Exact forms, windows, and whether length records are recognized vary by state — always follow your agency’s official instructions.

Is this legal advice?

No. FishFig is an informational guide. State record rules, forms, and current records are set by each state agency — verify with them before submitting a claim.