California Fishing Passport Award Winners

The California Fishing Passport program is proud to highlight some of it's most recent award winners:

Ethan Mayes is the first person to achieve Master Ocean Angler status with the California Fishing Passport Program, having documented 50 different saltwater fish species in his California Fishing Passport. Ethan began recording his catches and collecting stamps in his passport in 2014. His passion for the sport has taken him all over southern and central California, fishing from piers, from shore, and from vessels in nearshore and offshore waters. He has shown true versatility and commitment to meeting the California Fishing Passport Challenge!

Azure Cohen (middle left) has been participating in the California Fishing Passport Program since it began. He has now been awarded Accomplished Ocean Angler, Accomplished Coldwater Angler, and Shellfish Expert recognition, along with the Coldwater and Ocean Angler awards and the Shellfish Specialist award. His favorite fishing location is along the San Diego coast, where he is shown in the picture to the left holding two very nice bluefin tuna.

The Halliday brothers, Jack (middle right) and Dylan (lower left), are part of a family of California Fishing Passport champions. They and their father all hold multiple awards from the program. Dylan is shown holding a yellowtail that's nearly as large as he is. He has been fishing for 6 years. Jack, holding a beautiful vermilion rockfish, has been fishing for 7. Both brothers have received Ocean Angler and Shellfish Specialist awards, and love fishing off Catalina Island.

David Shigematsu (lower right) is the only person to achieve Accomplished Warmwater Angler status to date, and is one of the youngest people to reach the Accomplished level in any category. At just 12, he's already been fishing for 7 years and has also earned the Accomplished Coldwater Angler, Shellfish Specialist, and  Accomplished Ocean Angler awards. He is also an International Game Fish Association (IGFA) youth pier fishing champion. His favorite fishing spot is the Yolo Wildlife Bypass toe drain.

       

Warmwater Angler
at least 6 different qualifying fish

Accomplished Warmwater Angler
at least 12 different qualifying fish

Master Warmwater Angler
at least 25 different qualifying fish

 

*Angler has also achieved Warmwater Angler status

Coldwater Angler
at least 3 different qualifying fish

Accomplished Coldwater Angler
at least 6 different qualifying fish

Master Coldwater Angler
at least 10 different qualifying fish 

*Angler has also achieved Coldwater Angler status

Ocean Angler
at least 10 different qualifying fish

Accomplished Ocean Angler
at least 25 different qualifying fish

Master Ocean Angler
at least 50 different qualifying fish

*Angler has also achieved Ocean Angler/Accomplished Ocean Angler status

Shellfish Specialist
at least 3 different qualifying species

Shellfish Expert
at least 7 different qualifying species

Shellfish Master
at least 15 different qualifying shellfish species

*Angler has also achieved Shellfish Specialist status