Saltwater Fishing Tournament FAQs
The North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Tournament, commonly referred to as the “Citation Program,” runs from January 1 to December 31 of each calendar year. The program recognizes anglers for their outstanding recreational catches of fish most commonly caught in North Carolina.
A citation is an 8.5 by 11-inch certificate that is suitable for framing.
Fish that qualify for a citation are of exceptional size. Please review the rules for the tournament listed at the top of the page listed below.
View the list of weight requirements and release length requirements
The fish that are eligible for citations are some of the most common fish in North Carolina coastal waters.
Visit an Official Weigh Station. There they will weigh your fish or guide you through filling out the paper for a release citation. You may also apply for a citation online.
At any of the nearly 100 weigh stations in coastal North Carolina.
Flounder citations are not available out of season. A citation may be available through the Carcass Collection Program. To view the most up-to-date information on flounder, visit the Flounder Carcass Collection webpage.
Release citations have always been awarded on the honor system, you only need a witness to sign the form. You do not have to send in photographs in order to receive your citation.
No. We do not charge for the processing of citation certificates.
Citation application forms are available at our weigh stations, or through the online application page.
“Citations will be printed and mailed twice a year, except for RELEASED red drum, black drum, speckled and gray trout. Anglers will receive 1 citation per species with the total number of released fish for the year. All applications are due by January 15th of the following year. Late submission will not be accepted.
- Released drum, and trout: Applications received by January 15th of the following year, will be mailed by the end of March of that year.
Example: An angler who submits 3 red drum catches for 2025 by the January 15th, 2026 deadline will be mailed 1 citation for “3 Released Red Drum” no later than the end of March 2026. - Print 1: Applications received by July 7th, will be mailed by the end of September.
- Print 2: Applications received between July 7th and January 15th of the following year, will be mailed by the end of March of that year.”
The freshwater Angler Recognition Program is run by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. For details on their program, please visit their website or call 919-707-0220.
If you have misplaced or damaged a previous year’s citation you may request a downloadable and printable PDF certificate by emailing saltwater.citations@deq.nc.gov. Please include you full name, current mailing address, the species of fish, the weight or length, and the date the fish was landed.
If you received your citation in the mail that was damaged or there is an error on the certificate, please let us know so we can print and mail a replacement. Email saltwater.citations@deq.nc.gov. Please include your full name, current mailing address, the species of fish, the weight or length, and the date the fish was landed.
If you have additional questions, please contact staff at saltwater.citations@deq.nc.gov.