MassWildlife has concluded its 2024 Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program, recognizing anglers across Massachusetts for their accomplishments in freshwater fishing.

This long-running program, founded in 1963, continues to evolve alongside the culture of fishing. Anglers compete across 24 freshwater species divided into four categories: adult and youth divisions, each with catch-and-keep and catch-and-release options.

The program runs year-round, and entries must be submitted within 30 days of the catch. Online submissions are encouraged for faster processing. Depending on whether participants keep or release their fish, they follow specific guidelines for measuring and photographing the catch and submitting an affidavit.

Participants can earn bronze pins for meeting species size requirements or gold pins and plaques for catching the largest or longest fish in a category. In its 61st year, the program awarded around 3,700 pins.

“Fishing is all about creating outdoor memories,” said Steve Mattocks, Aquatic Connectivity and Fisheries Outreach Biologist and program coordinator. “These pins commemorate those moments.”

Mattocks shared how the youth catch-and-release category has increased participation among younger anglers. Brothers Ryker, 10, and Kyler Leslie, 13, from Petersham, were among the season’s standout participants. The brothers tied for Youth Angler of the Year after each caught 23 of the 24 eligible species.

“We kind of knew we might win, but we weren’t 100% sure. There’s 24 species in total, and we got 23 of them,” said Kyler Leslie. “The 24th one is tiger muskie, and that’s been on the list for about 15 years, but only one person in the last five years has caught it.”

The boys’ final qualifying fish came late in the season under a tight timeline.

“Ryker got his 23rd species while I was away at summer camp,” Kyler recalled. “I had a week to get my last one, which was a lake trout. So I booked a whole week out on the Quabbin Reservoir. I went out and I slammed it the first day, thank God.”

The tiger muskie, the brothers’ one missing catch, holds a legendary status among anglers.

“The tiger muskie is nicknamed ‘the fish of 10,000 casts.’ You could fish your whole life and not get one,” Kyler explained.

The brothers’ shared approach to the competition was something they came up with themselves.

“We fished almost every single day together. We got to about 22 species and decided if one of us doesn’t get the last fish in time, we won’t submit it. We wanted to finish it as a team,” he said.

Mattocks described the anglers’ performance as “something really special,” emphasizing their dedication to both the sport and each other.

Beyond their fishing achievements, the brothers focused on conservation throughout the season.

“We do catch and release primarily. Out of hundreds, maybe thousands of fish last year, we kept about ten — only if they meet our own standards, like breaking a record or being the biggest one yet,” Kyler said.

He also credited their hands-on approach for some of their success.

“We make our own lures and flies, and we trap our own minnows, which helps a lot,” Kyler said.

To young anglers interested in the sport, Kyler offered this advice, “Spend more time researching the lake than you do actually fishing. It’ll pay off,” he said.

“Try different spots and don’t be afraid to switch things up. It could be the lure you’re using, or how thick the line is. Every once in a while, change something up,” he added.

When reflecting on what made the experience special, Kyler highlighted the relationship with his younger brother Ryker.

“Especially when we both come out with the fish we set out to catch, the drive home is the best part. You feel very, very accomplished,” he said.

Other Angler of the Year winners included Cam Tucker of Gill, who earned Adult Catch-and-Keep Angler of the Year by catching 15 of the 24 eligible species. Andrew Langley of Peabody, was named Adult Catch-and-Release Angler of the Year after catching an impressive 22 of the 24 eligible species.

During the awards ceremony, Debbie Chamberlain, a longtime program coordinator, was recognized for her years of service.

“She basically ran this whole program for years and was so loved by the community. She knew every angler by name,” Mattocks said.

Popular catches this year included largemouth bass, a species common across the state, as well as sunfish and crappie, favored by younger participants for their availability in local ponds and rivers.

“The program incentivizes people to go for new species. You can’t catch them all in the same pond. You have to drive around and really search and study in order to get the most, which people really enjoy,” said Mattocks.

With the 2025 season underway, anglers can follow periodic updates on the online leaderboard to track the biggest catches and see how they rank throughout the year.

For a full list of 2024 winners and updates on the 2025 season, visit MassWildlife’s Sportfishing Awards page.