WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — The first catch of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's 12th TrophyCatch pink-tag bass season was found by dedicated fisherman Harry Linsinbigler IV.
Linsinbigler caught an 11.25-lb bass in Lake Rochelle, one of the Northwest Winter Haven Chain of Lakes, he posted on his Facebook page.
He was awarded $1,000 to AFTCO Fishing Apparel & Tackle and a $1,000 check from 888-BOAT-LAW, TrophyCatch's sponsor.
FWC's TrophyCatch program is hosting another pink tag contest this year. Biologists tag trophy-size bass with bright pink stages at five pink tag locations across Florida, consisting of 12 lakes. The first bass captured in each of the 12 lakes is worth thousands of dollars in various prizes.
The lakes include:
- Lake Lochloosa
- Lake Beauclair
- Lake Okeechobee
- Porter Lake
- Lake Jessie*
- Lake Idylwild*
- Lake Hartridge*
- Lake Conine*
- Lake Rochelle*
- Lake Haines*
- Lake Smart*
- Lake Fannie*
*Lakes part of the Northwest Winter Haven Chain of Lakes.
This season ends on Sept. 30. The TrophyCatch pink-tag website allows anglers to see if pink-tagged bass are still available in their lake of interest.
Those who find a pink-tagged bass must cut and keep the tag and follow the submission instructions on the main TrophyCatch website to win a prize. Anglers fishing in these lakes can still be rewarded for being a "Pink-Tag Chaser."
The FWC hosts these contests to better understand Florida's freshwater fisheries and to help prioritize work in managing trophy bass, according to a news release.
