In 2012, no entries were received for the striped bass freshwater, American shad, brook trout, Atlantic landlocked salmon, cod, dolphin, winter flounder, blue marlin, white marlin, pollock, mako shark, albacore tuna, big eye tuna, bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, and tuna (other) categories.
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The following is a breakdown of applications received per species (all categories combined): rainbow trout (18), sunfish (18), largemouth bass (17), walleye (17), crappie (13), striped bass caught in saltwater (11), chain pickerel (10), bullhead (7), channel catfish (7), yellow perch (5), smallmouth bass (5), striped bass hybrid (5), muskellunge (4), black sea bass (4), northern pike (4), bluefish (4), brown trout (3), fluke (2), kingfish (2), tautog (2), carp (2), black drum (1), lake trout (1), and weakfish (1). The most frequently entered species by skillful anglers in 2012 (adult, junior, and catch and release categories combined) were sunfish and rainbow trout with 18 applications each, followed by walleye and largemouth bass with 17 applications each. Since the program's modest beginning (31 applicants in 1983), the Division has granted Skillful Angler status to 3,419 anglers. In 2012, 163 applications representing 24 different species were officially processed. Special recognition is given to the anglers who caught the largest fish in each of the freshwater and marine species categories.
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The program honors the many anglers who catch both freshwater and marine fish which aren't of record size but are impressive and worthy of recognition.
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This year marks the 30th anniversary of the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife's Skillful Angler Awards Program.