Overview
Catch as many unique fish species as possible between 12:01 AM Eastern Time, January 1, 2027 and 11:59 PM Eastern Time, December 31, 2027. Most species at the end wins. Freshwater and saltwater species both count.
Eligible Methods
Fish must be caught on the hook by:
- Rod and reel
- Pole and line
- Fly fishing
Not allowed:
- Nets (except for landing fish)
- Set lines of any kind (trotlines, jug lines, limb lines, etc.)
- Dynamite (worth noting)
The fish must strike or take the bait or lure of its own volition. Techniques designed to foul-hook fish — including snagging, flossing, and snatch-hooking — are not permitted regardless of where the hook ends up.
Fish hooked outside the mouth will not count.
Species commonly harvested primarily through snagging methods, including paddlefish, silver carp, and bighead carp, are not eligible.
Legal Catches
All catches must comply with applicable laws and regulations, including licensing, seasons, and size and bag limits. Protected species and fish caught illegally will not be counted.
Photo Requirements
Each entry must include a photo with:
- The fish
- The official 2027 contest image visible in the original photo
The contest image must be a physical object — printed card, t-shirt, or similar. Phone or screen displays are not accepted.
Even better: fish + angler + contest image all in the same shot. We have t-shirts available if you want an easier option than holding a piece of paper in your mouth.
Additional photos are encouraged for difficult identifications. The qualifying photo must include the contest image; extra shots help staff confirm the species.
Photos must be taken at the location of the catch. Dead fish are acceptable, though live releases are encouraged.
If we can’t clearly verify it, it doesn’t count.
Species Rules
- Each species counts once per participant
- Species must be clearly identifiable from the photo
- Non-native and introduced species are eligible if caught in eligible waters
- Some species may be grouped if they cannot be reliably distinguished without genetic testing. Species that can be confidently separated from a photo count as distinct entries.
Hybrids
The following hybrids are eligible because they are actively stocked by wildlife agencies and can be visually identified:
- Tiger muskie
- Hybrid striped bass (wiper / sunshine bass)
- Saugeye
- Tiger trout
- Splake
All other hybrids will not be counted.
Species Determinations
All species determinations are made by If It Swims staff. We will consult additional resources when needed. All decisions are final.
Location
- Fish must be caught in continental United States or Canada, including territorial waters
- Public and private waters are both eligible, including pay lakes
- Location information is required for each entry
- More detail helps with identification, but only the state/province will be shared publicly
How to Enter
No registration required. Submit entries via the Google Form on our website. Your first submission is your entry into the contest. You can join at any time during the contest year.
Each entry requires:
- Name — your full name; use the same name for every submission. On the leaderboard, your name appears how you choose: first name + last initial (the default) or full name.
- Instagram handle — optional, for tagging purposes
- Species — common name (e.g. Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Mayan Cichlid); names may be standardized as needed
- Confidence in ID — lets staff know where assistance may be needed
- Date caught
- Location — state/province and body of water or general area; more detail helps with difficult IDs, only state/province will be displayed publicly
- Method
- Photo — must include the official 2027 contest image as a physical object in the original photo
- Catch story — optional, but we may share it
By submitting you confirm the catch meets contest rules and grant If It Swims permission to use submitted photos and content for the website, social media, and related media.
Entries that are incomplete or unclear may not be counted.
Submission Deadline
All entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time, December 31, 2027. Late entries will not be counted.
Tiebreaker
If two or more participants finish with the same species count, the winner is whoever reached that number first, based on submission timestamp. Submit early — it counts.
Leaderboard
A live leaderboard will be maintained on the If It Swims website throughout the contest year. Weekly updates will also be featured on our YouTube channel.
Staff
If It Swims staff may participate in the challenge but are not eligible for any prizes, including milestone prizes.
Conduct
This is a community-based competition.
- A fish may only be entered by the angler who caught it
- Be honest
- Don’t submit altered or misleading photos
- Photos must be taken at the location of catch
- Respect other participants
- If something looks off, we reserve the right to reject any entry
Final Authority
If It Swims reserves the right to:
- Accept or reject any entry
- Group species as needed
- Interpret these rules as needed
All decisions are final.
Catch fish. Count species.