The Catch & Keep Angler of the Year Award is given to the person who weighs in the largest number of species that meet the minimum weight requirements for the previous calendar year. The award promotes awareness of the Commonwealth's underutilized fish species and recognizes an angler's ability to catch a wide variety of trophy species.
The Catch & Release Angler of the Year Award is awarded to the person who submits the largest number of species that meet the minimum length requirements for the previous calendar year.
Some anglers become specialists, studying the habits of specific species and learning how to target them, while others become generalists seeking out all the species that the state's waters have to offer. This award is also a way to recognize that the motivations for angling are as diverse as the anglers themselves! Angler of the Year recipients and gold pin winners are honored each year at a ceremony (date and location announced each spring). Nearly 1,000 pins are awarded annually.
2022 Angler of the Year award winners
| Adult Catch & Keep | Youth Catch & Keep | Catch & Release Angler |
| Matthew Power, Auburn |
Carter Flagg, Gill |
Andrew Langley, Peabody |
Past winners
| Adult Catch & Keep | Youth Catch & Keep | Catch & Release Angler |
| 2021 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Joshua Christman, Pittsfield | Philip Prieur, South Hamilton | David DeSimone, Amherst |
| Adult Catch & Keep | Youth Catch & Keep | Catch & Release Angler |
| 2020 | 2020 | 2020 |
| Joshua Christman, Pittsfield | Philip Prieur, South Hamilton | Andrew Langley, Peabody David Desimone, Amherst |
| Adult Catch & Keep | Youth Catch & Keep | Catch & Release Angler |
| 2019 | 2019 | 2019 |
| Jonathan Beauchesne, North Grafton | Alice Christman, Pittsfield | Matthew Menard, Brookfield |
| Adult Catch & Keep | Youth Catch & Keep | Catch & Release Angler |
| 2018 | 2018 | 2018 |
| Todd Matera, Palmer | Jason Bunar, Kingston | Michael Nee, Framingham |
| Andrew Langley, Peabody |
| Adult Catch & Keep | Youth Catch & Keep | Catch & Release Angler |
| 2017 | 2017 | 2017 |
| Mark Mohan, Jr., Pembroke | Jason Bunar, Kingston | Michael Nee, Northborough |
|
Adult Catch & Keep |
Youth Catch & Keep |
Catch & Release Angler |
|
2016 Joshua Christman, Pittsfield |
2016 Jason Bunar, Kingston |
2016 Michael Nee, Northborough |
|
Adult Catch & Keep |
Youth Catch & Keep |
Catch & Release Angler |
|
2015 |
2015 |
2015 Michael Nee, Northborough |
| Adult Angler of the Year | Youth Angler of the Year |
| 2014 Mark Mohan Jr., Pembroke and 2014 Todd Matera, Palmer |
2014 Jake Souza, Berkley |
| 2013 Mark Mohan Jr., Pembroke |
2013 Jake Souza, Berkley |
| Angler of the Year |
| 2012 Jake Souza, Berkley 2011 Trenton Anestis, Boxborough 2010 Danny Grafton Jr., Weymouth 2009 Roy Leyva, Plymouth 2008 Roger Pyzocha, Ludlow 2007 Roy Leyva, Plymouth 2006 Joe Baker, Lowell 2005 Todd Matera, Palmer 2004 Roy Leyva, Hyde Park 2003 Scott Osmond, Lowell 2002 Roger Pyzocha, Ludlow |