At age 11, Lucy Perez becomes youngest to earn Maryland Master Angler Award

Annapolis, Md. — Lucy Perez, of Cecil County, has earned a Master Angler Milestone Award under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ FishMaryland program.

The award recognizes recreational anglers who catch 10 different trophy-sized species of fish in Maryland. Perez, 11, is the 1oth Master Angler since the program began in 2019, the first female angler, and the youngest by a decade.

“I think this award is such an amazing accomplishment for me – I’m only 11 years old and have been fishing for 10 years and did something so incredible,” Perez said.

“Being able to catch so many cool kinds of fish and to have people excited to see me getting closer to this goal is what kept me trying to get this award – this was really a lot of fun.”

The FishMaryland program includes dozens of species from both salt and freshwater. Perez submitted entries for all 10 catches and received individual certificates for each catch.

The department plans to present the Master Angler Milestone Award certificate along with a gift card prize from Bass Pro Shops at its Arundel Mills store. Perez caught her 10th FishMaryland eligible fish, an American shad, on May 6, 2024.

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Perez’ qualifying catches, in order, were: chain pickerel, 27 inches; white perch, 13 inches; bluegill, 11 inches; yellow perch, 14 inches; crappie, 15 inches; smallmouth bass, 20 inches; hickory shad, 18 inches; carp, 33 inches; pumpkinseed, 10 inches; and American shad, 24 inches.

She regularly fishes with her father Nick, who has often submitted photos of Lucy’s impressive catches to DNR’s Maryland Fishing Report and Angler’s Log.

“Lucy has been an avid angler for as long as she was able to hold a fishing rod,” said Nick Perez. “Her love for the sport is almost unmatched, and her preferred method of fishing is actually on the fly. At 11 years old she has caught fish a lot of people have only dreamed of, from exotic clown knifefish, to wrangling a muskellunge – she does it all.”

Lucy Perez wants to pursue a marine biology degree when she is older and is considering a career in fisheries management.