Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Toyota ShareLunker Program are partnering with AFTCO (American Fishing Tackle Company) on a new promotion to recognize a fishing guide who contributes to the conservation and enhancement of largemouth bass in Texas.

The AFTCO Guide of the Year award is open during the entire ShareLunker season. The winning guide will be announced on Toyota ShareLunker social media channels by the following April.

The winner of the AFTCO Guide of the Year award will receive $500 worth of AFTCO gear of their choice, a $500 cash prize and be recognized at the Toyota ShareLunker VIP banquet in the fall.

To be considered for the AFTCO Guide of the Year Award, the guide’s clients that catch a ShareLunker-sized bass (a largemouth bass weighing eight pounds or measuring more or 24 inches or longer) on a guided trip must enter their catch into the ShareLunker database or website in accordance with program rules.

The client must indicate their fish was caught during a guided trip and include their guide’s name. The client must submit their ShareLunker data and are encouraged to submit a DNA sample to the Toyota ShareLunker Program for their guide to be considered.

The guide must have held at the time of catch a valid fishing license (unless exempt), a valid fishing guide license in Texas and not have any current or pending fish and wildlife violations.

All guides mentioned during ShareLunker catch submissions will be considered for the AFTCO Texas Bass Guide of the year. All eligible guides will be contacted in January 2026 to fill out the application form that highlights their accomplishments and contributions to bass conservation. Application forms should be completed by guides by Feb. 28, 2026.

During the first three months of the season (Jan. 1 — March 31), anglers who reel in a 13-plus pound bass can loan it to TPWD for the ShareLunker selective breeding and stocking program. These anglers can call the ShareLunker hotline at (903) 681-0550 to report their catch 24/7 through March 31, 2025.

Anglers that catch and loan a 13-plus pound lunker earn Legacy Class status, receive a catch kit filled with merchandise, a 13lb+ Legacy decal for their vehicle or boat, VIP access to the Toyota ShareLunker Annual Awards event, a high-quality replica mount of their fish from Lake Fork Taxidermy, ShareLunker branded apparel provided by AFTCO, and Bass University will provide a swag pack and annual subscription.

These anglers also receive entries into two separate drawings – a Legacy Class Drawing and the year-end Grand Prize Drawing. Both drawings will award the winner a $5,000 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree.

 

Once a lunker is reeled in, anglers need to enter the catch data on the Toyota ShareLunker mobile app – available for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play – or on the Toyota ShareLunker online app at TexasSharelunker.com.

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