She may only be 12 years old, but there's nothing stopping her from becoming a Maryland “Master Angler.”
Lucy Moore of Perryville, Maryland, has been impressing fishermen decades older than her with the highly competitive FishMaryland Master Angler award.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Moore said the seventh-grader has been fishing with pride since he was just 2 years old.
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Her father, Nick Perez, was the first person to take her fishing, and her love of the sport has only grown, he told Fox News Digital.
To earn the title of “Master Angler,” there are certain requirements an angler must meet, requirements that even her father has yet to meet, she said.
Lucy Moore (center) is the first woman and youngest angler to win the Maryland Best Angler Award when she was 11 and is now 12. (Nick Perez)
There are three levels of FishMaryland Milestone Awards, with Master Angler being the highest achievement.
According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website, “The Milestone Awards recognize accomplished anglers who have landed trophy-quality fish of various species caught since January 1, 2019.”
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“Each milestone will come with a certificate and a limited edition FishMaryland Milestone sticker.”
Maryland anglers have the chance to win the Angler Award, Expert Angler Award and the top-level Master Angler Award.
Moore caught 10 different species of fish, all of which met the minimum length required to win the FishMaryland Master Angler Award. (Nick Perez)
Moore said he accidentally unchecked the Angler's Award a year ago after catching three different fish that met the minimum length requirements.
“Then I got obsessed with getting quotes and moved on to the second stage, where I [my dad]”How many stages are there?”
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Moore realized he'd won the expert angler's award by catching five different fish by chance, and he resolved to keep trying to catch the top prize of 10 different fish.
Moore would go out with his father almost every weekend, regardless of the weather, trying to catch 10 different kinds of fish.
Moore discovered he had caught three different kinds of fish by chance and decided to continue fishing in order to earn the title of Master Angler. (Nick Perez)
They went to the water even during rainstorms and heavy snow.
“That's a funny joke I make. People say, 'Oh, you can still catch fish in the rain. Does it affect the fish?' But fish live in water. What do they know?” Perez joked.
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After several months of fishing and hoping to meet all the additional fish species and length requirements needed to qualify for Master Angler status, Moore reeled in his final fish and immediately realized he had won the coveted prize.
“At first I was like, 'Did I really do this?' I was totally shocked, but then I was filled with joy.”
“I finally caught the fish and at first I was shocked, like, 'Did I really do that?' but then I was filled with joy,” Moore said.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reports 10 species of moorhens.
- Chain pickel, 27 inches
- White Perch, 13 inches
- Bluegill, 11 inches
- Yellow Perch, 14 inches
- Crappie, 15 inches
- Smallmouth Bass, 20 inches
- Hickory Shad, 18 inches
- Koi, 33 inches
- Pumpkinseed, 10 inch
- American Shad, 24 inches
The seventh-graders were officially named Master Anglers in May, but the ceremony didn't take place until July. Bass Pro Shops.
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She caught eight of the 10 species in winter weather, which Perez noted were the “biggest and most abundant” fish. [in Maryland] In the winter.”
Moore began fishing at age 2, inspired by her father, and her family said she quickly fell in love with the sport. (Nick Perez)
Perez has always been close to Moore and is proud of his daughter's accomplishments, even if it means she's a better fisherman, he said.
When asked who was the better fisherman, Perez and Moore both agreed: “The 12-year-old fisherman.”
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Moore also joked about his father not having won a Master Angler award yet.
“I'm working on it, but I don't have it yet…I only have four,” Perez said.
Moore said he was shocked and surprised when he finally caught the last fish he needed to win the top prize. (Nick Perez)
The Maryland dad encourages other dads to take their daughters out fishing and give it a try — they might just get hooked.
“I've told people before, if you really want to send your kids fishing, they shouldn't have a fishing pole. They shouldn't bring their own fishing pole,” Perez said.
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“So, grab a tackle box and go with them and focus on them. You can get them excited about the sport by not focusing on yourself.”
For Moore, it's that simple.
“I've always loved that,” she said.
Rain, snow or shine, no matter what the conditions, Moore has been out on the water trying to win prizes in Maryland. (Nick Perez)
My favorite part of the fishing experience is, “Fight or fish?” [even] This is where we go for it.”
“I consider this award a truly wonderful accomplishment,” Moore told the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. [I] “I've been fishing for 10 years and have accomplished some pretty amazing things. I've been able to catch a lot of nice fish and seeing people get excited when they see me getting closer to my goal is what made me keep trying to win this award. It's been really fun.”
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At just 12 years old, Moore believes he has caught more than 10,000 different species of fish in his time, but the number may be much higher.
“Lucy has been an avid angler ever since she could hold a fishing pole,” Perez told the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Moore was recently awarded the Maryland Master Angler Award, but he's already hoping to set a new state record next fishing season. (Nick Perez)
“Her love for fishing is unmatched and her preferred method of fishing is actually fly fishing,” he said.
“Even at such a young age, she has caught fish that many people only dream of. From rare clownfish to handling a muskellungu, 'the fish of 10,000 casts,' she does it all.”
Her love of the outdoors and all things underwater has inspired her to one day become a marine biologist and make all kinds of new discoveries.
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That may be a long way off, but Moore is already making exciting plans for next fishing season.
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She's set a new goal for herself: trying to set the Maryland state record.
