The Department of Fish and Game's (DFG) first California Fishing Passport Challenge is now underway. The Fall Passport Challenge invites anglers of all ages to catch fish from lakes, streams and ocean waters throughout the state, using their catch to enter drawings for great prizes provided by California Fishing Passport Program sponsors.

"We are very excited to offer the Fishing Passport Challenge to California anglers,"said Carrie Wilson, DFG California Fishing Passport Program Coordinator. "The Fall Challenge is designed to encourage adults, children and families to pursue fishing experiences throughout California, and our partners Bass Pro Shops, Berkeley, and Abu Garcia are providing some great incentives for everyone."

The Fall Passport Challenge requires participating anglers to catch a variety of fish from California's many lakes, rivers and ocean waters between now and Dec. 31, 2007. Challenge participants must document their catch with a digital photo and submit it with catch details via the DFG's Passport Program Web site to qualify for prize drawings. Prizes will include tackle packages worth up to $500.

The Fall Passport Challenge was officially announced by Ronnie Kovach, internationally recognized freshwater and saltwater fishing expert and best-selling author, to a large crowd of fishing enthusiasts during kick off festivities at the Bass Pro Shops store in Rancho Cucamonga in September. Lucy's Pond, a 10,000 gal. fishing pool provided by Wilderness Unlimited, was stocked by the DFG with rainbow trout, bass, catfish and sunfish and provided a unique fishing experience for hundreds of young anglers. DFG supplied each angler with a California Fishing Passport and stamps for the fish they caught, and a picture of their catch was provided courtesy of United Anglers of Southern California.