Imagine the moment when a child catches a fish. Think of the joy of spending a day on the water with family and friends. Picture the smile on their face when they land the biggest fish they've ever caught! There are plenty of opportunities to capture a memory on camera when you are out fishing. So please share the fun and excitement with us by capturing the excitement of fishing with a photo of your child and entering it into our Photo Contest! You don't need to be professional photographer, any good photo will do! The winning photos will be those that best capture the theme of the contest - kids know fishing is fun in New Jersey. First, second and third place winners for each category will be chosen by Division of Fish and Wildlife staff. Prizes: Each winner will receive fishing-related gear as a prize. Winners and their immediate families will be invited to fish on Opening Day of Trout Season at the Pequest Trout Hatchery's Fishing Education Pond - home of some giant trout! Winning photographs will be featured on the contest page the following year and may be used on the NJ DFW website and in publications. Contest Rules: Children must fall into one of ten age categories at the time the photo is taken (6 to 15 years of age). The photo cannot be more than one year old. The photo must be taken in New Jersey. The fish must have been caught legally. Youths pictured in boats must be wearing PFDs (life jackets) which are properly buckled and/or zipped. Only one photo per fish species may be submitted per child. Multiple submissions per child will be accepted as long as the fish species depicted are different in each photograph. Only one photograph of a child fishing (no fish in hand, just the act of fishing) may be submitted. Photographs must be no larger than 4" x 6". Photos must be submitted by December 31 of the contest year in order to qualify. This contest is not open to NJ DFW employees and sponsors immediate families. Immediate family members are defined as children, siblings or others residing in the same household as a NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife employee or sponsor employee. To Enter: Attach a small piece of paper (with tape or use a "Post-It") on the back of the photograph with the youth's name, age, address, phone number, e-mail address, location of catch and fish species. Complete the photo release and submission form. Do not attach the form to the photograph in any way to prevent damage to the photograph. Submit photo and form to:     Photo Contest     NJ Div. of Fish and Wildlife     605 Pequest Rd.     Oxford, NJ 07863 Winning Entries: Judging will take place in late January. Winners will be notified in late February. An Opening Day awards event will be held in early April. Prizes will be available for pick up at the Pequest Trout Hatchery beginning the Opening Day of Trout Season. Winners may be contacted via e-mail for digital copies of their photographs. We look forward to receiving your entries! Photo Release and Submission Form (pdf, 170kb)

Do you wish you were a better photographer?

All it takes is a little know-how and experience. Keep reading for some important picture-taking tips. Then grab your camera or phone and start shooting your way to great pictures. With a Camera:     1. Look your subject in the eye     2. Use a plain background     3. User flash outdoors     4. Move in close     5. Move it from the middle     6. Lock the focus     7. Know your flash's range     8. Watch the light     9. Take some vertical pictures    10. Be a picture director With a Smartphone:     1. Place your camera app on the main screen     2. Use natural light     3. Angle your phone     4. Clean your lens     5. Avoid zoom     6. No centering     7. Get high and low     8. Use flash - even in bright sunshine     9. Download photo apps    10. Share! Following these simple tips will help you capture better fishing photos. Happy snapping!