The Trophy Fish Award Program recognizes and rewards angling skill. Successful anglers will receive a:
- Certificate of Merit
- Bronze pin for your first fish of merit
- Silver pin for your fifth fish of merit
- Gold pin for your tenth fish of merit or a new state record fish.
General Rules: Saltwater/Freshwater Fish
- Saltwater entries must be caught by boats leaving and returning to Connecticut ports. No overnight stays in another state prior to day(s) of fishing.
- Entries must be filed on the Official Affidavit Form, page 56.
- Fish must be caught by legal methods, played by only one person.
- Fish must be entered within 30 days of capture.
- Fish caught in hatchery ponds are not eligible.
- Fish must be caught during Connecticut’s legal open season.
- A clear photograph of the fish must accompany the Affidavit Form.
- Fish must be weighed on scales certified in Connecticut (tackle shops, local markets or delis) or other state certified scales.
- Please note: for all potential State Record Fish, a print out of weight from a certified scale must accompany affidavit.
Marine Qualifying Area Categories
- Nearshore: Inside Long Island/Fisher’s Island Sound
- Offshore: Outside Long Island/Fisher’s Island Sound
- Exotic: Rare strays to Connecticut caught inside Long Island/Fisher’s Island Sound & Offshore Waters.
- Freshwater: Caught in freshwater
Catch and Release Category Rules
- All of the General Rules apply except that the fish do not need to be weighed. A witness must be present.
- A clear photo must accompany the affidavit. This photo must include the angler holding the fish and also include the fish next to a measuring (yardstick, ruler, or tape measure) device to clearly show the length of the fish.
- The accompanying photo must be taken at the location where the fish was caught and released.
- Fish can not be taken from the site and then transported back.
- Catch and Release fish are not eligible for State Records.
- BLE = best length estimate for highly migratory species.
- Minimum Length = Tip of snout to end of tail.
- Marlin & swordfish—measure from lower jaw to fork in tail.
- Shark species—minimum length is fork length.
