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New Jersey

Freshwater Fishing

Freshwater Fishing

State Record Freshwater Sport Fish

NJDEP Fish & Wildlife’s Record Fish Program honors anglers who catch the largest of select species of freshwater and saltwater fish. Record size is based on weight alone; there are no line classes. Currently there are 31 freshwater species eligible for entry into the program.

Anglers are reminded that the objective of the Record Fish Program is to increase the awareness of fishing opportunities for species that are regularly sought and routinely found in the freshwaters or off the coast of New Jersey.

Anglers should also be aware that several procedural changes are now in effect for the Record Fish Program. First, there are different applications for freshwater and saltwater species. Second, for freshwater species, it is now mandatory that a freshwater biologist confirm the identification and weight of any potential record fish within three days of it being caught. Anglers must call NJDEP Fish & Wildlife’s Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries (north) 908-236-2118; (central) 609-233-6076; and (south) 856-629-4950, or the Hackettstown Hatchery at 908-852-3676 (Warren County) to make arrangements. Hours are Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. These offices have a certified scale on site, so an entry can be weighed and identified. Depending on the time and location of your catch, you may elect to have the fish weighed on a local certified scale, but you must still have a freshwater biologist personally confirm the identification and weight at one of the above offices. Please note that all scale certification requirements still apply, including a valid Certificate of Inspection/Test Report and current Registration Certificate issued by the county Office of Weights and Measures.

Please also include an attractive, well-composed, high-resolution (large file size) photo to be considered for printing in this Digest. Smile!

Entry deadline: Applications must now be submitted no later than one month after the date of catch. All other program rules still apply.

For a complete list of state record fish or to print an application with complete program rules, visit NJDEP Fish & Wildlife’s website at dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/freshwater/new-jersey-state-record-fish-program.

New Jersey State Record Freshwater Sport Fish

Species

lbs.

oz.

Year

Angler

Where Caught

Bass, Largemouth

10

14

1980

Robert Eisele

Menantico Sand Wash Pond

Bass, Rock

1

5

1982

Eric Avogardo

Saddle River

Bass, Smallmouth

7

2

1990

Carol Marciniak

Round Valley Reservoir

Bluegill

3

0

1990

Dom Santarelli

Farm Pond in Pennington

Bowfin

11

8.5

2017

Pierce Dopkin

Mantua Creek

Bullhead, Brown

4

8

1997

Gary Schmidt

Lake of Woods, Ft. Dix

Carp

47

0

1995

Billy Friedman

South Branch of Raritan River

Carp (Archery)

45

6

2014

Adam Faatz

Greenwood Lake

Carp, Grass

55

8

2011

Jack Demsey, Jr.

Curlis Lake

Carp, Grass (Archery)

76

11

2020

Daniel E. Sandorff

Delaware River

Catfish, Channel

33

3

1978

Howard Hudson

Lake Hopatcong

Catfish, White

14

4

2004

Timothy Jasko

Dallenbach Pond

Crappie, Black

4

8

1996

Andy Tintle

Pompton Lake

Crappie, White

3

11

2009

William Lewis

Mercer Lake

Eel, American

6

13

2005

David J. Payne

Round Valley Reservoir

Muskellunge

42

13

1997

Bob Neals

Monksville Reservoir

Muskie, Tiger

29

0

1990

Larry Migliarese

Delaware River

Perch, White**

3

1

1989

Edward Tango

Forest Hill Lake

Perch, Yellow

2

6

1989

Gene Engels

Holiday Lake

Perch, Yellow*

4

4

1865

Charles Abbott

Crosswicks Creek

Pickerel, Chain

9

3

1957

Frank McGovern

Lower Aetna Lake

Pickerel, Redfin

1

13

1982

Gerald Humphrey

Lake Assunpink

Pike, Northern

30

8.5

2009

John Viglione

Pompton Lake

Salmon (Landlocked)

8

10

2021

Joe Satkowski

Merrill Creek Reservoir

Shad, American

11

1

1984

Charles Mower

Delaware River

Striped Bass

51

0

2002

John Christian

Great Egg Harbor River

Striped Bass, Hybrid

17

12

2023

Jim Piascik

Monksville Reservoir

Sunfish, Pumpkinseed

1

8

1987

Daryl Donalson

Farm Pond in Burlington County

Trout, Brook

7

3

1995

Andrew DuJack

Rockaway River

Trout, Brown

21

6

1995

Lenny Saccente

Round Valley Reservoir

Trout, Lake

32

8

2002

Greg Young

Round Valley Reservoir

Trout, Rainbow

13

0

1988

Gene Rutkoski

Lake Hopatcong

Trout, Sea Run Brown

— Vacant — (Minimum Weight 5 lbs.)

Walleye

13

9

1993

George Fundell

Delaware River