Record Freshwater Fish
Freshwater Record Fish
If your record is not listed here, please contact us. For more information about Connecticut's angler recognition program, please visit our Trophy Fish Award Program webpage.
Harvest Category (Weight) | Catch and Release (Length)
The link within the common name column opens the state record photos page. The harvest category recognizes the heaviest fish for each species. The fish must be weighed on a certified scale.
| Common Name | Weight | Location Caught | Angler | Year Caught | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| lbs. | oz. | ||||
| American Eel | 10 | 3 | Shetucket River, Norwich | Charles J. Lobacz | 1993 |
| American Shad | 9 | 4 | Connecticut River, Windsor | Edward Cypus | 1981 |
| Bluegill | 2 | 4 | Private Pond, Madison | Daniel Gesner | 1996 |
| Bowfin | 9 | 11 | Connecticut River, Hartford | Fejzo Akaratovic | 2022 |
| Brook Trout | 9 | 3 | Blackwells Brook, Brooklyn | David Andes | 1998 |
| Brown Bullhead | 4 | 15 | Prospect Pond, Southington | Robert Richey | 1990 |
| Brown Trout | 19 | 0 | West Hill Pond, New Hartford | James M. Lucas II | 2014 |
| Brown Trout (Sea-run) | 10 | 8 | Saugatuck River, Westport | Ronald J. Merly | 2006 |
| Calico Bass | 4 | 0 | Pattagansett Lake, East Lyme | James M. Boos | 1974 |
| Chain Pickerel | 8 | 9 | West Twin Lake, Salisbury | Alden L. Foss | 2005 |
| Channel Catfish | 29 | 6 | Mashapaug Lake, Union | Appleton Barrows | 2004 |
| Common Carp | 45 | 5 | Lake Lillinonah, Bridgewater | Brian Santos | 2024 |
| Fallfish | 2 | 4 | Farmington River, Simsbury | Chad Tessman | 2012 |
| Kokanee | 2 | 14 | East Twin Lake, Salisbury | Tom Pasko | 2011 |
| Kokanee | 2 | 14 | West Hill Pond, Barkhamsted | Seth Harris | 2018 |
| Lake Trout | 29 | 13 | Wononscopmuc Lake, Salisbury | Dr. Thompson | 1918 |
| Largemouth Bass | 12 | 14 | Mashapaug Lake, Union | Frank Domurat | 1961 |
| Northern Pike | 29 | 0 | West Branch Reservoir, Colebrook-Hartland | Leslie Slater | 2020 |
| Northern Pike | 29 | 0 | Lake Lillinonah, Brookfield | Joseph Nett | 1980 |
| Pumpkinseed | 1 | 3 | Lake Marie, Windham | Robyn Rogers | 1973 |
| Rainbow Trout | 14 | 10 | Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Mansfield | Michael V. Ludlow | 1998 |
| Rock Bass | 1 | 3 | Colebrook Reservoir, Colebrook | Ernie Gonsalves | 1989 |
| Rock Bass | 1 | 3 | Shenipsit Lake, Tolland | Joseph Mankauskas, Jr. | 1980 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 7 | 12 | Shenipsit Lake, Tolland | James Bonan | 1995 |
| Tiger Trout | 7 | 14 | Quassapaug Lake, Woodbury-Middlebury | Jerry Barth | 2011 |
| Walleye | 15 | 4 | Beach Pond, Voluntown | Vincent Deledda | 2015 |
| White Catfish | 12 | 12 | Connecticut River, Middletown | John L. Shatas | 1999 |
| White Perch | 3 | 1 | Crystal Lake, Ellington | Jacob Niemczyk | 2018 |
| White Sucker | 5 | 4 | Crystal Lake, Ellington | Zach Stoltenberg | 2021 |
| Yellow Perch | 2 | 13 | Black Pond, Woodstock | Miller B. Bassett | 1973 |
Catch and Release Category (Length)
The Catch and Release category recognizes the longest fish of each species caught in Connecticut. The fish is measured and immediately released.
| Common Name | Length (in inches) | Location Caught | Angler | Year Caught |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Eel | 41 | Lake Terramuggus, Marlborough | Daniel E.S. Kornegay III | 2011 |
| Bluegill | 10.5 | Saugatuck Reservoir, Redding | Jude Lundbye | 2023 |
| Bluegill | 10.5 | Andover Lake, Andover | Gregory Doane | 2015 |
| Bluegill | 10.5 | Private Pond, Killingworth | Evan Kamoen | 2018 |
| Bluegill | 10.5 | Private Pond, Rocky Hill | Ted Munette | 2015 |
| Bowfin | 28.5 | Crow Point Cove, Wethersfield | Benjamin Florian | 2023 |
| Brook Trout* | 21.25 | Natchaug River, Chaplin | Nicholas Burnore | 2010 |
| Brown Bullhead | 17.5 | Saugatuck Reservoir, Redding | Keith Bonenfant | 2016 |
| Brown Trout* | 30 | Saugatuck Reservoir, Redding | Liam Sikora | 2023 |
| Calico Bass | 19 | Candlewood Lake, Danbury | Evan Kamoen | 2016 |
| Chain Pickerel | 33 | West Hill Pond, Barkhamsted | Mark R. Popolizio | 2013 |
| Channel Catfish | 36 | Game Club Pond, Chaplin | Colby Kerttula | 2020 |
| Common Carp | 42 | Connecticut River, Hartford | Michael Hudak | 2012 |
| Fallfish | 17 | Pequabuck River, Bristol | Joe Skorupski | 2025 |
| Fallfish | 17 | Quinebaug River, Thompson | Mike Nordman | 2024 |
| Fallfish | 17 | Bladdens River, Seymour | William Hein | 2020 |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 10.5 | Private Pond, Cheshire | James Robitaille | 2014 |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 10.5 | Risley Reservoir, Vernon | Ryan McKinney | 2019 |
| Kokanee Salmon | 20 | East Twin Lake, Salisbury | Timothy E. Kilbride | 2010 |
| Lake Trout | 32 | Coventry Lake, Coventry | Christopher Rinaldi | 2023 |
| Largemouth Bass | 25.25 | Lake Pocotopaug, East Hampton | Daniel E.S. Kornegay III | 2008 |
| Northern Pike | 45.75 | Housatonic River, Falls Village | David L. Jones | 2009 |
| Pumpkinseed | 10 | Lake McDonough, Barkhamsted | Ellie Fiorentino | 2012 |
| Pumpkinseed | 10 | Lake McDonough, Barkhamsted | Joey Takeman | 2014 |
| Rainbow Trout* | 30 | Scoville Reservoir, Wolcott | Michael Thureson | 2010 |
| Redbreast Sunfish | 10.75 | Andover Lake, Andover | Brandon Powers | 2022 |
| Rock Bass | 12.75 | Housatonic River, Kent | Daniel E.S. Kornegay III | 2008 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 24.25 | Farmington River, Windsor | Jacob Long | 2018 |
| Tiger Trout* | 22 | Woodbridge Lake, Goshen | Cristian Cifaldi | 2018 |
| Walleye | 30 | Lake Zoar, Southbury | Alexander Daignault | 2022 |
| Walleye | 30 | Lake Pocotopaug, East Hampton | Daniel E.S. Kornegay III | 2010 |
| White Catfish | 25.5 | Salmon River, East Haddam | Shawn Sims | 2012 |
| White Perch | 15.5 | Mill River, Fairfield | Ryan Mozelack | 2024 |
| White Sucker | 22.5 | Squantz Pond, Sherman | Thomas Dorman | 2024 |
| Yellow Perch | 16.25 | Lake McDonough, New Hartford | Ron Barbour | 2011 |
*Anglers may catch trout in tidal portions of rivers but not all may be a "sea-run" fish. To determine if a fish has spent significant time in saltwater analysis of scales and/or the earbone is necessary. As such, the Fisheries Division will not recognize records for "sea-run" within the catch and release category.
