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 harvest category recognizes the heaviest fish for each species. The fish must be weighed on a certified scale.
American Eel
- 10 pounds 3 ounces
- 1991 from Shetucket River, Norwich
- Charles J. Lobacz
- 9 pounds 4 ounces
- 1981 from Connecticut River, Windsor
- Edward Cypus
Bluegill
- 2 pounds 4 ounces
- 1996 from Private Pond, Madison
- Daniel Gesner
- 9 pounds 11 ounces
- 2022 from Connecticut River, Hartford
- Fejzo Akaratovic
Brook Trout
- 9 pounds 3 ounces
- 1998 from Blackwells Brook, Brooklyn
- David Andes
- 5 pounds 7 ounces
- 2025 from Hamburg Cove, Lyme
- Rowan Lytle
- 19 pounds 0 ounces
- 2014 from West Hill Pond, New Hartford
- James M. Lucas II
- 10 pounds 8 ounces
- 2006 from Saugatuck River, Westport
- Ronald J. Merly
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.
Calico Bass
- 4 pounds 0 ounces
- 1974 from Pattagansett Lake, East Lyme
- James M. Boos
- 8 pounds 9 ounces
- 2005 from West Twin Lake, Salisbury
- Alden L. Foss
- 29 pounds 6 ounces
- 2004 from Mashapaug Lake, Union
- Appleton Barrows
- 58 pounds 0 ounces
- 2025 from Lake Zoar, Monroe
- Norbert Samok
- 2 pounds 4 ounces
- 2012 from Farmington River, Simsbury
- Chad Tessman
Kokanee
- 2 pounds 14 ounces
- 2011 from East Twin Lake, Salisbury
- Tom Pasko Kokanee
- 2 pounds 14 ounces
- 2018 from West Hill Pond, Barkhamsted
- Seth Harris Kokanee
- 29 pounds 13 ounces
- 1918 from Wononscopmuc Lake, Salisbury
- Dr. Thompson
- 12 pounds 14 ounces
- 1961 from Mashapaug Lake, Union
- Frank Domurat
Northern Pike
- 29 pounds 0 ounces
- 2020 from West Branch Reservoir, Colebrook-Hartland
- Leslie Slater Northern Pike
- 29 pounds 0 ounces
- 1980 from Lake Lillinonah, Brookfield
- Joseph Nett Northern Pike
Pumpkinseed
- 1 pounds 3 ounces
- 1973 from Lake Marie, Windham
- Robyn Rogers
- 14 pounds 10 ounces
- 1998 from Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Mansfield
- Michael V. Ludlow
Rock Bass
- 1 pounds 3 ounces
- 1989 from Colebrook Reservoir, Colebrook
- Ernie Gonsalves Rock Bass
- 1 pounds 3 ounces
- 1980 from Shenipsit Lake, Tolland
- James Bonan
Smallmouth Bass
- 7 pounds 12 ounces
- 1995 from Shenipsit Lake, Tolland
- Joseph Mankauskas, Jr.
- 7 pounds 14 ounces
- 2011 from Quassapaug Lake, Woodbury-Middlebury
- Jerry Barth
- 15 pounds 4 ounces
- 2015 from Beach Pond, Voluntown
- Vincent Deledda
White Catfish
- 12 pounds 12 ounces
- 1999 from Connecticut River, Middletown
- John L. Shatas
- 3 pounds 1 ounce
- 2018 from Crystal Lake, Ellington
- Jacob Niemczyk
- 5 pounds 4 ounces
- 2021 from Crystal Lake, Ellington
- Zach Stoltenberg
Yellow Perch
- 2 pounds 13 ounces
- 1973 from Black Pond, Woodstock
- Miller B. Bassett
Catch and Release Category (Length)
The Catch and Release category recognizes the largest fish of each species by length caught in Connecticut and immediately released.
American Eel
- 41 inches
- 2011 from Lake Terramuggus, Marlborough
- Daniel E.S. Kornegay III
- 10.5 inches
- 2023 from Saugatuck Reservoir, Redding
- Jude Lundbye
- 10.5 inches
- 2015 from Andover Lake, Andover
- Gregory Doane
- 10.5 inches
- 2018 Private Pond, Killingworth
- Evan Kamoen
Bowfin
- 28.5 inches
- 2025 from Keeney Cove, Glastonbury
- Brandon Powers Bowfin
- 28.5 inches
- 2023 from Crow Point Cove, Wethersfield
- Benjamin Florian Bowfin
Brook Trout*
- 21.25 inches
- 2010 from Natchaug River, Chaplin
- Nicholas Burnore
Brown Bullhead
- 17.5 inches
- 2016 from Saugatuck Reservoir, Redding
- Keith Bonenfant
- 30 inches
- 2023 from Saugatuck Reservoir, Redding
- Liam Sikora
Calico Bass
- 19 inches
- 2016 from Candlewood Lake, Danbury
- Evan Kamoen
Chain Pickerel
- 33 inches
- 2013 from West Hill Pond, Barkhamsted
- Mark R. Popolizio
Channel Catfish
- 36 inches
- 2020 from Game Club Pond, Chaplin
- Colby Kerttula
- 44.8 inches
- 2025 from Lake Zoar, Monroe
- Norbert Samok
- 17.5 inches
- 2025 from Lake Zoar
- Alexander Daignault
Hybrid Sunfish
- 10.5 inches
- 2014 from Private Pond, Cheshire
- James Robitaille
- 10.5 inches
- 2019 from Risley Reservoir, Vernon
- Ryan McKinney
Kokanee Salmon
- 20 inches
- 2010 from East Twin Lake, Salisbury
- Timothy E. Kilbride
- 32 inches
- 2023 from Coventry Lake, Coventry
- Christopher Rinaldi
Largemouth Bass
- 25.25 inches
- 2008 from Lake Pocotopaug, East Hampton
- Daniel E.S. Kornegay III
Northern Pike
- 44.75 inches
- 2009 from Housatonic River, Falls Village
- David L. Jones
Pumpkinseed
- 10 inches
- 2012 from Lake McDonough, Barkhamsted
- Ellie Fiorentino
- 10 inches
- 2014 from Lake McDonough, Barkhamsted
- Joey Takeman
Rainbow Trout*
- 30 inches
- 2010 from Scoville Reservoir, Wolcott
- Michael Thureson
- 10.75 inches
- 2022 from Andover Lake, Andover
- Brandon Powers
Rock Bass
- 12.75 inches
- 2008 from Housatonic River, Kent
- Daniel E.S. Kornegay III
Smallmouth Bass
- 24.25 inches
- 2018 from Farmington River, Windsor
- Jacob Long
Tiger Trout*
- 22 inches
- 2018 from Woodbridge Lake, Goshen
- Cristian Cifaldi
- 30 inches
- 2022 from Lake Zoar, Southbury
- Alexander Daignault
- 30 inches
- 2010 from Lake Pocotopaug, East Hampton
- Daniel E.S. Kornegay III
White Catfish
- 25.5 inches
- 2012 from Salmon River, East Haddam
- Shawn Sims
- 15.5 inches
- 2024 from Mill River, Fairfield
- Ryan Mozelack
- 22.5 inches
- 2024 from Squantz Pond, Sherman
- Thomas Dorman
Yellow Perch
- 16.25 inches
- 2011 from Lake McDonough, New Hartford
- Ron Barbour
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.
Please contact the Fisheries Division with any questions.
Phone: 860-424-3474
E-mail: deep.inland.fisheries@ct.gov
Content last updated November 2025