Trophy Fish Award Program

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Trophy Fish Award Program and Angler Recognition

The Fisheries Division has an online portal for you to submit information about your catch. The system accepts applications for the following: Trophy Fish; State Record Fish; Youth Fishing Passport Fishing Challenge; My First Fish; and My Personal Best.

Submit an application.
View Information on our Dashboard.
Fill in, Download, Print your custom certificate, and request a pin.

Questions? Email us at DEEP.Inland.Fisheries@ct.gov (Freshwater) or DEEP.marine.fisheries@ct.gov (Saltwater)

Top Catches for:

2023 - Inland

2023 - Marine

Connecticut Trophy Fish Award logo

The Trophy Fish Award Program recognizes and rewards angling skill.

A certificate of merit
A bronze pin for your first fish of merit
A silver pin for your fifth fish of merit
A gold pin for your tenth fish of merit or a new state record fish

State Record Fish: Defined as the largest fish (by weight determined using a certified scale) either captured legally in Connecticut waters or landed in Connecticut.

For all potential State Record Fish,

A print-out of weight from a certified scale must be included in your online submittal.
The fish must be retained (in identifiable condition) so that fisheries staff can examine the fish, if necessary, to determine the species. Exception: Common Carp and associated variations (fantail, ghost, leather, mirror) may be released after being weighed on a certified scale at time of capture and observed by a witness.

State Record Freshwater Fish
State Record Marine Fish

Trophy Fish Award: Awarded for each fish captured and appropriately submitted based upon the species criteria listed below (weight for harvest or length for catch-and-release).

Top Angler: Awarded to the angler who caught (during the current calendar year) the largest fish of a species listed in the minimum measurement table below (inland and marine species).

Male and Female (Harvest)
Male and Female (Catch and Release)
Youth Male and Youth Female (Harvest)
Youth Male and Youth Female (Catch and Release)

Angler of the Year: Awarded to the person who received at least 3 largest fish trophy fish awards and had the greatest number of species (diversity). In the case of a tie, the designation goes to the angler with the greatest number (quantity of awards) within the species division (inland or marine).

Up to 8 angler of the year awards may be designated annually to:

Inland, Male, Adult
Inland, Female, Adult
Inland, Male, Youth
Inland, Female, Youth
Marine, Male, Adult
Marine, Female, Adult
Marine, Male, Youth
Marine, Female, Youth

General Rules for Freshwater and Saltwater Fish:

Top Angler Awards are given to Marine and Inland anglers who catch and keep, catch and release the largest fish of each species categories.
Angler of the Year is awarded to the angler with the most species categories.
Youth Category is defined as anyone 15 years of age and under.
Saltwater entries by boats leaving and returning to Connecticut ports. No overnight stays in another state prior to day(s) of fishing.
Entries should be submitted using the online portal.
If you do not have access to the online portal you may file using the official Trophy Fish Award Affidavit Form.
Fish must be caught by legal methods by only one person.
Fish must be entered within 30 days of capture.
Fish must be caught during Connecticut's legal open season.
A clear photograph of the fish must accompany the Affidavit Form or online submittal.
Fish can be weighed on certified scales at Connecticut bait and tackle shops, local markets, or deli's) or other state certified scales.
For species not listed below: trophy fish awards subject to Fisheries staff identification and review.
Please Note: for all potential State Record Fish, a print-out of weight from a certified scale must accompany affidavit or online submittal.
Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeon are prohibited from the Trophy Fish Award Program.
Prohibited coastal shark species do not qualify for the Trophy Fish Award Program. List of prohibited shark species

Online Portal to submit your application

Rules for Catch and Release Category:

All of the General Rules apply except that the fish do not need to be weighed.
A witness must be present when the fish's length is measured.
A clear photo must be submitted via the online portal. 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 length of fish.
The accompanying photo must be taken at the location where the fish was caught and released.
Fish cannot be taken from site and then transported back.
The Fisheries Division will not recognize records for "sea-run" within the catch and release category.
BLE = Best Length Estimate for highly migratory species.
Minimum Length = Tip of snout to end of tail.
Marlin and Swordfish - measure from lower jaw to fork in tail.
Shark species - minimum length is fork length.
Fish must be released alive.

In order to qualify for a Trophy Fish Award, the following minimum measurements are required:

Note: Minimum Lengths apply to the Catch and Release category only!
The minimum lengths listed below do not apply to the traditional weighed category.

Freshwater Fish Criteria

Common Name	Minimum Weight	Minimum Length
American Eel	3 pounds	35 inches
American Shad	5 pounds	25 inches
Atlantic Salmon	15 pounds	31 inches
Bluegill	12 ounces	10 inches
Bowfin	7 pounds	24 inches
Brook Trout	2 pounds	17 inches*
Brown Bullhead	2 pounds	15 inches
Brown Trout	5 pounds	22 inches*
Calico Bass (Black Crappie)	2 pounds	15 inches
Common Carp	20 pounds	34 inches
Chain Pickerel	5 pounds	27 inches
Channel Catfish	4 pounds	22 inches
Fallfish	1.5 pounds	14 inches
Kokanee	1.75 pounds	16 inches
Lake Trout	14 pounds	32 inches
Largemouth Bass	6 pounds	22 inches
Northern Pike	10 pounds	35 inches
Pumpkinseed	8 ounces	9 inches
Rainbow Trout (including Golden Rainbow Trout)	4 pounds	21 inches*
Redbreast Sunfish	8 ounces	9 inches
Rock Bass	12 ounces	11 inches
Smallmouth Bass	4 pounds	21 inches
Sunfish Hybrids	12 ounces	10 inches
Tench	4 pounds	18 inches
Tiger Musky (hybrid of Pike and Muskellunge)	12 pounds	40 inches
Tiger Trout	2 pounds	17 inches*
Walleye	5 pounds	23 inches
White Catfish	4 pounds	20 inches
White Perch	1.5 pounds	14 inches
White Sucker	3 pounds	15 inches
Yellow Bullhead	2 pounds	15 inches
Yellow Perch	1 pound	13 inches

*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.

Saltwater

Common Name	Minimum Weight	Minimum Length
Albacore	30 lbs	40 inches
American Eel	3 lbs	35 inches
Atlantic Bonito	4 lbs	20 inches
Atlantic Cod	20 lbs	40 inches
Atlantic Mackerel	2 lbs	14 inches
Black Sea Bass	4 lbs	20 inches
Blackfish (Tautog)	8 lbs	22 inches
Blue Marlin	100 lbs	BLE (99")
Blue Shark	175 lbs	BLE (54")
Bluefin Tuna	400 lbs	60 inches
Bluefish	12 lbs	32 inches
Cunner	1.5 lbs	12 inches
Dolphin Fish	45 lbs	48 inches
Hickory Shad	1.75 lbs	18 inches
Little Tunny (False Albacore)	5 lbs	24 inches
Mako Shark	175 lbs	BLE (83")
Oyster Toadfish	1 lb	10 inches
Pollock	15 lbs	34 inches
Sandbar (Brown) Shark	prohibited	prohibited
Scup (Porgy)	2.5 lbs	16 inches
Squid	---	10" mantle
Striped Bass	35 lbs	45 inches
Summer Flounder (Fluke)	6 lbs	25 inches
Swordfish	100 lbs	BLE (47")
Thresher Shark	200 lbs	BLE (54")
Weakfish	5 lbs	24 inches
White Marlin	80 lbs	BLE (66")
Whiter Perch	1.5 lbs	14 inches
Winter Flounder	2.5 lbs	17 inches
Winter Skate	10 lbs	36 inches
Yellowfin Tuna	150 lbs	60 inches
Blue Crab	8 inches	8 inches