Trophy Fish Print Your Certificate

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 Certificates and Pins

Congratulations on your outstanding catch. Please select the type of fish from the tables below. The link will open a fillable PDF certificate. You can enter the details about your catch and your name, save, and print! Trophy Fish Pins - To request your trophy fish pin, please email, using the link below, to let us know if it is your 1st trophy fish, your 5th, or your 10th.

Freshwater Fish Criteria and Link to Self-Print Certificate

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
Chain Pickerel	5 pounds	27 inches
Channel Catfish	4 pounds	22 inches
Common Carp	20 pounds	34 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	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 Muskie (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	2 pounds	15 inches
White Sucker	3 pounds	15 inches
Yellow Bullhead	2 pounds	15 inches
Yellow Perch	1 pound	13 inches

Saltwater Species

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 Crab	8 inches	8 inches
Blue Marlin	100 lbs	BLE (99")
Blue Shark	175 lbs	BLE (54")
Bluefin Tuna	400 lbs	60 inches
Bluefish	12 lbs	32 inches
Chub Mackerel
Clearnose Skate
Cunner	1.5 lbs	12 inches
Dolphin Fish	45 lbs	48 inches
Grey Triggerfish
Hickory Shad	1.75 lbs	18 inches
Little Tunny (False Albacore)	5 lbs	24 inches
Mako Shark	175 lbs	BLE (83")
Northern Kingfish
Oyster Toadfish	1 lb	10 inches
Pollock	15 lbs	34 inches
Sandbar (Brown) Shark	prohibited	prohibited
Scup (Porgy)	2.5 lbs	16 inches
Spanish Mackerel
Squid	---	10" mantle
Striped Bass	35 lbs	45 inches
Striped Sea Robin
Summer Flounder (Fluke)	6 lbs	25 inches
Swordfish	100 lbs	BLE (47")
Thresher Shark	200 lbs	BLE (54")
Tilefish
Weakfish	5 lbs	24 inches
White Marlin	80 lbs	BLE (66")
White 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

Please contact the Fisheries Division with any questions.

Phone: 860-424-FISH (3474)
E-mail: deep.inland.fisheries@ct.gov

Content last updated in November 2023.

Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Trophy Fish Award Certificates and Pins

Freshwater Fish Criteria and Link to Self-Print Certificate

Saltwater Species