Trophy Fish Award Program
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 accompany the affidavit.
State Record Freshwater Fish
State Record Marine Fish
Trophy Fish Award: Awarded for each fish captured and appropriately submitted per affidavit requirements and 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 at the Trophy Fish Award Ceremony to:
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Inland, Male, Adult
-
Inland, Female, Adult
-
Inland, Male, Youth
-
Inland, Female, Youth
-
Marine, Male, Adult
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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. Awards are provided at the annual Trophy Fish Award Ceremony.
- 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 must be filed on 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 caught in hatchery ponds are not eligible.
- Fish must be caught during Connecticut's legal open season.
- A clear photograph of the fish must accompany the Affidavit Form.
- 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.
Trophy Fish Award Affidavit Form
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 accompany the affidavit. This photo must include the angler holding the fish and also included 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.
- 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
|
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 |
2 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 |
|
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 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 |
1.5 pounds |
15 inches |
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 |
Past Trophy Fish Award Information:
Marine Trophy Fish Award Brochure
Inland Trophy Fish Award Brochure
Youth and Womens Marine Trophy Fish Records
Catch and Release Marine Trophy Fish Records
2018 Saltwater Trophy Fish Award Annual Report
2017 Saltwater Trophy Fish Award Annual Report
2016 Freshwater Trophy Fish Award Annual Report
2015 Freshwater Trophy Fish Award Annual Report
2014 Freshwater Trophy Fish Award Annual Report
2014 Saltwater Trophy Fish Award Annual Report
2013 Freshwater Trophy Fish Award Annual Report
2013 Saltwater Trophy Fish Award Annual Report
2012 Freshwater Trophy Fish Award Annual Report
2012 Saltwater Trophy Fish Award Annual Report
2011 Freshwater Trophy Fish Award Annual Report
2011 Saltwater Trophy Fish Award Annual Report
2010 Freshwater Trophy Fish Award Annual Report
2010 Saltwater Trophy Fish Award Annual Report
2002-2009 Marine Fisheries Trophy Fish Program Award Summary
2009 Freshwater Trophy Fish Award Annual Report
2009 Saltwater Trophy Fish Award Annual Report
Content last updated January 2019