Michael Gets Up Early, Catches Big Fish!

Michael Holdridge Jr. of Madison set a new state record when he caught a 25 1/2 inch Tiger Trout at Paul's Pond in Colchester, CT in May 2011. Two weeks later, that record was broken, but he's still the recipient of the award for largest Tiger Trout caught by a male  youth in 2011 in Connecticut.

"At the time he caught it, it was a new state record," says Bill Gerrish, a Senior Fisheries Biologist with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Inland Fisheries Division. "It was later broken, but at least for a short period of time, he was the holder of the state record. He certainly got a thrill out of that."

Gerrish says the Tiger Trout is something of a hybrid fish, one that occurs naturally and one that also is bred in hatcheries. It is a cross between a Brown Trout and a Brook Trout and it's "really a lot of fun to catch," he says. "They are very aggressive and they give a tremendous battle. Anglers love them."

"We're talking a pretty good sized fish here"

Gerrish says Holdridge caught his trout with a lure at 5:15 a.m. on May 15, 2011. "We're talking a pretty good sized fish here," Gerrish said. "Judging from the smile on his face, he's having a blast."

Holdridge is one of 57 anglers being recognized for their fishing achievements in 2011. There are six new state record holders, including the new striped bass world record holder, who will be honored Saturday, Feb. 18. at 5 p.m. in Hartford at the Fourth Annual Trophy Fishing Award Ceremony at the Northeast Fishing and Hunting Show at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Fifty-seven anglers will be presented certificates recognizing their achievement of having caught or landed the largest fish in one of several species categories during 2011.

The Annual Trophy Fish Award Ceremony is a recent addition to the Department’s Trophy Fish Award program. This program recognizes anglers for catching freshwater and saltwater fish of qualifying size. Anglers complete and submit an affidavit with an attached photo of their catch. The program has evolved in the years since its inception. There are now youth (anglers under the age of 16) and adult categories for both catch-and-release fishing and for those who harvest their catch.  Among the anglers being recognized for their 2011 achievements are a number of new state record holders.

2011 an exceptional year for fishing in Connecticut

“Fishing in Connecticut in 2011 was truly exceptional, as new state records were set for a total of six species, in three cases breaking records that had stood for twenty-five years or more,” said DEEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty, in a prepared release. “Most notably, these new records include a striped bass that has been confirmed by the International Game Fish Association as a new world record. We are hoping that anglers from around the country will take notice and make Connecticut their fishing vacation destination.”

Attending the ceremony to help recognize Greg Meyerson, the angler who caught the new world record striped bass, will be Jack Vitek from the International Game Fish Association (IGFA). The IGFA, a nonprofit organization committed to game fish conservation, maintains definitive worldwide game fishing records and has certified Myerson’s catch as a new world angling record.

In addition to the six new state record fish (four inland and two marine), there were also ten records set in the marine off-shore, youth, catch-and-release and exotic species categories. “These many awards demonstrate the excellent fishing opportunities that we have right here in Connecticut,” said Bill Hyatt, chief of DEEP’s Bureau of Natural Resources, in a prepared release. “Fishing is a great outdoor activity that can be enjoyed by the entire family and it can be done close to home.”

Several anglers will be recognized as "Angler of the Year"

DEEP will also again be recognizing several anglers as “Angler of the Year”. Special recognition will be awarded to one freshwater and three saltwater anglers who received Trophy Fish Awards in the widest array of categories in 2011. “This award is intended to promote the diversity of fishing opportunities found in Connecticut waters and to make anglers aware of some of Connecticut’s less familiar species,” explained Dave Simpson, Director of DEEP’s Marine Fisheries Division.

More information about the Trophy Fish Award Program is available in the 2012 Connecticut Angler’s Guide, on the DEEP website at www.ct.gov/deep/fishingUH), or by contacting the Inland Fisheries Division (860-424-FISH) or the Marine Fisheries Division (860-434-6043).

Fishing opportunities now abound year round in our inland and marine waters, and anglers are reminded that fishing licenses can be purchased 24/7 on-line at: www.ct.gov/deep/fishinglicense.

Below are the new state records (species, angler and water body) set in 2011:

species

Angler name

location

tiger trout (7 lb 14 oz)

Gerald J. Barth Jr.

Lake Quassapaug

common carp (41 lb 8 oz)

Nigel Griffin

Connecticut River

striped bass (81 lb 14 oz)

Greg Meyerson

Long Island Sound

tautog (23 lb 9 oz)

Kendall Owens

Long Island Sound

kokanee salmon (2 lb 14 oz)

Thomas Pasko

East Twin Lake

brown trout (18 lb 5 oz)

Anthony Urbanowicz

Saugatuck Reservoir

Below are the names and hometowns of anglers being recognized for their achievements during 2011:

John C. Allgood

Redding

Jared Macha

Baltic

Ron Barbour

Bloomfield

Sean Marek

Killingworth

Jeffrey Barstis

Manchester

Brian Martel

Coventry

Gerald J. Barth Jr.

Torrington

Phil Medeiros

Glastonbury

Jerry Benoit Jr.

Lisbon

Greg Meyerson

North Branford

Bryan Bottone

North Haven

John K. Mikita

Oxford

Jamie Brignolo

Winsted

Alfred J. Miller III

Durham

John H. Brycki Sr.

Oakdale

William M. Miller

New Rochelle(NY)

Bonnie Carr

Winsted

David Murawski

Wallingford

Tina Credit

East Haddam

Judy Muszynski

Middlefield

Seth Davis

Thompson

Rollin Nye

Lisbon

Joseph Deledda

North Stonington

Kendall Owens

Enfield

Vincent Deledda

North Stonington

Thomas Pasko

Collinsville

Justin Dudley

Plymouth

Fred Plouffe

Bristol

Jacques Dulac

Coventry

Jeff Puglise

Granby

Paul Faucher

Brooklyn

Valinn Ranelli

Old Lyme

Marc Fontaine

Voluntown

Michael Reischerl

North Franklin

Jesse Frederick

New Haven

Heather Romagna-Hock

Old Lyme

Nigel Griffin

Milford

Stephen Ruggia

Terryville

Roland J. Groleau

North Grosvenordale

Joseph Santiago

East Haven

Justin Harrison

Greenwich

Jonathan Schmedlin

Stratford

Michael Holdridge Jr.

Madison

Bob Silva Jr.

Waterford

Kyle Joseph

Broad Brook

Andrew Smith

South Windsor

Stephen Kaufmann

North Salem (NY)

Carlina Spadaccini

Old Saybrook

Danny Keeler

Stratford

Chase Tessman

New Britain

Daniel E. S. Kornegay III

East Hampton

Anthony Urbanowicz

Easton

Shawn LaLond

Milford

Dean Vogel

Milford

Andrew Lautenberger

Griswold

Michael R. Wolod

West Haven

Ryan Lynch

New Milford