CONCORD, N.H. -- The winners of New Hampshire's 2011 Trophy Fish Program
have been announced by Don Miller, Fisheries Biologist and Trophy Fish
Program Coordinator for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. The
program gives fishing enthusiasts of all ages an opportunity to receive
recognition, while providing biologists with important information on the
state's fisheries over time. The Trophy Fish Program was created in the
1970s, although the state's record fish information dates back to 1911.
"Over the years, through the Trophy Fish Program, we have received valuable
data on fish populations not normally reported to us," Don Miller noted.
"And almost every year, a new state record is reported, which says a lot
about New Hampshire's fisheries."
All successful applicants receive a "Trophy Fish" shoulder patch. Then, each
February, the person who caught the largest fish in each species category is
presented with a special certificate.
There are 22 freshwater species and seven saltwater species categories for
both kept and released fish. All ages and all legal methods of angling are
represented.
During 2011, 15 categories of "catch and release" species and eleven
categories of "kept" fish were represented in Trophy Program entries, and
five state records were set. It was notable that of the 75 entrants, 19
anglers (or 25%) were under 20 years old. And these kids are serious
anglers! Eight-year-old David King of Manchester caught a 9-pound, 3-ounce,
33-inch long cusk while ice-fishing on Lake Winnipesaukee. Nine-year-old
Christopher Richardson of Springfield, N.H., set a new record for channel
catfish when he reeled in his 11-pound, 3.52-ounce fish from the Connecticut
River.
Eight-year-old Mary Elaine Algeo of Rindge brought home a trophy largemouth
bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 8.64 ounces and measured 22.25 inches in
length, from Pearly Pond in Rindge. Nineteen-year-old Molly Metivier of
Keene trolled Willard Pond in Antrim and came up with a state-record tiger
trout weighing 3 lbs., 8.64 oz. and measuring 20 inches in length.
Greg Whitmore of Barrington and Steve Whitmore of Hooksett both caught and
released 25-inch-long Eastern chain pickerel a month apart on the Lamprey
River and tied for top spot in their category.
A new state record for pumpkinseed was set and matched this year. Back in
2010, John Viar, a Fish and Game fisheries biologist in the Lakes Region,
tied two existing records with his catch of a 9.5-inch-long, 12.48-ounce
pumpkinseed. His father, James Viar, had caught his record pumpkinseed back
in 2005, tying the 1984 record of Marcel LeBel. Three fish with the same
weight and lengths – spanning 26 years – had tied for State Record! But in
March of 2011, Fish and Game’s Mark Beauchesne broke the long-standing tie
with a new state-record pumpkinseed out of Lake Winnipesaukee, weighing in
at 13.6 ounces. The story doesn’t end there! John Viar came back in November
and again tied the record with his own 13.6-ounce pumpkinseed from Lake
Winnipesaukee.
A complete listing of all entries, plus links to application forms, rules,
records and winners from past years can be found at
http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/trophy/2011.html.
