MassWildlife Sportfishing Awards...just released

[ChuckD]

MASSWILDLIFE ADVISORY

Date: February 3, 2006
Contact: Richard Hartley, MassWildlife Sportfishing Awards Coordinator 508/792-727- x132

Sportfish Awards Ceremony and Program Changes Announced

On Saturday, February 11, at 4 PM, the Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) will be honoring anglers for their big catches in 2005 and announcing changes to the Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program as part of the Eastern Fishing and Outdoor Exposition in Worcester’s DCU Centre. For over 40 years, the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife has sponsored the Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program, a program that recognizes anglers who have caught trophy freshwater fish from Massachusetts water bodies open to the public. Anglers catching any one of 22 fish species of a specified weight receive a bronze pin commemorating their accomplishment. These fish are often referred to as “pin fish”. In addition to a bronze pin, anglers who catch the heaviest fish species of the year receive a gold pin and plaque at the Freshwater Sportfish Awards Ceremony.

The 2005 Angler of the Year will also be honored at this ceremony. The Angler of the Year Award recognizes anglers who caught the most “pin fish” species within a year.

2005 Sportfish Award Winners

2005 Angler of the Year-- This year’s winner, Todd Matera of Palmer, won the 2005 Angler of the Year by catching eight trophy size species of fish. Matera caught chain pickerel in Long Pond, Yarmouth; channel catfish and walleye in the Connecticut River; largemouth bass at Garrett’s Pond, Barnstable and Quabbin Reservoir; smallmouth bass at Quabbin Reservoir; sunfish at Ludlow’s Red Bridge Impoundment on the Chicopee River; white perch at Quabbin Reservoir and yellow perch at Spectacle Pond, Sandwich and Rocky Pond, Plymouth.

“Anglers should be heartened to see that the Angler of the Year doesn’t necessarily have to catch gold pin fish to be competitive for this particular award,” said Richard Hartley, Sportfish Awards Program Coordinator. “No stranger to the Sportfish Awards Program, Todd concentrated his 2005 efforts on a variety of species rather than specifically targeting trophy fish. He spent a lot of time fishing Cape Cod waters in 2005, far from his home in Palmer.”

The purpose of the Angler of the Year Award is to recognize the accomplishments of anglers interested in honing their skills on a variety of fish species, rather than one or two. Some anglers become specialists, studying the habits of specific species and learning how to target them, while others become generalists seeking out all the species that the state's waters have to offer. This award is also a way to recognize that the motivations for angling are as diverse as the anglers themselves!


Gold Pin Winners in Adult and Youth Categories


2005 Adult Gold Pin Winners

Broodstock salmon 22 lbs. 14 ozs. Jamaica Pond, Boston Roy Leyva, Hyde Park
Brook trout 2 lbs. 8 ozs. Forest Lake, Methuen Roger Aziz, Jr., Methuen
Brown Trout 9 lbs. 12 ozs. Onota Lake, Pittsfield Roger Driscoll, Pittsfield
Bullhead* 4 lbs. 10 ozs. Forest Lake, Methuen Robert Coffill, Somerville
Carp 34 lbs. 1 oz. Merrimack River, Lawrence Roger Aziz, Jr., Methuen
Chain pickerel 6 lbs. 6 ozs. Otis Reservoir, Otis Andrew Boyne, Lee
Channel Catfish 16 lbs. 0 oz. Chicopee River, Springfield Steve Muniec, Thorndike
Crappie 3 lbs. 8 ozs. Connecticut River, Northampton Eric Sicard, Southampton
Lake Trout 21 lbs. 4 ozs. Quabbin Reservoir, Belchertown Steve McCullough, Belchertown
Landlocked salmon 5 lbs. 14 ozs. Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston Dan Draleaus, Northbridge
Largemouth bass 8 lbs. 6 ozs. Mashpee-Wakeby Pond, Mashpee Scott Giammalvo, Middleboro
Northern Pike 23 lbs. 0 ozs. South Pond, East Brookfield Robert Thibodo, Greenfield
Rainbow Trout 6 lbs. 11 ozs. South Pond, East Brookfield Walter Bernier, Brookfield
Shad 9 lbs. 7 ozs. Connecticut River, South Hadley Robert Thibodo, Greenfield
Smallmouth bass 5 lbs. 13 ozs. Hampton Ponds, Westfield Eric Couture, Westfield
Sunfish 1 lb. 2 ozs. Merrimack River, Lowell Joe Baker, Lowell
Tiger muskie 21 lbs. 15 ozs. Chauncey Lake, Westborough Dean Sherwood, Taunton
Tiger trout 3 lbs. 7 ozs. Swift River, Ware Eric Piquette, Sr., Chicopee
Walleye 9 lbs. 13 ozs. Connecticut River, Montague Robert Thibodo, Greenfield
White catfish 6 lbs. 11 ozs. Mashpee-Wakeby Pond, Mashpee Eddie Lemieux, Acushnet
White perch 2 lbs. 15 ozs. Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston Harry Brown, Hudson
Yellow perch 2 lbs. 7 ozs. Sheep Pond, Brewster Roy Leyva, Hyde Park

* new state record




2005 Youth Gold Pin Winners

Broodstock salmon 10 lbs. 1 oz. Comet Pond, Hubbardston Lynn Percuoco, Leominster
Brook trout 3 lbs. 8 ozs. Knops Pond, Groton Remy Surprenant, Littleton
Carp 26 lbs. 0 oz. Connecticut River, South Hadley Nicholas Sorbi, South Hadley
Chain pickerel 5 lbs. 9 ozs. Forest Lake, Palmer Nathan Carvalho, Chicopee
Channel Catfish 8 lbs. 10 ozs. Connecticut River, Springfield Tom Chisholm, Ludlow
Crappie 2 lbs. 4 ozs. Webster Lake, Webster Ryan Smolenski, Oxford
Lake Trout 13 lbs. 9 ozs. Quabbin Reservoir, Belchertown Molly McCarthy, Middlefield
Northern Pike 21 lbs. 2 ozs. Onota Lake, Pittsfield Nick Kuni, Pittsfield
Shad 6 lbs. 1 oz. Connecticut River, Holyoke Conor Olejarz, Chicopee
Smallmouth bass 5 lbs. 3 ozs. Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston Peter George, Millbury
Sunfish 1 lb. 2 ozs. Fresh Pond, Falmouth Otto Connon, East Falmouth
Tiger muskie 21 lbs. 8 ozs. Quinsigamond Lake, Shrewsbury Dan Pustis, Shrewsbury
White perch 2 lbs. 0 oz. Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston Jacob Nordquist, Northbridge
Yellow perch 1 lb. 12 ozs. Wequaquet Lake, Barnstable Nathan Ryan, Cotuit



Sportfish Award Program Changes
This year, anglers planning to participate in MassWildlife’s Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program should be aware of some changes to this popular program. “The most exciting change to the program is recognition of young anglers’ accomplishments,” said Richard Hartley, MassWildlife Fisheries Biologist and Sportfish Awards Coordinator. “For the first time in the program’s 40 year history, youths 17 years old and under will receive gold pins and plaque for their big catches in their own category, just as in the adult program.”

Hartley noted that another significant change will allow anglers to download Award Program affidavits for submission to the awards program. Other changes to the program include new minimum weights for certain fish species in the adult angler category; allowing anglers to weigh their catch on a certified scale at any location; as well a few housekeeping items designed to clarify current Award Program requirements.

Note that the pinfish weights and youth categories are incorrect in the 2006 Hunting and Fishing Abstracts. A complete listing of the Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program minimum weight requirements and rules are found on the Program affidavits posted in the Fishing area of the MassWildlife website: www.mass.gov/masswildlife. Affidavits will also be distributed at Sportsmen’s Shows and to all MassWildlife Offices.


PINFISH WEIGHTS FOR FRESHWATER SPORTFISHING AWARDS PROGRAM

Species Adult Youth

Brook trout 2 lbs. 0 ozs. 1 lbs. 0 ozs.
Broodstock salmon 10 lbs. 0 ozs. 5 lbs. 0 ozs.
Brown trout 5 lbs. 0 ozs.* 3 lbs. 0 ozs.
Bullhead 2 lbs. 0 ozs.* 1 lbs. 0 ozs.
Carp 15 lbs. 0 ozs. 10 lbs. 0 ozs.
Chain pickerel 4 lbs. 8 ozs. 3 lbs. 0 ozs.
Channel catfish 6 lbs. 0 ozs. 5 lbs. 0 ozs.
Crappie 1 lbs. 8 ozs.* 1 lbs. 0 ozs.
Lake trout 7 lbs. 0 ozs. 5 lbs. 0 ozs.
Landlocked salmon** 4 lbs. 0 ozs.* 3 lbs. 0 ozs.
Largemouth bass 7 lbs. 0 ozs.* 4 lbs. 0 ozs.
Northern pike 15 lbs. 0 ozs. 10 lbs. 0 ozs.
Rainbow trout 4 lbs. 0 ozs. 2 lbs. 8 ozs.
Shad 5 lbs. 0 ozs. 3 lbs. 0 ozs.
Smallmouth bass 4 lbs. 8 ozs. 3 lbs. 0 ozs.
Sunfish*** 0 lbs. 12 ozs.* 0 lbs. 8 ozs.
Tiger muskie 10 lbs. 0 ozs. 7 lbs. 0 ozs.
Tiger trout 2 lbs. 0 ozs.* 1 lbs. 0 ozs.
Walleye 4 lbs. 0 ozs.* 2 lbs. 0 ozs
White catfish 4 lbs. 0 ozs. 2 lbs. 0 ozs.
White perch 1 lbs. 8 ozs. 1 lbs. 0 ozs.
Yellow perch 1 lbs. 8 ozs. 1 lbs. 0 ozs.

* reflects changes in the weights for the Adult Category
** Landlocked salmon are only recognized from Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs
*** Sunfish category includes bluegill, pumpkinseed and rock bass

[sped]

Don't want to start trouble here but I just feel like to many great fish are eliminated each year so they can get thrown on a scale. The list above itself is an awesome sight. I wonder how many of those fish are still alive and reproducing or the thousands of others that didn't make the list. Now I'm sure that some, maybe even many fish, are brought to the scales in a livewell and later released. At least the though of that happening makes me feel better..........but there are so many reasons why many are not. The angler wants a mount of his catch, maybe he wants to consume it, I guess both those are acceptable. But I'm worried about the guy who catches a fish in the odd hours that bait shops with scales aren't open, or the baitshop with the scale is not nearby, or the angler is on foot and can't keep his/her catch alive. It's happened to me a number of times....and I've been forced to release the fish. I would imagine that others have been put in this situation as well and have made, in my opinion, the wrong decision and kept the fish simply to weigh the following day to get a silver or gold pin. To me it's just not worth it. And this is the program our great state supports.

Just my 2 cents......Sped

[Slappy]

I know from personal experience that some are released after weigh in. But there should be pride in releasing and not getting the pin.

I am surprised to see the weight for the elusive crappie drop so dramatically. My one goal in fishing has been to get a crappie pin--so close to the 2 lb mark, but never over it. Now they only have to be 1.5? Too easy.

[BayStateFishing]

yah, not to toot my horn - I don't deserve it - but people who are considering trying to get an award winning fish should take a little extra time to consider livewells as an option when they are fishing. At this point, I never leave home without mine, at least in my car - and a 8 gallon bucket with 2 battery powered aerators with me at shore side. The slight hassle, is made up when you can weigh and release a big fish.

I made mine out of, what I think is a 20-30 gallon igloo cooler.
I was able to transport 6lb Largemouth in there no problem.
Yes, this does cause some fish stress, but I can live with it.

What this means though, is if you get a fish that need to weigh - you have to leave immediately and try to reduce fish stress as much as you can.

It's at least a part of this trophy hunting that people should work on.
When you kill a fish needlessly, at least for me - I feel terrible, but I know even some released fish die from stress. I've killed my share I know. I'm trying to get better, becasue I realized last year that with a few pieces of equipment, early hook setting - the senko gill removal technique - and some livewell and stress mitigation strategies, you could reduce your mortality significantly. It's worth trying for, the best you can. Any effort is good.

[bdowning]

The shad, landlock salmon, and carp pin weights seem pretty attainable too. 5 lb shad are really not that uncommon, nor are 15 lb carp in the bigger river systems.

In contrast, a 7 lb largemouth I'd consider more of a trophy around these parts.

-bd

[ssully]

I know from personal experience that some are released after weigh in. But there should be pride in releasing and not getting the pin.

I am surprised to see the weight for the elusive crappie drop so dramatically. My one goal in fishing has been to get a crappie pin--so close to the 2 lb mark, but never over it. Now they only have to be 1.5? Too easy.

Hey Slappy, I broke that barrier last year with a 2.3# whopper. :-)

[Slappy]

Hey Slappy, I broke that barrier last year with a 2.3# whopper. :-)

Now that is a fish to be proud of. Someday I will do it too. You gotta have dreams! ;)