Connecticut Fishing Records: 4 National #1s and 2 World Records

Connecticut holds 70 official state fishing records — 30 freshwater and 40 saltwater — packed into the second-smallest state in the country. Among them are 4 national #1 records and 2 catches that are still the current IGFA All-Tackle world record, including the most famous striped bass ever caught.

With 96 miles of Long Island Sound coastline, over 2,000 lakes and ponds, and the Connecticut River running 410 miles through the heart of New England, Connecticut punches far above its weight in the record books. The state’s position at the convergence of cold Northeastern waters and warming Mid-Atlantic currents creates conditions that grow trophy fish across an unusually diverse range of species.

Records That Stand Out

Striped Bass — 81 lb 15 oz (#1 of 14 states, IGFA World Record)

Greg Myerson was fishing the Outer Southwest Reef in Long Island Sound on the night of August 4, 2011, when he hooked the fish that would become the most famous striper in history. At 81 lb 15 oz, it shattered the previous world record by over 3 lbs and instantly made Connecticut synonymous with trophy striped bass fishing. Myerson was using a custom-made rattling lure he designed himself, targeting the reefs where big bass ambush lobsters and crabs in the dark. The waters between the Connecticut River mouth and the Thames River — including the Race, Plum Gut, and the reefs off Niantic and Waterford — remain the most productive trophy striper grounds in the Northeast.

Bluefin Tuna — 770 lbs (#2 of 8 states)

Lester Debetta’s 770 lb bluefin, caught in Block Island Sound in 1990, is the second-largest bluefin tuna ever recorded by any state. Only Massachusetts has produced a bigger one. Block Island Sound and the canyons beyond it — Block Canyon, Atlantis Canyon, Fish Tales — have been a world-class tuna fishery for decades. The fall run from September through November pushes giant bluefin through the Sound chasing schools of menhaden and herring. Charter fleets out of Niantic, Waterford, and Groton run to these grounds regularly.

Blackfish (Tautog) — 26 lb 9.6 oz (#1 of 10 states)

Thien Nguyen’s 26 lb 9.6 oz blackfish, caught at Two Tree Island near Stratford in 2015, leads all 10 states that track the species. Connecticut’s rocky structure — natural reefs, jetties, bridge pilings, and the breakwaters lining Long Island Sound — creates ideal tautog habitat. The fall bite from mid-October through December is when the biggest fish move shallow, with the reefs off Norwalk, Bridgewater, and the mouth of the Thames River all producing trophy-class fish. Green crabs and Asian shore crabs are the top baits.

Tilefish — 58 lb 2 oz (#1 of 5 states)

Jarred Velardi’s 58 lb tilefish, caught out of West Atlantis Canyon in 2022, leads all 5 states that track the species. The deep canyons south of Block Island — 600 to 1,200 feet down — hold dense concentrations of golden tilefish. It’s a specialized deep-drop fishery that has gained popularity as anglers have discovered these canyons are within reach of Connecticut’s offshore fleet.

Bigeye Tuna — 294 lb 2 oz (#1 of 5 states)

Chris Anderson’s 294 lb bigeye, caught out of West Atlantis in 2021, leads all 5 states that track the species. The deep canyons accessible from Connecticut’s ports — West Atlantis, Atlantis, Block, Fish Tales — are among the most productive bigeye tuna grounds on the East Coast. These are long-range trips, often 80–120 miles offshore, but the payoff is access to fish that rival the best tropical tuna fisheries.

Brook Trout — 9 lb 3 oz (#2 of 43 states)

David Andes caught this 9 lb 3 oz brook trout from Blackwells Brook in Brooklyn, Connecticut, in 1998. It ranks 2nd nationally, behind only the 14 lb 8 oz IGFA world record from Ontario, Canada. Wild brook trout are the state fish of Connecticut, and the small freestone streams of the northeastern hills — particularly in Windham and Tolland counties — still hold native populations. The state’s cold-water management program has kept these fisheries viable despite development pressure.

Chain Pickerel — 8 lb 9 oz (#2 of 25 states)

Alden L. Foss caught this pickerel from West Twin Lake in Salisbury in 2005. The Litchfield Hills lake region in northwest Connecticut is prime pickerel water — cold, clear lakes with abundant weed beds. West Twin Lake, East Twin Lake, and Wononscopmuc Lake all produce quality pickerel alongside their more famous trout and kokanee fisheries.

Northern Pike — 29 lbs (#6 of 38 states)

Two anglers share this record — Leslie Slater from West Branch Reservoir in 2020 and Joseph Nett from Lake Lillinonah in 1980. Connecticut isn’t the first state that comes to mind for pike, but the Connecticut River watershed and the Housatonic River impoundments (Lillinonah, Zoar, Housatonic) support healthy populations. West Branch Reservoir in Colebrook-Hartland is a designated Northern Pike Management Water and produces quality fish year-round.

Mako Shark — 650 lbs (#5 of 11 states)

Gregory Erisoty’s 650 lb mako, caught in Block Island Sound in 1987, remains one of the largest makos ever taken from New England waters. The warm Gulf Stream eddies that push north into the waters south of Block Island bring mako sharks within range of the Connecticut fleet from June through September. The same currents that bring tuna and swordfish also concentrate these apex predators.

Channel Catfish — 29 lb 6 oz (#6 of 44 states)

Appleton Barrows caught this catfish from Mashapaug Lake in Union in 2004. Connecticut’s channel catfish program stocks farm-raised fish into designated waters, and the warm, fertile lakes in eastern Connecticut grow them fast. Mashapaug Lake, which also produced the state’s largemouth bass record (12 lb 14 oz), is clearly a trophy factory for multiple species.

American Shad — 9 lb 4 oz (#1 of 7 states)

Edward Cypus caught this shad from the Connecticut River in Windsor in 1981, and it still leads all 7 states. The Connecticut River is the most important shad river on the East Coast — the spring shad run from April through June draws anglers from across New England. Fish ladders at Holyoke Dam and other barriers have restored access to hundreds of miles of historic spawning habitat.

Where the Records Come From

Connecticut’s records split between two distinct fisheries. Long Island Sound drives the inshore and nearshore records — striped bass, blackfish, bluefish, fluke, and black sea bass all come from the reefs, structure, and channels within the Sound. The Thames River mouth, Niantic Bay, the Norwalk Islands, and the Housatonic River outflow are the most productive zones.

The offshore records come from a different world entirely. The deep-water canyons 60–120 miles south of the coastline — Block Canyon, Atlantis Canyon, West Atlantis, and Fish Tales — produce the big-game species: bluefin tuna, bigeye tuna, swordfish, mako sharks, and tilefish. This is blue-water fishing that rivals anything on the East Coast, run primarily out of Niantic, Waterford, and the ports along the eastern Connecticut shore.

The freshwater records trace a different map. The Litchfield Hills in the northwest hold the trout and pike records — Wononscopmuc Lake (lake trout), West Twin Lake (pickerel), West Hill Pond (brown trout and kokanee). The Connecticut River and its tributaries produce records for shad, catfish, bowfin, and eel. And the quiet lakes of eastern Connecticut — Mashapaug, Pattagansett, Beach Pond — contribute bass, crappie, and walleye records.

Connecticut’s record book spans over a century — from Dr. Thompson’s 29 lb 13 oz lake trout from Wononscopmuc Lake in 1918 to a 45 lb 5 oz common carp from Lake Lillinonah in 2024. The state’s catch-and-release record program has added a dynamic second layer, with over 30 species tracked by length. For a state you can drive across in two hours, the diversity of the record book is remarkable.

All records are maintained by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

Complete Connecticut Saltwater Records

🏆 = also the current IGFA All-Tackle world record

Complete Connecticut Freshwater Records

🏆 = also the current IGFA All-Tackle world record

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the biggest fish ever caught in Connecticut?

The heaviest fish in Connecticut’s record book is a 770 lb Bluefin Tuna, caught by Lester Debetta in Block Island Sound in 1990. It ranks 2nd nationally and was caught during the fall migration when giant bluefin push through the Sound.

What is the Connecticut state record striped bass?

The Connecticut striped bass record is 81 lb 15 oz, caught by Greg Myerson at Outer Southwest Reef in Long Island Sound on August 4, 2011. It is the current IGFA All-Tackle world record and the #1 record across all 14 states that track the species.

What is the Connecticut state record largemouth bass?

The Connecticut largemouth bass record is 12 lb 14 oz, caught by Frank Domurat at Mashapaug Lake in Union in 1961. It ranks 24th nationally out of 47 states.

How many IGFA world records were caught in Connecticut?

Two current IGFA All-Tackle world records were caught in Connecticut waters: the 81 lb 15 oz Striped Bass caught by Greg Myerson in 2011 and the 11.2 lb Windowpane Flounder caught by Alexander Welford in 2020. The Clearnose Skate record (9 lb 8 oz) also holds world record status.

Where are most Connecticut fishing records caught?

Long Island Sound produces the majority of saltwater records, with the reefs between the Connecticut River mouth and the Thames River being the most productive zone. The deep canyons south of Block Island (Atlantis, Block, Fish Tales) produce the offshore records. For freshwater, the Litchfield Hills lakes, the Connecticut River, and eastern Connecticut ponds lead.

What is the best striper fishing in Connecticut?

The waters around the Thames River mouth, Niantic Bay, the Race, and the reefs off Waterford are the most productive trophy striper areas. Greg Myerson’s world-record fish came from the Outer Southwest Reef. Night fishing with live eels or large rattling lures produces the biggest fish from June through November.

Sources: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). IGFA world records from the International Game Fish Association.