DEEP to Recognize North Branford Angler for Record Catch

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection plans to officially recognize Greg Myerson, the North Branford man who caught the world record striped bass last August.  

Myerson will be recognized at the ‘Fourth Annual Trophy Fish Award Ceremony’ at the Northeast Fishing and Hunting Show in the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford at 5 p.m. today, Feb. 18 as one of 57 anglers who will be presented certificates recognizing their achievement of having caught or landed the largest fish in one of several species categories during 2011.

Myerson’s striper, which the North Branford resident caught in Long Island Sound between East Haven and Milford, weighed in at 81.88 pounds.

The DEEP issued a press release with more information on the award ceremony. 

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.

“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. “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 Myerson, 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 10 records set in the marine off-shore, youth, catch-and-release and exotic species categories (see attached PDFs for full list of award recipients).

“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. “Fishing is a great outdoor activity that can be enjoyed by the entire family and it can be done close to home.”

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 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.