Five new state-record fish officially recognized

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will officially recognize five new state-record fish in an awards ceremony at the Northwest Sports Show in Minneapolis March 8.

New records were set this year for Yellow Bullhead (3 pounds, 10.5 ounces), White Crappie (3 pounds, 6 ounces set Jan. 23, 2002), White Crappie (3 pounds, 15 ounces set July 28, 2002), Silver Redhorse (8 pounds, 4 ounces) and Tullibee (5 pounds, 11.8 ounces).

State record holders will receive a plaque and certificate acknowledging their accomplishment from DNR Commissioner Gene Merriam at the awards ceremony.

Jenifer Matthees, aquatic education coordinator for the DNR Fisheries, said, “Catching a big fish is so exciting and usually requires exceptional fishing skill. This is our way of recognizing the anglers who break a state record.”

The DNR has been maintaining a list of state-record fish since 1980.

To qualify for a state record, anglers must have their fish weighed on a certified scale witnessed by two observers, have the fish positively identified at a DNR Fisheries office and complete a notarized application with a photo of the fish.

TWO FISH REMOVED FROM STATE RECORDS

Two state-record fish – a blue catfish caught last year and a rainbow trout (steelhead) caught in 1974 – have been removed from state records.

The blue catfish, reportedly caught in the Minnesota River last summer, was removed after conservation officers learned the fish had actually been caught in South Dakota.

The angler who reported the catch – a 52-pound, 8-ounce fish – received citations for possession of wild animals in the state that have been unlawfully taken and for knowingly signing a false affidavit. Because the existence of blue catfish hasn’t been confirmed in Minnesota, there is no longer an official record.

The state-record rainbow trout (steelhead), a 17-pound, 6-ounce fish caught near the Knife River in 1974, was removed at the request of the angler. In a signed affidavit, the angler said the application was entered with incorrect information and asked that the record be removed. The angler also asked that he not be contacted regarding the fish. No citations were issued.

The state record for rainbow trout will revert to the previous record, a 15-pound, 7-ounce steelhead caught near Two Harbors in 1970, Matthees said.

A complete list of Minnesota’s state record fish can be found on pages 72-73 of the 2003 Minnesota Fishing Regulations book.

Thanks for the info, Bob.

I knew that Blue Cat story was fishy. Rumors started soon after that fish was reported. The guy who tried to “pull the wool” is a …… well let’s just say the DNR did a good job of investigation.

Two big White Crappies in one year..Wow!

Thanks,
Jon J.

There was also a new record smallie caught on a sterns county lake. It went 8lb 8oz. The guy caught it, had it weighed and identified on 2 different certified scales by 2 different dnr agents, and then released the fish back in the lake. From what I heard it doesn’t qualify since it wasn’t disecetd or examined to see if it was a hybrid or something.

MFO that would put me over the edge……….bad deal

That is so unfair! The guy wanted to be a good sportsmen by realecing the fish, but then the DNR screws him over. But I can see the DNRs point. With so many people cheating to get in the record books I can see how they are edgy. It is sad how a few can ruin it for everyone.

Me too Bob! I’d probably bite right through my upper lip and after that…………well…………….the floodgates are open! I agree………..bad deal.

Once upon a guided outing, Chris Winchester told Lance Holmes and I that he’s caught record flatheads but will never go for the state record books because he can’t bring himself to kill a fish over a record book. I guess this proves what he was saying.