State Fish and Game Officials Present 2008 Sport Fishing Awards This Weekend

New state records set for king mackerel, bullhead and brook trout catches

BOSTON – At ceremonies in Worcester this weekend, State fisheries officials will honor anglers – including three new state record holders – who reeled in the biggest fish of 2008 from Massachusetts lakes, ponds, streams, and coastal waters.

Massachusetts Fish and Game Commissioner Mary Griffin will participate in two ceremonies honoring the state’s top freshwater and saltwater anglers at the Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition at The DCU Center on Saturday and Sunday. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) Director Wayne MacCallum will present the annual Freshwater Sportfishing Awards at 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, February 7. Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) Director Paul Diodati will recognize winners of the Saltwater Fishing Derby on Sunday, February 8 at 1:30 p.m.

“The Commonwealth’s lakes, ponds, rivers, and coastal waters offer abundant sport fishing grounds for anglers of all ages and abilities,” Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Ian Bowles said. “We’re thrilled to acknowledge the state’s biggest catches during the annual Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program and the Saltwater Fishing Derby.”

“We hope these ceremonies to honor sport fishing achievements statewide will encourage adults and children alike to take up fishing and other outdoor sports,” Commissioner Griffin said. “We congratulate this year’s winners and look forward to another winning fishing season in 2009.”

Among the dozens of fish enthusiasts to be honored tomorrow is Roger Pyzocha of Ludlow, who was named MassWildlife’s Angler of the Year. The award recognizes the sportsman or woman who weighs in the largest number of species that qualify under the Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program. Pyzocha landed 16 different species in bodies of water from the Quabbin Reservoir and the Swift River in Belchertown to Quacumquasit Pond in Brookfield. Pyzocha won the state’s first Angler of the Year Award in 2002.

MassWildlife’s Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program presents bronze pins to adult and youth anglers who catch fish of certain minimum weight requirements in 22 species categories, and gold pins and commemorative plaques to anglers who catch the largest fish in each category.

Peter Harand of Easthampton reeled in a record-breaking brook trout weighing 10 pounds at Ashfield Lake in Ashfield. Roger Aziz Jr. of Methuen caught the largest bullhead on state record weighing 6 pounds 4 ounces at Forest Lake in Methuen.

Of the 23 winners in the adult category, the heaviest freshwater fish landed in 2008 included a 29-pound 7 ounce northern pike caught in the East Brimfield Reservoir by Dean Lisiewicz of Boston. The second and third heaviest fish were reeled in at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester: a 28-pound 4-ounce carp caught by Tom Pattiselanno of Worcester, and a 20 pound 12-ounce tiger muskie caught by Howie Turcotte of North Oxford.

Of the 25 winners in the youth category (age 17 and under), the heaviest fish caught were by Austin Aziz of Metheun who caught a 25-pound carp in the Merrimack River in Lowell, Dustin Fontain of Warren who caught a 21-pound 11-ounce northern pike at Quaboag Pond in Brookfield, and Andrew Roman of Holland who caught a 14-pound 7-ounce lake trout at the Quabbin Reservoir.

For a list of Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program winners, go to: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/fishing/awards/2008_Sportfishing_winners.htm.

On the saltwater side, Tim Broderick of Chilmark set a new state record when he caught an 8 pound 6 ounce king mackerel at Lucas Scholls in September. The heaviest fish caught was a 496 pound thresher shark by Men’s Division fisherman James Jensen of Rochester. The second heaviest fish caught was also by a Men’s Division fisherman, Tom Eichel of Lynn who caught a 398-pound 12-ounce blue shark.

Junior Division anglers also reeled in big fish. Christian Krauter of New York caught a 363- pound 12 ounce mako shark and Jacob Adelberg of Dartmouth caught a 45-pound striped bass.

In the Women’s Division, Jennifer Phelan of Ayer caught a 64-pound 2-ounce cod and Erin Williams of Greeland, New Hampshire caught a 51-pound 14-ounce striped bass.

The Saltwater Fishing Derby’s 41 winners hailed from four states including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York. For a list of Saltwater Fishing Derby winners, go to: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/recreationalfishing/saltderb.htm.

The DMF will also present two Skillful Skipper awards to boat captains who had at least three derby-winning fish caught aboard their vessels last year. The 2008 Skillful Skippers are Captain Dave Niemi who pilots the “Captain John & Son” from Plymouth, and Captain James Walsh of the “American Classic” in Lynn. Both Walsh and Niemi won the 2007 Skillful Skipper awards.

To qualify for the freshwater award program, fish must be weighed in on a state or town-certified scale. Saltwater entries must be caught by hook and line and weighed in at DMF-certified weigh stations.

MassWildlife, DMF, and the Massachusetts Environmental Police plan to host exhibits at this weekend’s Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition at Worcester’s DCU Center. For more information on the event, go to www.sportshows.com.