Trophy and Record Fish Program
Information on the Trophy and Record Fish Program
NH Trophy Fish Program
The Trophy Fish program provides recognition for the largest fish each year – kept or released – in 21 freshwater categories and 7 saltwater categories. The information provided by anglers in their Record and Trophy Fish entry form is invaluable to biologists who are grateful for anglers’ "feet in the field". Just for entering a qualifying fish, anglers receive either a "Kept" or "Released" Trophy Fish patch as a thank you for sharing their catch data. At the end of the year all entries are reviewed and the largest fish in each category is awarded a special certificate recognizing the angler and his or her catch. Results are published on this web page sometime in the February following.
NH State Record Fish
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department maintains a listing of State Record fish, dating back to 1911 when A. Val Woodruff's 9-pound, 25.5-inch Brook Trout was caught in Pleasant Lake, New London. That record has not been broken yet. The current State Record list has weights and lengths for 35 freshwater and 14 saltwater/anadromous fish species.
Think you can't get a record anymore? Think again. Three new state records were set in 2016. Just about every year at least one new record is set. Who says it can’t be you?
For more information on the NH State Record or Trophy Fish programs, contact Fisheries Biologist John Viar at (603) 744-5470 or reg2@wildlife.nh.gov.