05-02-2008, 08:18 PM
Anglers who reeled in the biggest fish of 2007 from Massachusetts lakes, ponds, and streams were recently honored by state fish and wildlife officials at the Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition in Worcester. On February 9, Massachusetts Fish and Game Commissioner Mary Griffin joined with Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Director Wayne MacCallum to present the annual Freshwater Sportfishing Awards. Among the dozens of fish enthusiasts to be honored was Roy Leyva of Plymouth, who was named MassWildlife's Angler of the Year - an award that recognizes the sportsman or woman who weighs in the largest number of species that qualify under the Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program. Leyva landed 13 different species throughout eastern and central Massachusetts, from Hoxie Pond in Sandwich and the North River in Pembroke to Plugs Pond in Haverhill and the Wachusett Reservoir.
At the Awards ceremony, gold pins and commemorative plaques were presented to those anglers who caught the largest fish in 22 species categories. The heaviest fish landed during 2007 included Leyva's 21-pound broodstock salmon, caught in Brewster's Cliff Pond; a 19-pound 6-ounce lake trout caught at the Quabbin Reservoir by Belchertown's Stephen Utley; a 29-pound 4-ounce carp pulled from the Connecticut River in Holyoke by Edward Pratt of Florence; and a 25-pound 1-ounce northern pike reeled in by Todd Matera of Palmer at Holland Pond in Holland.
In the Youth category (age 17 and under), Sean Ryan Jr. of Lowell caught a 29-pound carp from the Merrimack River in Lowell; while Natick's Tony DiRuscio caught a 16-pound 8-ounce northern pike in Webster Lake in Webster. A complete list of all 23 adult and 19 youth Gold Pin winners can be found on the MassWildlife website at:
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreatio...inners.htm. Photos of award winners at the Ceremony are available upon request to mass.wildlife@state.ma.us.
MassWildlife's Freshwater Sportfishing Awards program presents bronze pins to adult and youth anglers who catch fish of certain minimum weight requirements for 22 species. Anglers must have their catch weighed on a scale and submit an affidavit and photo of their catch to: Sportfishing Awards Coordinator, MassWildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd, Westborough MA 01581.
At the Awards ceremony, gold pins and commemorative plaques were presented to those anglers who caught the largest fish in 22 species categories. The heaviest fish landed during 2007 included Leyva's 21-pound broodstock salmon, caught in Brewster's Cliff Pond; a 19-pound 6-ounce lake trout caught at the Quabbin Reservoir by Belchertown's Stephen Utley; a 29-pound 4-ounce carp pulled from the Connecticut River in Holyoke by Edward Pratt of Florence; and a 25-pound 1-ounce northern pike reeled in by Todd Matera of Palmer at Holland Pond in Holland.
In the Youth category (age 17 and under), Sean Ryan Jr. of Lowell caught a 29-pound carp from the Merrimack River in Lowell; while Natick's Tony DiRuscio caught a 16-pound 8-ounce northern pike in Webster Lake in Webster. A complete list of all 23 adult and 19 youth Gold Pin winners can be found on the MassWildlife website at:
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreatio...inners.htm. Photos of award winners at the Ceremony are available upon request to mass.wildlife@state.ma.us.
MassWildlife's Freshwater Sportfishing Awards program presents bronze pins to adult and youth anglers who catch fish of certain minimum weight requirements for 22 species. Anglers must have their catch weighed on a scale and submit an affidavit and photo of their catch to: Sportfishing Awards Coordinator, MassWildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd, Westborough MA 01581.