People in Pennsylvania enjoy a variety of different types of fishing. Commonly, anglers will go to rivers, streams, and lakes to catch freshwater fish such as trout and bass. Saltwater species are also available to folks who live near the east coast, with flounder and seabass being popular catches. Some fishermen may even venture out into deeper waters for tuna or shark! In addition to these traditional methods of fishing, more modern techniques, such as kayak trolling, have become increasingly popular for accessing hard-to-reach areas. Many people travel from far distances just to take advantage of the unique opportunity that Pennsylvania’s waterways offer for an enjoyable day full of fishing adventures!
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The Largest Fish Ever Caught
The flathead catfish is the largest of its kind ever officially caught by an angler in Pennsylvania. Jonathan Pierce, 34, landed the fish on May 24th, 2020, while fishing from the bank of Schuylkill River at East Falls. It was recorded to weigh 56 pounds and 3 ounces and measure a total length of 50 inches with a girth of 28.875 inches. To verify this impressive catch, officers from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) were present to confirm its weight which ultimately broke the previous state record set in 2019, which was 50 pounds 7 ounces.
Jonathan Pierce is a dedicated angler from Roxborough, Pennsylvania. He has four children and enjoys taking them fishing during his free time. On this particular outing, he connected with an enormous fish while casting trout heads as bait. Trout heads are usually the by-product of another successful fishing trip. When Jonathan catches a trout, he often uses its head as bait for flatheads. This technique paid off in spades on this day and resulted in him catching the largest fish ever in Pennsylvania!
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How Did He Catch It?
Pierce has been working on catching flatheads in the Schuylkill River for almost a decade and had his biggest success with a 37-pounder in 2016. On this warm Sunday, he went to one of his favorite spots and cast out his line into the river. Immediately, he felt something big tugging on his bait caster reel. He set the drag and pulled on the rod. The fish then made a big splash as it broke the surface of the water and quickly swam away.
Pierce felt the heavy tension of the drag from his reel and saw the line being pulled off. He knew that whatever he had caught was huge. The flathead fish got stuck in a rocky snag for a few minutes, and Pierce was afraid of losing it. He then decreased the drag to trick the fish into thinking it had freed itself, and it swam away from the snag. He reset the drag and continued the battle.
After a wait of around eight minutes, Pierce, and his girlfriend Angelina Wilson from East Falls, netted the fish. He immediately knew the fish was much bigger than expected, so he used a rope to secure it in the water and recover.
What Happened to the Fish?
The following morning Pierce searched for information on how to make the catch official while the catfish was in a 45-gallon plastic tub in their backyard with an aerator to provide oxygen. Pierce was deadset on releasing the fish alive, just like he had done with all his flatheads this year, many of which weighed more than 20 pounds. To do this, he and his girlfriend carried three heavy 45-gallon totes of water containing the fish away from the river.
The fish was moved from the vehicle to a backyard and then back into the vehicle in order to transport it to the weigh station at Blue Marsh Outdoors over in Berks County. There, it was weighed by officials and came in at an astonishing 56.3 pounds on Monday. After the weigh-in, it was returned to the water in the Schuylkill River. The fisherman believes that his state record will eventually be broken by a flathead in the Susquehanna River due to the larger availability of forage for fish there. He estimates that Pennsylvania’s record won’t exceed the 60-pound range because much of the year in Pennsylvania, it is too cold for fish to put on sizeable growth.
The fisherman intends to keep hunting for huge flathead catfish, as he has a special interest in them due to the feeling of excitement that comes from dealing with a fish of that size. He believes there is no other fish in the state that can provide the same rush as these large-sized catfish.
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Is It Normal for Fish to Get This Big?
Flathead catfish are native to the Mississippi basin and now live in large rivers throughout the country. They can grow up to 100 pounds in weight! They have been recorded at over 130 pounds in warmer states, though this is very rare. The average size of a flathead catfish found in Pennsylvania is usually between 15-20 pounds, while an occasional fish may reach 30-40 pounds. 50-pound catches are not considered normal, but they do happen! It’s not unheard of for anglers to catch large flatheads from the state’s rivers and streams. It just depends on how much effort and time you put into your search for these unique creatures!
The Second Largest Fish
Catfish aren’t the only large fish in Pennsylvania. In 1924 Lewis Walker Jr. caught a muskellunge fish that weighed 54 pounds 3 ounces. This amazing catch was made in Conneaut Lake in Crawford County and was so big that the record for this muskie still stands!
A muskellunge, also known as a muskie, is native to the northern United States. It has an olive-brown body with dark markings, a long cylindrical shape, and several rows of sharp teeth. The average size of the fish ranges from 15 to 30 pounds, but the one caught by Lewis Walker Jr. was 54 pounds! This makes it one of the largest ever recorded in Pennsylvania, and its record still stands almost 100 years later. Muskellunge are solitary predators that feed on other fish, such as bass, perch, sunfish, suckers, and even smaller muskies. They can be found in deep waters with rocky bottoms or weed beds where they hide, waiting for their prey to come close enough so they can strike quickly. These fish are not usually fished commercially. However, they have become increasingly popular among anglers because catching them provides quite a thrill!
Best Fishing Spots in Pennsylvania
There are dozens of lakes in Pennsylvania teaming with fish. If you are looking for a fishing spot, they are never far away. Here are a couple of great ones!
Catfishing
Tionesta Lake, Beechwood Lake, and Shawnee Lake are great spots to find bullhead catfish. If you are looking for channel catfish, check out Blue Marsh Lake, Octoraro Lake, or the Allegheny River. Flathead catfish (like our 56-pound friend) live in the Allegheny River, the Monongahela River, and the Ohio River, among others.
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Panfishing
If you are looking for bluegill, crappie, or yellow perch, have a look in Lake Erie, Rose Valley Lake, or Foster Joseph Sayers Lake.
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Bass Fishing
Largemouth bass are in Raystown Lake, Pinchot Lake, or Mammoth Lake. Fish for smallmouth bass in Juniata River, Blue Marsh Lake, or Lake Wallenpaupack. If you are after striped bass, Lake Arthur, Shenango River Lake, or Lake Redman are your best bets.
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Walleye Fishing
There are plenty of lakes and rivers full of walleye in Pennsylvania. These include Rose Valley Lake, Shawnee Lake, Lake Erie, and the Beltzville River.
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Musky Fishing
If you want to catch your own 50-pound muskellunge, check out Lake Marburg, Leaser Lake, or the Susquehanna River.
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Trout Fishing
Dozens of lakes and creeks in Pennsylvania have stock trout from hatcheries. You can fish for stocked trout in Clark Creed, Kettle Creek, Canoe Creek Lake, or Poe Lake, among others.
If you prefer native trout over hatchery fish, visit Spruce Creek, Slate Run, Cedar Run, or Big Spring Creek.
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