After more than 20 years, a new state record Brown Trout has been caught, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission announced Monday.
Officials say the titanic trout was pulled from Lake Erie by 68-year-old angler Robert Ferraro the morning of Aug. 8.
Ferraro said he and three friends were enjoying a day of fishing aboard his boat on Lake Erie.
"We had been fishing in the same area the day before and caught some steelhead and walleye," said Ferraro. "The water temperature at the bottom of the lake had become warmer overnight and we were not having as much luck. We were just about to go looking for cooler water when our luck changed."
Ferraro said around 8:30 a.m., they got a big hit while trolling a small spoon lure.
After a stressful 10-minute fight, Ferraro and his friends were able to net the massive fish.
"It was a huge thrill to catch such a big fish, but we didn't know exactly what it was at first. We suspected it was a Brown Trout," recalls Ferraro. "We know they're in here, but the biggest ones I've caught before were around 12 pounds, and this fish was over 20 pounds. It had a very dark back and some silver coloring on the body that made us question what it was for a minute. We knew if it was a Brown Trout, it had a great chance to be a record."
Officials say the fish measured 33.57 inches in length with a girth of 21.125 inches.
They estimate the fish was about six or seven years old.
The previous record was set in 2000.
"There are absolutely more fish like this out there," added Ferraro. "I really hope it gives other people some motivation to get out and catch them. I think it really underscores how healthy our fishery is right now in Lake Erie."
ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfpa5urc2go56qXZiuta%2FHnqpmqpWYvLOwjJupnpmbnruoeZFpcGaon6q7pXnBq6awpl2pv7DB0w%3D%3D