For the first time, a youth participant, 16-year-old Danny Grafton of Weymouth, has been named the Angler of the Year in the 2010 Freshwater Sportfishing Awards.
This award, established in 2002, recognizes the sportsman or woman who weighs in the largest number of species that qualify under the Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program.
Grafton landed 14 qualified fish species, and also received a Gold Pin in the Youth Category for his 3 pound, 13 ounce white catfish caught in the Charles River.
Ceremonies honor the state’s top freshwater and saltwater anglers. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) personnel present the annual Freshwater Sportfishing Awards and Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) recognize winners of the Saltwater Fishing Derby.
“Across the state, anglers of all ages and abilities can find spectacular lakes, ponds, rivers and coastlines for fishing,” Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Richard Sullivan said. “We’re pleased to honor these outstanding anglers for their big catches.”
MassWildlife’s Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program awards 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.
Of the 22 winners in the adult gold pin category for 2010, one of the most impressive freshwater fish landed was a 13 pound, one ounce brown trout caught in Walden Pond in Concord by Chastity Puchtler of Waltham.
Of the 21 winners in the youth gold pin category (age 17 and under), a four pound, 10 ounce bullhead caught from Sawdy Pond in Westport by 13-year-old Brandon Costa of Fall River was among the most exceptional catches.
source: Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife