River monsters top Pennsylvania list of biggest fish in 2019: Where and how were they caught?

Pennsylvania record flathead catfish

Jeff Bonawitz, of East Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, and his nephew, Dylan, release the state-record flathead catfish back into the Susquehanna River.

Within days of a state record likely being set by what appears to also be the largest fish on record in the state the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has released its annual list of the biggest fish reported for the previous year.

Based on the weights of the fish submitted to the commission’s Angler Award Program, here’s the list of the top five fish in each species in 2019.

Largemouth bass: Donald Harshman, Harrisburg, Faylor Lake, April 28, on a Z-Man Jackhammer, 8 pounds 8 ounces, 22.75 inches; Donald Scekeres, Mount Pleasant, September 16, on an Original Chatterbait, 7 pounds 8 ounces, 24 inches; Kevin Richland, Brownsville, Woods Lake, April 13, Strike King jig, 7 pounds 8 ounces, 23.25 inches; Joseph Zalko Philadelphia, Robin Hood Lake, May 12, minnow, 7 pounds 4 ounces, 22.75 inches; Donald Scekeres, Mount Pleasant, Mammoth Park Lake, September 16, Original Chatterbait, 6 pounds 6 ounces, 22 inches.

Smallmouth bass: Stephen Sawyer Jr., Canonsburg, Lake Erie, May 18, tube, 7 pounds, 22 inches; Joel Scekeres, Mount Pleasant, Sayers Dam, April 9, lipless crankbait, 5 pounds 4 ounces, 21 inches; William Logan Sr., Harrisburg, Susquehanna River, October 30, pink Twister, 5 pounds 2 ounces, 21 inches; Edward McGonigal, Clearfield, West Branch of the Susquehanna River, September 29, hellgrammite, 4 pounds 8 ounces, 22.25 inches; William Tyler, Pittsburgh, Lake Erie, May 15, shiner, 4 pounds 6 ounces, 22.25 inches.

Rock bass: Joseph Zalko, Philadelphia, Robin Hood Lake, May 26, minnow, 1 pound 12 ounces, 11.25 inches; John Rotto Sr., North Apollo, Two Lick Reservoir, June 4, shiner, 13 ounces, 9.25 inches; Hunter Trexel, Stoystown, Quemahoning Dam Reservoir, May 19, nightcrawler, 11 ounces, 10.25 inches; Bella Trexel, Stoystown, Quemahoning Dam Reservoir, May 26, nightcrawler, 11 ounces, 10.25 inches; Brayden Scott Dun, Middletown, Middletown Reservoir, July 4, Baby Shad soft bait, 10 ounces, 9 inches.

Striped bass (marine): John Rotto Sr., North Apollo, Delaware River, May 4, Salt Pro minnow, 10 pounds 2 ounces, 30 inches; John Rotto Jr., Apollo, Delaware River, May 25, minnow, 33 inches; John Rotto Jr., Apollo, Delaware River, May 25, minnow, 30.5 inches

Striped bass (lake): Jim Martin, Gibsonia, Raystown Lake, June 7, Rapala Deep Tail Dancer, 23 pounds 13 ounces, 41 inches; Daniel Hoffman, New Brighton, Ohio River, December 8, Bomber Long A, 11 pounds 8 ounces, 29.5 inches; Bill Bainbridge, Exton, Lake Wallenpaupack, June 15, Rapala Husky Jerk, 11 pounds 6 ounces, 32 inches; Donald Carr, Evans City, Lake Arthur, April 20, Strike King Shim-E-Stick in smokey shad, 10 pounds 8 ounces, 28.5 inches.

White bass: Sawyer Brown, Wexford, Lake Erie, August 25, Storm, 1 pound 14 ounces, 16 inches; Kai Ashbaugh, Warren, Allegheny River, September 25, Rapala Original No. 11, 16 inches; J. Douglas Armstrong, Erie, Lake Erie, August 25, worm in harness, 15.25 inches.

Bluegill: Roy Eugene Neil Jr., Slovan, Cross Creek Lake, July 12, jig with nightcrawler, 1 pound 14 ounches, 11.5 inches; Darren Boehmer, White Haven, Lake Francis, July 23, No. 14 Prince nymph, 1 pound 6 ounces, 12 inches; Matthew Smith, Chambersburg, Carbaugh Reservoir, July 14, Strike King watermelon spinnerbait, 1 pound 6 ounces, 11.5 inches; Kyna Gettemy, Dunbar, Frogtown Lake, May 11, worm, 1 pound 2 ounces, 9.5 inches; David Miller, Loganton, Rose Valley Lake, July 27, curly tail grub, 15 ounces, 10.25 inches.

Carp: Jacob Jellison, Springfield, Schuylkill River, June 12, corn, 31 pounds 5 ounces, 31 inches; Ashley Vitaioli, Scranton, Schuylkill River, June 12, corn, 30 pounds, 37 inches; Richard Myers, Narbeth, North Branch Susquehanna River, November 6, black tube, 27 pounds, 40 inches; Thomas Rodack, Broomall, Susquehanna River, Augst 12, Ned rig, 27 pounds, 36 inches; Fred Boylstein, Mechanicsburg, Holman Lake, May 11, corn, 24 pounds, 37 inches.

Bullhead catfish: Joseph Zajko, Philadelphia, Robin Hood Lake, May 25, minnow, 3 pounds 3 ounces, 16.25 inches; Jesse Wall, Tamaqua, Rabbit Run Reservoir, September 21, nightcrawler, 3 pounds, 17.25 inches; Joel Scekeres, Mount Pleasant, Cranberry Glade Lake, May 25, Ned rig, 2 pounds 8 ounces, 15.75 inches; Donald Scekeres, Mount Pleasant, Lake Rowena, June 29, shiner, 2 pounds 1 ounce, 15.5 inches; Gerald Ambler, Coraopolis, Conneaut Lake, June 8, redworm, 1 pound 11 ounces, 14.5 inches.

Channel catfish: Matthew Quinn, Greensburg, Lake Erie, September 1, panfish, 17 pounds, 33 inches; Charles Demyanovich, Northeast, Lake Erie, September 7, Erie Dearie and nightcrawler, 16 pounds 4 ounces, 34 inches; James Hoffman, Industry, Ohio River, August 17, cutbait, 15 pounds 1 ounce, 28.5 inches; Michael Spleen Jr., Schwenksville, Lake Nockamixon, September 13, chicken liver, 11 pounds 1 ounce, 30 inches; Cory Blanchard, Orrtanna, Susquehanna River, October 3, creek chub, 11 pounds, 31 inches.

Flathead catfish: Jeff Bonawitz, Lancaster, Susquehanna River, April 6, bluegill, 50 pounds 7 ounces, 45.25 inches; Craig Williams, Bainbridge, Lake Aldred, September 21, bluegill, 50 pounds 1 ounces, 54 inches; Joseph Rankin Sr., West Brownsville, Momongahela River, August 18, bluegill, 49 pounds, 43 inches; Jeffrey Pearson, Andreas, Lake Aldred, June 8, bluegill, 44 pounds 4 ounces, 45 inches; Thomas Glass, Westminster, Maryland, Lake Aldred, June 8, bluegill, 41 pounds 7 ounces, 43 inches.

Crappie: Adam Dillner, Mars, Pymatuning Lake, May 12, jig and minnow, 3 pounds, 17.25 inches; Raymond Taylor, Uniontown, Frogtown Lake, May 8, Trout Magnet, 3 pounds, 15 inches; Gabe Kappeler, Harrisville, Lake Arthur, January 27, minnow, 2 pounds 8 ounces, 15.5 inches; Paul Wisniewski, Conway, Lake Arthut, May 15, jig and white twisty tail, 2 pounds 5 ounces, 16 inches; Joseph Dillinger, Uniontown, Frogtown Lake, September 3, Sexy Shad jig, 2 pounds 3 ounces, 16 inches.

Freshwater drum: Douglas Rager, Johnstown, Lake Erie, August 11, Storm lure, 11 pounds 12 ounces, 28 inches; Dean Daughenbaugh, Port Matilda, Lake Erie, August 26, Storm lure, 10 pounds 8 ounces, 29 inches; Daniel Hoffman, New Brighton, Ohio River, March 16, Bomber Long A, 8 pounds 8 ounces, 25.5 inches; Lucas Claypool, Indiana, Lake Erie, July 20, Storm lure, 8 pounds 6 ounces, 27 inches; John Golden, Summerhill, Lake Erie, July 30, Storm lure, 8 pounds 6 ounces, 27 inches.

Muskellunge: Stephen Hillman, Akron, Susquehanna River, May 3, crankbait, 47 pounds 4 ounces, 50 inches; Stephen Hillman, Akron, Susquehanna River, May 3, Dirty Water Devil, 47 pounds 4 ounces, 50 inches; Douglas Pavick, Mammoth, Keystone Lake, June 8, swimbait, 39 pounds 4 ounces, 51 inches; Matt Boylan, Easton, Delaware River, March 18, Bucktail, 39 pounds 2 ounces, 51 inches; Patrick Burke, Bellefonte, Youghiogheny River, December 27, homemade fly, 38 pounds 3 ounces, 50.5 inches.

White perch: Charles Demyanovich, North East, Lake Erie, June 28, Nascar spoon, 1 pound 12 ounces, 16.5 inches; John Rotto Sr., North Apollo, Lake Erie, July 6, spinner, 1 pound 4 ounces, 12 inches; Donald Stanley, Thurmont, Maryland, Lake Erie, May 22, Erie Dearie, 1 pound, 3 ounces, 12.25 inches; Ellie Gilpin, Omaha, Nebraska, Lake Mineola, July 27, Kastmaster lure, 11.5 inches.

Yellow perch: John Crocker, Creighton, Lake Erie, March 24, jib, 2 pounds 4 ounces, 16 inches; Rob Mizkowski, Erie, Presque Isle Bay, April 5, emerald shiner, 2 pounds 4 ounces, 16 inches; Wayne Deller, Abbottstown, Lake Marburg, November 5, crankbait, 1 pound 14 ounces, 14 inches; Jake Scholtz, Fairview, Lake Erie, May 18, emerald shiner, 1 pound 12 ounces, 14.75 inches; Rick Makowski, Erie, Lake Erie, June 23, salted emerald shiner, 1 pound 6 ounces, 15.5 inches.

Chain pickerel: John Ferraro, Shohola, Shohola Falls, July 2, Rapala, 4 pounds 11 ounces, 26.5 inches; Jacob Blass, Reading, Hills Creek Lake, February 16, shiner, 4 pounds 4 ounces, 24 inches; Melissa Seymore, Cresson, Glendale Lake, May 26, custom worm harness, 3 pounds 10 ounces, 26 inches; J. Bryce Guthrie, Breinigsville, Leaser Lake, September 8, shiner, 2 pounds 9 ounces, 23 inches; Chad Umbaugh, New Kensington, Sinnemahoning Lake, September 1, fathead minnow, 2 pound 2 ounces, 21 inches.

Northern pike: Brenda Haight, Kane, Allegheny Reservoir, May 18, golden shiner, 21 pounds 15 ounces, 43 inches; Randy Haight Sr., Kane, Allegheny River, May 31, pike shiner, 20 pounds, 43 inches; Emmett Snyder, Warren, Kinzua Reservoir, September 8, Rapala Crackin Minnow, 12 pounds 5 ounces, 37 inches; Arnold Yoder, Johnstown, Glendale Lake, June 1, bluegill, 12 pounds, 36 inches; Daniel Cherok, Oakmont, Shenango River, August 18, chatterbait, 9 pounds 2 ounces, 33 inches.

Pink salmon: Zachary Crewl, Carnegie, Walnut Creek, September 15, Wooly Bugger, 3 pounds 2 ounces, 22.75 inches; Cody Howard, Punxsutawney, Twentymile Creek, September 28, Spey fly, 3 pounds 2 ounces, 20.25 inches.

Sauger: John Seeley, Grand Valley, Kinzua Dam, November 17, shiner, 3 pounds 5 ounces, 21.5 inches.

Sucker: Daniel Hoffman, New Brighton, Ohio River, March 30, Bomber Long A, 5 pounds 13 ounces, 24.5 inches; Joseph Zajko, Philadelphia, Wissahickon Creek, March 31, corn, 3 pounds 6 ounces, 22 inches; Joseph Groff, Indiana, Two Lick Creek, August 30, worms, 2 pounds, 18.5 inches; Dana Labertew, Leechburg, Lake Erie, May 25, nightcrawler, 19 inches; Dana Johnson, Temple, Schuylkill River, December 8, nightcrawler, 18 inches.

Brook trout: Jeff Hoener, Pittsburgh, East Hickory Creek, May 16, minnow, 5 pounds 4 ounces, 19.5 inches; Tony Hougentogler, York, Starview Sportsmen’s Pond, April 17, Wooly Bugger, 5 pounds, 20.5 inches; Luke Laidlaw, Union City, South Branch Tionesta Creek, May 25, Maggots, 4 pounds 9 ounces, 20.5 inches; Josh Bizzak, Wilcox, Twin Lakes, April 20, nightcrawler, 4 pounds 8 ounces, 19.25 inches; Anna Smith, Dover, Starview Sportsmen’s Pond, April 9, Powerbait, 4 pounds 8 ounces, 19 inches.

Brown trout: Isaac Zettle, Millheim, Penns Creek, September 14, salmon eggs, 14 pounds 12 ounces, 32 inches; Falco Como Jr., Monessen, Walnut Creek, December 22, redworm, 14 pounds 4 ounces, 31.25 inches; Scott Crewl, Carnegie, Walnut Creek, December 23, egg sack, 11 pounds 14 ounces, 27 inches; Blake Caruso, Elizabeth, Walnut Creek, December 23, spawn sack, 11 pounds 7 ounces, 28.25 inches; Timothy Egan, Coraopolis, Walnut Creek, October 22, redworm, 11 pounds 6 ounces, 29 inches.

Lake trout: Keith Miller, Cranberry, Lake Erie, May 11, Stinger spoon, 31 pounds 13 ounces, 40 inches; John Statzer, Butler, Lake Erie, April 25, Spin ‘n Glo, 23 pounds 1 ounce, 38 inches; Sawyer Mavretish, Canonsburg, Lake Erie, September 1, trolling fly, 21 pounds 10 ounces, 35 inches; Shawn Orndorff, Elkins, West Virginia, Lake Erie, May 18, spoon, 15 pounds 4 ounces, 31 inches.

Golden rainbow trout: Colegan Stiner, Wellsboro, Asaph Run, April 6, waxworm, 10 pounds 6 ounces, 30 inches; Walter Ives, Allentown, Jordan Creek, March 30, Powerbait, 6 pounds 8 ounces, 24 inches; Joel Rusin, McConnellsburg, Kettle Creek, May 2, Powerbait, 6 pounds 8 ounces, 23.25 inches; John Busovicki Jr., Penn Run, Driftwood Branch, April 13, Thomas Cyclone, 6 pounds 4 ounces, 22 inches; Jacob Blatt, Reading, Beechwood Lake, April 13, Power Egg, 6 pounds 3 ounces, 23 inches.

Rainbow trout: Kailee Klimek, Millheim, Bald Eagle Creek, July 31, Rapala X-Rap, 15 pounds 3 ounces, 33 inches; Kameron Mann, Bethlehem, Aquashicola Creek, April 13, butterworm, 12 pounds 1 ounce, 24 inches; Kay Greenawalt, New Tripoli, club pond, April 4, butterworm, 11 pounds 5 ounes, 28 inches; Michael Brodman, Fredericksburg, Tulpechocken Creek, June 23, Spinner 3-D, 9 pounds 12 ounces, 26.75 inches; Anna Jackson, Claysburg, Bald Eagle Creek, April 28, Jackson minnow rig, 8 pounds 8 ounces, 24.25 inches.

Steelhead: David Carver, Pittsburgh, Crooked Creek, December 6, skein, 11 pounds 12 ounces, 34 ounces; Hayleigh Malanowski, Pittsburgh, Walnut Creek, October 19, Little Cleo blue/silver, 9 pounds 3 ounces, 28 inches; Nathan Tharp II, Centerville, Lake Erie, October 18, Trout Magnet, 5 pounds 15 ounces, 26.5 inches.

Walleye: Jim Ignatz, Leechbug, Allegheny River, February 27, Matzuo Glass Zander Shad, 15 pounds 12 ounces, 32.25 inches; Dennis Osterrieder, Aliquippa, Ohio River, January 8, shiner, 14 pounds, 32 inches; Greg Paul, Leechburg, Allegheny River, February 26, Rapala, 13 pounds 6 ounces, 33.75 inches; Jim Ignatz, Leechburg, Allegheny River, February 24, Matzua Suspending lure, 13 pounds, 32 inches; William Webb Jr., Greensburg, Youghiogheny River, September 15, Flicker Shad, 12 pounds 5 ounces, 32 inches.

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