New State Record Bowfin Caught By Teen Angler

[Smallie_Stalker]

Masswildlife Monthly - August 2017

New State Record for Bowfin Caught By Taunton Teen Angler

Tauri Adamczyk, a 16-year-old from Taunton, is the new state record holder for bowfin. Tauri caught a 7 lb. 14 oz. bowfin with a girth of 14" and length of 26.5" from the Taunton River in late July.  She brought her monster catch to the MassWildlife Field Headquarters for fisheries biologists to certify her catch and state record. Tauri is no stranger to the Sportfishing Awards Program —she has been catching pin fish for years and garnering gold pins in the Youth Category of this program. Tauri was also named the 2015 Youth Angler of the Year, an award given annually to the youth angler who caught the most species of gold pin fish.

In 2015, Bowfin were added as an eligible fish to MassWildlife's Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program. While most Massachusetts anglers have never caught one of these prehistoric battlers – and in fact many anglers have never even heard of this fish and wouldn't know one if they caught one – the Bowfin is gathering an ever-increasing number of fans who admire its outstanding fighting qualities, exotic appearance, large potential size, interesting life history, and its propensity to strike baits and lures. Currently, Bowfin populations are limited to the Connecticut River and Taunton River drainages and a few isolated ponds throughout the state. The Catch and Keep minimum weight is 6 pounds for adults and 4 pounds for youth. The Catch and Release minimum length is 26 inches.

To learn more about Bowfin, check out a recent featured article in Massachusetts Wildlife magazine entitled, Bring on the Bowfin!


Anglers who believe they have broken a state record by weight must present their fish in its entirety (whole) to qualified fisheries personnel at MassWildlife Field Headquarters in Westborough or at any of the five MassWildlife District offices .

In 2015, a catch and release category was added to the Sportfishing Awards Program. Since then, MassWildlife has also recorded catch and release state records.

Anglers may submit their catch and release catches for consideration by measuring, photographing, and releasing their fish on site

[Smallie_Stalker]

To be honest I didn't even know we had bowfin here in MA. I'm 57 and have been fishing since I was just out of diapers and I don't recall ever seeing one caught.

[zippyduck]

Come down my way and you can catch more than you want. They can destroy your bait in a heart beat.

That is a very cool story.

[Mike Cork]

Bowfin are fun to catch! Congrats to her, that was a good fight for sure!

We've got a very large population of them here. They call them grunnel. And I think they are born about 7 pounds 

[DonM]

Grinnel (Bowfin) around here EAT 7 pounders! 

[coldfront]

Grinnel (Bowfin) around here EAT 7 pounders! 

does that also explain lack of small gators?

[Donald Garner]

They're fun to catch if you're not fishing a tournament   They are mean hard fighting fish for sure. I can't count the number of Spinnerbaits I've had trashed     I've not seen any here on Belton or Stillhouse but I've caught my share while fishing the Oxbows off the Mississippi River near St. Louis and while living in Louisiana.