A yellow perch caught in Lake Erie Monday appears to be the largest ever caught in Pennsylvania.
Because of state record-weighing protocols, however, the size of the 3.02-pound fish will likely be recorded as 3.0 pounds, tying it with the previous state record.
Chuck Main will have to wait a few weeks for the final ruling. The Ellwood City resident caught the lunker off Presque Isle on a jig fitted with a Strike King skirt. It was weighed in the presence of Fish and Boat personnel on a certified scale at Reddi Bait in Bridgewater, Beaver County.
The official size of the previous record perch was also the result of a compromise dictated by record-measuring standards.
On April 9, 2021, a yellow perch was pulled from the Sunoco Cribs east of Presque Isle Bay by Kirk Rudzinski of Erie. The fish was caught on an emerald shiner and had a scale weight of 2.98 pounds.
According to the state’s Record Fish Application Rules, a fish's weight is rounded up to the nearest ounce. To beat the previous record it must exceed it by at least 2 ounces. Additional rules apply, including the angler's license status, fishing gear used and catch confirmed to be in Pennsylvania waters. Length and girth are not considered.
Rudzinsky's 2.98-pound catch was officially rounded up to 3.0 pounds, exceeding the previous record by 2 ounces and setting a new state record.
Main's yellow perch did not exceed the previous record by more than 2 ounces. His fish with a 3.02-pound scale weight was officially recorded at 3.0 ounces, even though the 2.98-pound scale weight of the previous record holder was documented at 3.0 pounds.
Yellow perch spawn in early April, contributing to the weight of the fish caught by both Main and Rudzinski.
Following examination of photos and officer testimony, Fish and Boat is expected to confirm the record within a few weeks. The only rewards for setting a Pennsylvania fish record are official publication of the catch and bragging rights.
John Hayes: jhayes@post-gazette.com
First Published: April 8, 2024, 8:53 p.m.
Updated: April 9, 2024, 4:18 p.m.
