After more than 60 years, a New Hampshire fisherman broke a state record by reeling in a fish weighing 37 pounds.
Thomas Knight, 58, caught the grand laker last Tuesday at Big Diamond Pond in West Stewartstown. As soon as he rolled it up, he placed it on the ice to marvel at the sheer size of the fish.
He was aware of the record set in 1958, which was 28 pounds, and he already seemed larger than any fish he had caught before.
Knight then called New Hampshire fisheries biologist Andy Schafermeyer to inspect and verify the size of the fish. A biologist must authenticate a fish before it becomes an official document.
“I don’t know who was most excited,” said Schafermeyer. in a New Hampshire Fish andGame statement. “I knew the fish had a very good chance of breaking the record.”
In fact, the trout was so large that a typical state certified scale for weighing a fish – no more than 30 pounds – was inadequate.
The largest state-certified scale, located in a parcel distribution center, weighed fish at 37.65 pounds, breaking the record of nearly 10 pounds.
With more than 40 inches in length, Schafermeyer said it was also the largest lake trout caught in all of New England. He estimates that the fish is around 50 to 60 years old.
“I’m glad he understood it, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy,” added Schafermeyer.
Knight did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the USA TODAY.
Follow Joshua Bote on Twitter: @joshua_bote