Feb. 20, 2002

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has certified a recent sauger catch by a Pennsylvania angler as new state record.

A 4-pound sauger from the Susquehanna River in Lycoming County was a record-setter for Tim Waltz of Williamsport.

Waltz hooked the 21 ¼ inch-long sauger November 11 while casting with an artificial lure. Waltz’s fish supplants a 3-pound, 15-ounce sauger that had topped the records listing for 15 years. The previous record fish was landed in 1987 from the Allegheny River, Allegheny County.

Pennsylvania certifies state records based on total body weight. Potential record fish must exceed the established benchmark by at least one ounce, as weighed on a certified scale. To be considered for state record certification, a fish must be caught using legal means, in season, from Pennsylvania waters open to the public without charge or fee. Fish taken from farm ponds, fee-fishing lakes, ponds or streams or in waters restricted to use by club members or their guests do not qualify.