A Pennsylvania teenager, Christopher Barrett, recently broke the state record for catching a white perch weighing two pounds and one ounce while fishing with his father. The pair was on a fishing boat on the Delaware River when they made the record-breaking catch. The fish was 14.125 inches long and had a girth of 12.25 inches, making it the largest white perch they had ever seen. Barrett and his father initially thought the fish was the biggest they had ever caught and were thrilled when they realized it broke the state record. Despite the fish weighing two ounces less than initially thought, it still exceeded the previous record set in 2008.
Barrett attributed the size and weight of the fish to it being full of eggs, making it heavier than usual. He explained that he and his father are experienced anglers and were skilled at catching white perch, which contributed to their success in landing such a large fish. The teenager mentioned that it was a combination of skill, luck, and good timing that enabled him to make the record-breaking catch. Barrett expressed his gratitude for the record but emphasized that the best part of the experience was being able to share it with his father, who he often goes fishing with. The duo planned to preserve the memory of the catch by sending the fish to a taxidermist.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission officially announced Barrett’s record-breaking catch in a press release on June 7. The father and son were using heavy-duty spinning rods with fish finder rigs and circle hooks baited with bloodworms to target striped bass and catfish when Barrett reeled in the unusually large white perch. The pair had been fishing just below the Commodore Barry Bridge near Chester when they made the catch. The teenager shared that they usually keep a few perch to eat, but the size of this particular fish immediately caught their attention.
Officials verified the weight of the fish, which was slightly lighter than originally thought but still exceeded the previous state record for white perch. Barrett mentioned that they were both excited and surprised when they realized that the fish was larger than the existing record. He explained that they had never seen a white perch of that size before. The teenager expressed his gratitude for the experience and for being able to share it with his father. Barrett and his father enjoy going fishing together regularly, and he stated that it was their favorite activity to do together. The memory of breaking the state record for white perch would be preserved through the taxidermy of the fish.
