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Minnesotans love their big fish pictures, and state conservation officials Monday showcased a couple of beauties — a giant sturgeon and beefy catfish that became the first catch-and-release records in Minnesota's expanded record fish program.


Cindy Pawlowski of Frazee, Minn., caught and released the lake sturgeon on the Rainy River in Koochiching County. The fish was 62 7/8 inches long with a 29-inch girth. Steven DeMars of Stillwater caught and released the flathead catfish — 47 inches long with a 30-inch girth — in the St. Croix River in Washington County. 

Both were caught May 8, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 

Minnesota's new catch-and-release length records are for muskellunge, lake sturgeon or flathead catfish. Anglers are required to measure and take a picture of the fish before releasing it. No one has yet offered evidence of a record caught and released muskie.

Anglers can still set records based on certified weight, which require the fish to be harvested, the DNR said. 

"It's great to see these photos and applications and know there are still chances for other anglers to catch these enormous fish," Mike Kurre, who manages the DNR's record fish program, said in a statement.

Lifestyle

MPR News Staff

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Minnesotans love their big fish pictures, and these two are beauties. The giant sturgeon and beefy catfish are also the first catch-and-release records in an expanded state record fish program.

Big fish: DNR's catch-release effort yields first Minn. records

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