Freshwater Fish of Connecticut
Bowfin
Amia calva
🏆 Connecticut State Record
Harvest9 lb 11 ozFejzo Akaratovic · 2022 · Connecticut River, Hartford
Catch & Release27.75"Ben Florian · 2022 · Connecticut River, Glastonbury
All Connecticut state records →
Also called: Dogfish, Mudfish
Identification
Long, cylindrical, prehistoric-looking fish with a long dorsal fin, a bony plate on the head, and (in males) a tail spot.
Habitat
Vegetated, swampy backwaters and lakes.
Behavior
Aggressive; rolls at the surface and can gulp air to survive low-oxygen water.
How to Catch
Live bait, cut bait, and spinnerbaits in weedy, shallow water.
Notes
A tough-fighting native relic species.