All summer long, countless people will be on river banks or at lakes casting a line and hoping to snag a huge fish. Some get a nice sized fish to pose with, others simply have tales of ones that got away.

Last year, plenty of fishermen had great catches throughout the year and the Pennsylvania Angler Award Program Summary categorized the top five fish in each category for the biggest fish caught in 2020. The awards were announced in May.

The biggest largemouth bass was 24 1/2 inches and was caught by Ridgway’s Adam Dauber on June 30. The largest rock bass was 11 1/2 inches by McMurray’s Kaleb Knabb on August 16. The largest smallmouth bass of 2020 was a four-way tie at 21 1/2 inches by Canonsburg’s Stephen G. Sawyer Jr., Tionesta’s Rebecca Greathouse, Rices Landing’s Charles Kubasik and Irwin’s Nick Nigro.

The largest stripled-inland bass was caught by Jefferson Township’s Damon J. Serine and measured at an impressive 37 inches. The largest white bass was a 17 inch one caught by Industry’s James W. Hoffman.

Two people caught a 10-inch bluegill last year. One was caught with a nightcrawler by Twin Rocks’ Ethan Luko and another with a white trout magnet by Coopersburg’s Bertram Bealer III.

The largest carp caught in 2020 was by Perkasie’s John L. Snyder, who reeled in a 40 inch, 40-pound, 1-ounce fish out of the Susquehanna River. The Susquehanna River also had two other large carps caught in it, one by Harrisburg’s John Zelko (38 inches) and by Hanover’s Gage Bartlett (35 inches). Both were caught by bowfishing.

The largest bullhead catfish was an 18-inch one caught by Altoona’s Brandon Greenleaf. The largest channel catfish was a 40-incher by Carnegie’s Terry G. Hartz Jr. The largest flathead catfish came from the Susquehanna River as Lancaster’s Scott A. Failor II, who had a 48-inch, 40-pound, 4-ounce haul. Gerald Pitzer and Art Erdman Jr. also caught top-5 flathead catfish from the Susquehanna River that were 43 1/2 and 46 inches, respectively.

A 20-inch crappie was caught by Indiana’s Byron King. The largest freshwater drum was caught by New Albany’s Camryn Gesford that came in at 28 inches.

A total of five muskellunges that were at least 42 inches were caught in 2020 and the largest went to Pittsburgh’s Joe Martinelli Jr., who reeled in an impressive 53 1/2 inch, 40-pound, 14-ounce catch. The Susquehanna River was home to a 42-inch muskellunge caught by Michael Aument of Etters.

Three 15-inch yellow perch were caught by Rob Mizilowski, Jesse Wall and Blaine Hunsinger.

The largest chain pickerel was a 30-inch catch by Kevin May. The largest northern pine caught in 2020 was a 35-inch fish by New Castle’s Daniel Fitzgibbons.

West Finley’s John A. Brogley caught a 28 1/2 inch coho salmon and Palmyra’s Aaron Bierly caught a 19-inch sucker.

The largest brook trout was a 21 1/2 inch catch by Herman’s Bud Thompson. The largest brown trout was caught by Jefferson Township’s Damon J. Serine, who reeled in a 29 1/2 inch fish. The largest trout lake was caught by Erie’s Robert J. Ferraro at an impressive 40 3/4 inches. It also weighed 29 pounds.

A 27-inch golden rainbow trout was caught by Marysville’s Ryan Reardon. A 28 1/4-inch rainbow trout was caught by Natrona Heights’ Terry Davidek. The largest steelhead trout was a 35 1/2 inch fish caught by Corapolis’s James S. Panik.

Finally, the largest walleye caught in 2020 was 32 inches, held by two fishermen as Stahlstown’s Seth E. Murphy and Rices Landing’s Charles Kubasik.