The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources maintains records for the largest fish of each game species by length and weight taken by hook and line within West Virginia waters. If you believe you have you caught a potential state record fish, please contact your WVDNR district fishery biologist to authenticate the species, length and weight of your catch. Once a WVDNR fisheries biologist has verified your catch, fill out and submit a State Record Fish Reporting Form to the following address:

Wildlife Resources Section
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
112 California Avenue
Charleston, WV 25305

West Virginia State Record Fish

SpeciesYearLength (Inches)Weight (Pounds)LocationAngler
Largemouth Bass202526.269.85Pond (Harrison County)Seth Spry
199424.8012.28Pond (Grant County)David W. Heeter
Smallmouth Bass197625.507.50New RiverFranklin J. Elliot
197124.259.75South BranchDavid Lindsay
Rock Bass196413.801.75Big Sandy CreekWarren Ryan
Spotted Bass200019.004.77R.D. Bailey LakeKevin Dameron
198819.003.82R.D. Bailey LakeLeonard Blankenship
Striped Bass201047.1645.70Bluestone LakeJames Brooks
Hybrid Striped Bass200032.1014.00Kanawha RiverFrankie Harris
198531.5016.75Kanawha RiverRobert Honaker
White Bass198520.004.56New RiverLouis Puskas
Bluegill/Hybrid Bluegill198611.702.75Pond (Randolph County)Mark Allen Lewis
196413.752.25Pond (Fayette County)Dennis Criss
Redbreast Sunfish20249.290.57New Creek LakeZach Adkins
Redear Sunfish202412.001.75Plum Orchard LakeJohn Plott
202512.441.60Plum Orchard LakeJohn Plott
Pumpkinseed SunfishBe the First! (minimum of 9 inches)
Bowfin199432.257.54Pond (Berkeley County)Donald E. Newcomb III
202430.2010.60Ohio RiverLauren Noble
Buffalo197641.0038.00Little Kanawha RiverHobert Null
Common Carp199839.3047.00Farm Pond (Preston County)Gary Johnson
202241.2045.20Summersville LakeAyden Minick
Grass Carp200550.7571.69Warden LakeWilliam R. Taucher
202054.7567.40Warden Lake (Hardy County)John Miller
Blue Catfish202551.4966.30Kanawha RiverJustin Connor
202350.5169.45Ohio RiverMichael John Drake
Bullhead Catfish197722.756.10Tygart Lake HeadwatersGary R. Freeman
Channel Catfish202443.5146.70Pond (Wayne County)John Tyler Rutherford
Flathead Catfish195652.0070.00Little Kanawha RiverL.L. McClung
Chain Pickerel200127.756.19Tuckahoe LakeSteven Demma
201927.874.00Upper Deckers LakeMatt Born
White Crappie197119.754.05Meathouse ForkLeonard Edgell
Black Crappie202517.703.60East Lynn LakeJerry Porter
202417.763.15Woodrum LakeDwight Priestly
Eel198344.256.27Elk RiverSteve Woods
197744.007.25Bunker Hill QuarryArlie R. Ruble
Fallfish197021.253.50North Fork of South BranchJames Blackwell
Freshwater Drum202135.5927.88Kanawha RiverJohn A. Gibson
195437.0025.00Little Kanawha RiverBill Dawkins
Longnose Gar202353.6215.00Ohio RiverRich Chapman
199350.5019.08Kanawha RiverMichael Shan Casey
Goldeye/Mooneye198318.503.00Ohio RiverDelbert McWilliams
Muskellunge202255.062551.00Little Kanawha RiverLucas King
Northern Pike198942.6022.06Dog Run LakeBoyd O. Pratt, Sr.
Redhorse202524.575.75Ohio RiverJason Flloyd
Sauger198523.004.75Ohio RiverSteve Powelll
201222.505.06Ohio RiverDavid L. Vance
Saugeye200627.688.73East Lynn LakeEverett Chapman
Skipjack202120.153.10Ohio RiverEthan Moss
Tiger Musky199449.2536.50Mountwood LakeClyde E. Beckett
Brook Trout200422.257.64Shavers ForkGary M. Chapman
198123.504.78Lost RiverJack E. Foltz
Brown Trout196832.0016.00South BranchPaul Barker
Golden Rainbow Trout202326.259.72Little Beaver LakeCharles Lilly, Jr.
198727.508.63Stonecoal LakeGeral Estep
Rainbow Trout201433.1119.40Pond (Berkeley County)Eric Files, Sr.
Tiger Trout202527.6012.55Mannington LakeRobert Riggs
201128.7010.65Krodel LakeMike Connelly
Walleye200430.8718.97Elk RiverJerry Rose
197635.0015.00Kanawha FallsFred Cline
Yellow Perch201814.502.04Summersville LakeClinton Mills
201015.441.20Summersville LakeCraig Hollandsworth
West Virginia musky in water

Husky Musky Club

To be eligible for membership in the West Virginia Husky Musky Club, anglers must submit an application within 30 days of catching a legal-sized musky (30 inches or longer, measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail) on rod and reel from a West Virginia water. Upon submitting this application, the angler automatically becomes a member and will receive a membership certificate at the annual awards banquet.

For muskies 40 inches and longer, weighing must be conducted on certified scales (unless the musky is released). Two other adults, one of whom must be the owner or the person in charge of the scales, must witness the weighing. Only one witness is required for muskies less than 40 inches in length, and certified scale weight is not necessary. Photographs of catches are appreciated.

Trophy Fish Citation

If your fish doesn’t qualify as a state record, you might still be able to get a trophy citation for your catch. Unlike state records, trophy citations are based solely on whether your catch exceeds the length threshold for each game fish. For more information, check page 32 in the Fishing Regulations Summary.

To apply for a citation, complete the Trophy Fish Citation Application. A third party must witness the catch, sign the form and confirm the length. Submit the form to the following address:

Wildlife Resources Section
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
112 California Avenue
Charleston, WV 25305

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