Bluegill State & World Records
Bluegill are one of the most popular panfish that anglers fish for. Below you will learn what makes a trophy bluegill and the state and world records.
World Record Bluegill
The biggest bluegill ever caught weighted 4 pounds 12 ounces and was 15 inches long. This world record bluegill was caught at Ketona Lake in Birmingham, Alabama by T.S. Hudson in 1950.
Bluegill Records by State
| State | Weight | Location | Angler | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4 pounds, 12 ounces* | Ketona Lake | T.S. Hudson | 1950 |
| Alaska | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Arizona | 3 pounds, 15.68 ounces | Goldwater Lake | Christopher Mapes | 2004 |
| Arkansas | 3 pounds, 4 ounces | Fulton County | Albert Sharp | 1998 |
| California | 3 pounds, 14 ounces | Rancho Murieta Reservoir | Michael Holoubek | 2008 |
| Colorado | 2 pounds, 9 ounces | Totten Reservoir | Gregory Wallace | 2019 |
| Connecticut | 2 pounds, 4 ounces | Private Pond | Daniel Gesner | 1996 |
| Delaware | 3 pounds, 10 ounces | Diamond Pond | Clifford Snyder | 2001 |
| Florida | 2 pounds, 15 ounces | Crystal Lake | John LeMaster | 1989 |
| Georgia | 3 pounds,, 5 ounces | Shamrock Lake | P.F. Gumm | 1977 |
| Hawaii | 8 ounces | Lake Wilson | June Maeda | 2000 |
| Idaho | 3 pounds, 8 ounces | C.J. Strike Reservoir | Darrell Grim | 1966 |
| Illinois | 3 pounds, 8 ounces | Farm Pond | Darren May | 1987 |
| Indiana | 3 pounds,. 4 ounces. | Pond | Harold L. Catey | 1972 |
| Iowa | 3 pounds, 2 ounces | Farm Pond | Phil Algree | 1986 |
| Kansas | 2 pounds, 5 ounces | Farm Pond | Robert Jefferies, Modoc | 1962 |
| Kentucky | 4 pounds, 3 ounces | Strip Mine Lake | Phil Conyers | 1980 |
| Louisiana | 1 pounds, 10 ounces | N/A | Mike Lamb | 1999 |
| Maine | 8 ounces | Knight Pond | Liam Clayton | 2008 |
| Maryland | 3 pounds, 7 ounces | Deep Creek Lake | Sarah Brenneman | 1998 |
| Massachusetts | 2 pounds, 1 ounces | South Athol Pond | Heather Bulger | 1982 |
| Michigan | 2 pounds, 13 ounces | Vaughn Lake | Unknown | 1983 |
| Minnesota | 2 pounds, 13 ounces | Alice Lake | Unknown | 1948 |
| Mississippi | 3 pounds, 7 ounces | Gerald Thurmond | Farm Pond | 1995 |
| Missouri | 3 pounds | Private Pond | Robert Giovanini | 1963 |
| Montana | 2 pounds, 10 ounces | Peterson’s Stock Dam | Brent Fladmo | 1983 |
| Nebraska | 2 pounds, 13 ounces | Grove Lake | Gary Ralston | 1977 |
| Nevada | 4 pounds, 12 ounces | Colorado River | Mike Tahash | 2010 |
| New Hampshire | 2 pounds, 1 ounces | Goodwins Pond | Justin Therieau | 1992 |
| New Jersey | 3 pounds | Farm Pond | Dom Santarelli | 1990 |
| New Mexico | 3 pounds, 2 ounces | Lovington Lake | Thomas Smith | 1963 |
| New York | 2 pounds, 8 ounces | Kohpounds,ach Pond | Devin VanZandt | 1992 |
| North Carolina | 4 pounds, 5 ounces | Henderson County Lake | Danny Case | 1967 |
| North Dakota | 2 pounds, 12 ounces | Strawberry Lake | Budd Hystad | 1963 |
| Ohio | 3 pounds, 4 ounces | Salt Fork Lake | Willis Nicholes | 1990 |
| Oklahoma | 2 pounds, 6 ounces | Kay Co. Pond | Tom Shorter | 1987 |
| Oregon | 2 pounds, 5 ounces | Farm Pond | Wayne Elmor | 1981 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 pounds, 9 ounces | Keystone Lake | Tom Twincheck | 1983 |
| Rhode Island | 2 pounds, 1 ounces | Unknown | C. Rizzo | 1987 |
| South Carolina | 3 pounds, 4 ounces | Lancaster County Lake | J.P. Hegler | 1973 |
| South Dakota | 3 pounds, 4 ounces | Stanley Co. Stock Dam Scott Sanner | Scott Sanner | 1980 |
| Tennessee | 3 pounds | Farm Pond (Pendergrass) and Fall Creek (Grissom) | Brad Pendergrass and Thelma Grissom (tie) | 1987 (Pendergrass) and 1977 (Grissom) |
| Texas | 2 pounds | Lampasas River | Gibbs Milliken | 1999 |
| Utah | 2 pounds, 7 ounces | Mantua Reservoir | Jack Rask | 1993 |
| Vermont | 2 pounds | Miller Pond | John Konya | 2016 |
| Virginia | 4 pounds,. 8 ounces | Private Pond | Thomas Jones | 1970 |
| Washington | 2 pounds, 5 ounces | Tampico Park | Ron Hinote | 1984 |
| West Virginia | 2 pounds, 12 ounces | Pond | Mark Lewis | 1986 |
| Wisconsin | 2 pounds, 10 ounces | Lake Michigan | Tom Glafcke | 1995 |
| Wyoming | 2 pounds, 15 ounces | Pond | Rod Horsley | 2008 |
Average Bluegill Size
In the wild, 6 to 8 inch is the average size bluegill you will catch.
What state has the biggest bluegill?
Alabama is the state with the largest bluegill. The world record was caught on Ketona Lake in Birmingham, Alabama by T.S. Hudson in 1950.
What size is a trophy bluegill?
Trophy size can vary state to state, nationally bluegill larger than 10 inches long are considered trophy size. This is much larger than the average bluegill found in the 6 – 8 inch range.
We strive to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information possible. We routinely review and update our articles but don’t always make corrections as soon as they happen. If you see incorrect information please help us by submitting a correction form.