Pennsylvania Fishing Records

The state of Pennsylvania offers great opportunities for fishing. Pennsylvania has thousands of lakes and ponds, 85,000 miles of rivers, and streams. Additionally there are 101 state parks and 20 state forest that are open for fishing.

Pennsylvania has records for 30 fish species caught within the state. Below you will find each record, what you need to be eligible for a record, and how to submit a record application.

Pennsylvania Record Fish

Species	Weight (Lb.)	Location	Caught By	Date
Largemouth Bass	11 lb, 3 oz	Birch Run Reservoir	Donald Shade	1983
Rock Bass	3 lb, 2 oz	Elk Creek	David L. Weber	1971
Smallmouth Bass	8 lb, 8 oz	Scotts Run Lake	Robert T. Steelman	1997
Striped Bass	53 lb, 13 oz	Delaware River	Donald J Clark	1989
White Bass	4 lb	Conneaut Lake	Robert H. Hornstrom	2002
Bluegill	2 lb, 9 oz	Keystone Lake	Tom Twincheck	1983
Common Carp	52 lb	Junita River	George Brown	1962
Bullhead Catfish	4 lb, 10 oz	Beltzville Lake	Ian C. Radle	2011
Channel Catfish	35 lb, 3 oz	Lehigh Canal	Austin E. Roth III	1991
Flathead Catfish	56 lb, 3 oz	Schuylkill River	Jonathan Pierce	2020
Crappie	4 lb, 3 oz	Hammond Lake	Richard A. Pino	2000
Freshwater Drum	19 lb, 14 oz	Monongahela River	Tim Rogers	1994
Muskellunge	54 lb, 3 oz	Conneaut Lake	Lewis Walker Jr.	1924
White Perch	1 lb, 12 oz	Delaware River	James Clark	2008
Yellow Perch	3 lb, 0 oz	Lake Erie	Kirk Rudzinski	2021
Chain Pickerel	8 lb, 15 oz	Long Pond	Dave Wilson	2002
Atlantic Salmon	17 lb, 2 oz	Raystown Lake	Brian Keller	2001
Chinook Salmon	28 lb, 15 oz	Lake Erie	Gregory Lasko	1990
Coho Salmon	15 lb, 5 oz	Lake Erie	Jack Scheirer	1985
Pink Salmon	4 lb, 8 oz	Elk Creek	David A. Rabatin	1995
Sauger	4 lb	Susquehanna River	Tim Waltz	2001
American Shad	9 lb, 9 oz	Delaware River	Anthony Mecca	1986
Suckers	12 lb, 14 oz	Allegheny River	Raymond C. Szlewicz	2003
Brook Trout	7 lb	Fishing Creek	Vonda Ranck	1996
Brown Trout	19 lb, 10 oz	Walnut Creek	Fazle Buljubasic	2000
Golden Rainbow Trout	13 lb, 8 oz	Mahoning Creek	Eli Borger	2008
Lake Trout	31 lb, 13 oz	Lake Erie	Keith Miller	2019
Rainbow Trout	15 lb, 6 oz	Jordan Creek	Dennis L. Clouse	1986
Steelhead Trout	20 lb, 3 oz	Walnut Creek	Corey T. Brown	2001
Walleye	18 lb, 1 oz	Youghiogheny River	Richard E. Nicholson	2021

Eligibility for Pennsylvania Fishing Records

To qualify for a state record, the fish must have been caught in Pennsylvania public water. The fish must exceed the current record by at least 2 ounces and it must be weighted on a certified scale. The fish must be measured by a metal ruler or tape.

Documentation Needed

• Clear side view photo of the fish with fins spread.           
• The fish must be left intact and not filleted, gutted or cut up.
• Measurements must be made by an official measuring station or authorized employee of the Pennsylvania
  Fish & Boat Commission.
• Species must be verified by a Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission biologist, waterways conservation officer (WCO) or other authorized employee of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.
• Completed application must be sworn to and properly notarized.
• Application must be received within 60 days of the catch. 

How to Report a New Fish Record in Pennsylvania

To report a new record, mail your completed application and photo to:

PA Fish & Boat Commission
State-Record Fish Program
PO Box 67000
Harrisburg PA 17106-7000

Before submitting your application double check you have the proper documentation. You can find all requirements on the third page of your application.

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