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Overview

Arkansas State Fishing Records

Arkansas State Fishing Records

Establishing Sport-fishing Records

  1. A state-record fish must be legally caught in Arkansas where a sport-fishing license is required (no hatcheries or pay-to-fish lakes).
  2. The fish must be caught on rod or pole using hook and line. Fish caught on handheld snagging equipment will be considered if taken from waters where snagging is legal. Electric reels may not be used. Fish caught using other legal sport tackle (trotline, limbline, jug, yo-yo, etc.) may be submitted for consideration in the “unrestricted tackle” category if it exceeds the record weight established for that species by an angler using rod or pole. However, only catches made by an angler possessing a valid sport-fishing license using legal sport-fishing methods will be considered. Arkansas sport-fishing records for hybrid species are to be only those stocked by AGFC (i.e., tiger muskie, hybrid striped bass and saugeye). Commercial fish catches do not qualify. Regardless of what type of tackle is used, only one person may be involved in subduing the fish, except for helping net or gaff the fish.
  3. To apply for a state record, an angler must submit a State Record Fish Application, available from AGFC offices or click on the link on this page.
  4. On all record claims, witnesses to the catch are desirable. A catch without witnesses may be disallowed if questions arise regarding its authenticity. A digital photograph of the fish must accompany application.
  5. A fisheries professional with AGFC or USFWS must identify the fish. The identification need not be made at the time of the weigh-in, but the professional’s name, signature and title (or qualifications) must appear on the application form.
  6. The fish must be weighed on a certified scale legal for trade. Certified scales may be found in all AGFC fisheries district offices listed on this page, stores, post offices, farm supply stores, feed mills, etc. An employee of the AGFC or the USFWS must witness the weigh-in and sign the application confirming the fish’s weight. Only that weight witnessed at the official weigh-in will be accepted, regardless of the fish’s weight when it was caught.
  7. AGFC will consider records for all fish over 8 oz. that are either native, or are actively stocked or managed for recreational purposes by AGFC. One-ounce gradations are used for record purposes. Fractions of an ounce will be dropped. The fish may not be altered by any means to add weight.

Rod and Reel Records

These fish were caught by rod and reel.

SpeciesWeightLocationDateState Record Holder
Bass, Hybrid Striped*27 lbs., 5 oz.Greers Ferry Lake04/24/1997Jerald C. Shaum, Shirley, AR
Bass, Largemouth16 lbs., 8 oz.Mallard Lake03/02/1976Aaron Mardis, Memphis, TN
Bass, Ozark1 lb., 1 oz.Norfork Lake05/12/2014Dan Biery, Clinton, AR
Bass, Rock1 lb., 8 oz.Norfork Lake (Clear Creek)08/02/1982Jerry Heard, Everton, AR
Bass, Shadow*1 lb., 12 oz.Spring River07/05/1999James E. Baker, W. Monroe, LA
Bass, Smallmouth7 lbs., 5 oz.Bull Shoals Lake04/01/1969Acie Dickerson, Lakeview, AR
Bass, Spotted7 lbs., 15 oz.Bull Shoals Lake03/26/1983Mike Heilich, St. Louis, MO
Bass, Striped64 lbs., 8 oz.Beaver Lake Tailwater04/28/2000Jeff Fletcher, Golden, MO
Bass, White5 lbs., 6 oz.Mississippi River10/27/2005Bill Nelson, Memphis, TN
Bass, Yellow2 lbs., 4 oz.Lake Ouachita01/26/2022Craig Viscardis, Hot Springs, AR
Bluegill3 lbs., 4 oz.Fulton County08/07/1998Albert Sharp, Elizabeth, AR
Bowfin17 lbs., 5 oz.Desha County02/21/1977Doug Smith, McGehee, AR
Buffalo, Bigmouth50 lbs., 0 oz.Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir09/10/2007Tony Worm, Conway, AR
Buffalo, Black92 lbs., 8 oz.Lake Maumelle02/26/2001Kenny DeLuca, Paron, AR
Buffalo, Smallmouth68 lbs., 8 oz.Lake Hamilton05/15/1984Jerry Dolezal, Berwyn, IL
Bullhead, Black4 lbs., 12 oz.Point Remove Creek04/11/1986Janet Story, Morrilton, AR
Bullhead, Brown3 lbs., 3 oz.Upper White Oak Lake04/02/2013Christopher “JJ” Holeman, Camden, AR
Bullhead, Yellow2 lbs., 7 oz.Private lake09/21/2014Jackie R. Mullins, Texarkana, AR
Catfish, Blue116 lbs., 12 oz.Mississippi River08/03/2001Charles Ashley Jr., Marion, AR
Catfish, Channel38 lbs., 0 oz.Lake Ouachita06/03/1989Joe Holleman, Waldron, AR
Catfish, Flathead80 lbs., 0 oz.Arkansas River10/28/1989Wesley White, Hartford, AR
Eel, American5 lbs., 4 oz.Spring River07/12/2015Cory Beeson, Jonesboro, AR
Crappie, Black5 lbs., 0 oz.Lake Wilhelmina06/06/2011Donivan Echols, Mena, AR
Crappie, White4 lbs., 7 oz.Mingo Creek04/12/1993Shelby D. Cooper, Bald Knob, AR
Drum, Freshwater45 lbs., 7 oz.Lake Wilson07/11/2004Chuck Piker, Hamburg, AR
Eel, American5 lbs., 4 oz.Spring River07/15/2015Cory Beeson, Jonesboro, AR
Flier0 lbs., 14 oz.Saline River07/10/1985Harvey Jones, Warren, AR
Gar, Alligator215 lbs., 0 oz.Arkansas River07/31/1964Alvin Bonds, Clarksville, AR
Gar, Longnose35 lbs., 12 oz.Taylor Old River Lake06/28/2005Tommy Cantrell, Dumas, AR
Gar, Shortnose5 lbs., 13 oz.Lake Dardanelle09/23/2011Thomas Kremers, Clarksville,AR
Gar, Spotted7 lbs., 15 oz.Little Red River03/29/2018Tim Welch, Bono, AR
Goldeye2 lbs., 5 oz.White River09/01/2023Dylon Youngblood, Carthage, TX
Herring, Skipjack2 lbs., 10 oz.Lake Dardanelle01/03/2004Jeremy Whitcomb, Little Rock, AR
Mooneye0 lbs., 12 oz.Current River06/03/2023Shawn Clark, Poplar Bluff, MO
Muskie, Tiger23 lbs., 12 oz.Spring River06/27/1995Randy Wyatt, Thayer, MO
Paddlefish118 lbs., 9 oz.Beaver Lake08/27/2020James C. Johnson, North Oaks, MN
Pickerel, Chain7 lbs., 10 oz.Little Red River01/06/1979Abe Vogel, Heber Springs, AR
Pike, Northern16 lbs., 1 oz.DeGray Lake12/27/1973Dick Cooley, Arkadelphia, AR
Redhorse, Golden1 lb., 2 oz.Spring River05/27/2011D. Victor Waits, Holts Summit, MO
Redhorse, River9 lbs., 3 oz.Osage Creek12/20/2022Levi Wright, Bentonville, AR
Redhorse, Silver6 lbs., 9 oz.Eleven Point River12/12/2020Russell “Rusty” Gibson, Marmaduke, AR
Sauger6 lbs., 12 oz.Arkansas River12/15/1976Claude Eubanks, Fort Smith, AR
Saugeye9 lbs., 0 oz.Lake Frierson01/30/2012Chris Owen, Alicia, AR
Shad, Alabama2 lbs., 13 oz.Ouachita River04/04/1997Monte Pascoe, Hot Springs, AR
Shad, Gizzard2 lbs., 14 oz.White River05/09/1992Charles Jordan, Mountain View, AR
Sturgeon, Shovelnose5 lbs., 0 oz.Spring River10/10/2008D. Victor Waits, Holts Summit, MO
Sucker, Northern Hog1 lb., 6 oz.Eleven Point River04/10/2021Rusty Gibson, Marmaduke, AR
Sucker, Spotted2 lb., 3 oz.Twin Creek03/20/2023John Carter, Little Rock, AR
Sunfish, Green1 lb., 11 oz.pond, Dierks04/12/1976Keith McCullough, Dierks, AR
Sunfish, Longear1 lb., 2 oz.Table Rock Lake04/22/1991Carl Bohannan, Eureka Springs, AR
Sunfish, Redear2 lbs., 14 oz.Bois d’Arc Lake05/04/1985Glenda Tatom, Stamps, AR
Trout, Brook5 lbs., 0 oz.North Fork River06/03/2002Billy J. Meeks, Wylie, TX
Trout, Brown*40 lbs., 4 oz.Little Red River05/09/1992Howard “Rip” Collins, Heber Springs, AR
Trout, Cutthroat10 lbs., 2 oz.White River09/29/2018Mike Bowers, Abilene, KS
Trout, Lake11 lbs., 5 oz.Greers Ferry Lake12/15/1997Clark Stevenson, Greenbrier, AR
Trout, Rainbow19 lbs., 1 oz.White River03/14/1981Jim Miller, Memphis, TN
Walleye*22 lbs., 11 oz.Greers Ferry Lake03/12/1982Al Nelson, Higden, AR
Warmouth1 lb., 8 oz.Black Dog Bayou05/28/1998Michael Curtis, Pine Bluff, AR
* World Record. Note: The walleye is the 12-pound-line-class world record.

Unrestricted Tackle Records

These fish were caught by legal means other than rod and reel.

SpeciesWeightLocationDateState Record Holder
Buffalo, Bigmouth56 lbs., 4 oz.Calion Lake04/03/2000Benny Alexander, El Dorado, AR
Buffalo, Black105 lbs., 0 oz.Harris Brake Lake03/14/1994Kenneth Harvey, Perryville, AR
Buffalo, Smallmouth74 lbs., 0 oz.Millwood Lake04/15/2007Zane Barrett, Murfreesboro, AR
Bullhead, Yellow4 lbs., 9 oz.Blue Bayou05/22/2005Joshua Rosenbaum, Nashville, AR
Carpsucker, Highfin1 lbs., 12 oz.Arkansas River06/19/2017Jimmy Ruple, Greenbrier, AR
Carpsucker, Quillback8 lbs., 0 oz.Bull Shoals03/02/2023Chance Williams, Harrison, AR
Carpsucker, River3 lbs., 2 oz.Arkansas River06/19/2017Jimmy Ruple, Greenbrier, AR
Catfish, Flathead85 lbs., 6 oz.Blackfish Lake06/10/2019Preston Gracey, Forrest City, AR
Eel, American5 lbs., 5 oz.Bull Shoals Lake06/24/2018Wilson Bowling, Bull Shoals, AR
Gar, Longnose54 lbs., 0 oz.Arkansas River08/04/2011Torry Cook, Warren, AR
Gar, Shortnose11 lbs., 12 oz.Cypress Bayou11/02/2016Bryson Harpole, Ward, AR
Gar, Spotted12 lbs., 5 oz.Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir03/18/2017Jerrime Tucker, Conway, AR
Goldeye2 lb., 12 oz.Cache River03/22/2020Tommy Medler, Judsonia, AR
Mullet, Striped5 lb., 6 oz.Morgan Point Bendway Lake03/27/2020Samuel Yarberry, Bryant, AR
Redhorse, River9 lbs. 0 oz.Lake Ouachita03/17/2013Asher Kight, Hot Springs, AR
Shad, Gizzard3 lbs. 7 oz.DeGray Lake06/15/2013Ross Wooldridge, Malvern, AR
Sucker, Spotted4 lbs., 6 oz.Big Hill Creek03/19/2018Ransum Mullens, Camden, AR