Updated: February 2024
The following tables list Ohio’s current fishing records.
In this state, the Outdoor Writers of Ohio handles the record-keeping. To find their process for determining a new Ohio state record, see the resources linked below.
Ohio Fishing Records
The following records are for Ohio’s hook and line catches.
| Bass, Hybrid Striped 18.32 lbs | Deer Creek Lake, feeder creek | Richard A. Knisley May 24, 2015 |
| Bass, Largemouth 13.13 lbs | Farm Pond | Roy Landsberger May 26, 1976 |
| Bass, Rock 1.97 lbs | Deer Creek, near London | George A. Keller Sep 3, 1932 |
| Bass, Smallmouth 9.5 lbs | Lake Erie | Randy Van Dam Jun 16, 1993 |
| Bass, Spotted 5.25 lbs | Lake White | Roger Trainer May 2, 1976 |
| Bass, Striped 37.10 lbs | West Branch Reservoir | Mark Chuifo Jul 2, 1993 |
| Bass, White 4 lbs | Gravel pit | Ira Sizemore Jul 1, 1983 |
| Bowfin 11.69 lbs | Nettle Lake | Christopher A. Boling May 9, 1987 |
| Burbot 17.33 lbs | Lake Erie | Bud Clute Dec 20, 1999 |
| Carp (Common) 50 lbs | Paint Creek | Judson Holton May 24, 1967 |
| Catfish, Blue 96 lbs | Ohio River | Chris Rolph Jun 11, 2009 |
| Catfish, Bullhead 4.25 lbs | Farm Pond | Hugh Lawrence Jr. May 20, 1986 |
| Catfish, Channel 37.65 lbs | LaDue Reservoir | Gus J. Gronowski Aug 15, 1992 |
| Catfish, Shovel/Flathead 76.5 lbs | Clendening Lake | Richard Affolter Jul 28, 1979 |
| Crappie, Black 4.5 lbs | Private Lake | Ronald Stone May 24, 1981 |
| Crappie, White 3.9 lbs | Private Pond | Kyle Rock Apr 25, 1995 |
| Drum, Freshwater 23.5 lbs | Sandusky River | James S. Williams Jul 21, 2001 |
| Gar, Longnose 25 lbs | Ohio River | Flora Irvin Aug 31, 1966 |
| Muskellunge 55.13 lbs | Piedmont Lake | Joe D. Lykins Apr 12, 1972 |
| Muskellunge, Tiger 31.64 lbs | Turkeyfoot Lake | Matt Amedeo Apr 28, 2006 |
| Perch, White 1.72 lbs | Lake Erie | Terry R. Patton Jan 29, 2011 |
| Perch, Yellow 2.86 lbs | Lake Erie | David Berg Apr 18, 2016 |
| Pickerel, Chain 6.25 lbs | Long Lake | Ronald P. Kotch Mar 25, 1961 |
| Pike, Northern 22.78 lbs | McKarns Lake | Troy Klingler Oct 26, 2016 |
| Salmon, Chinook 29.5 lbs | Lake Erie | Walter Shumaker Aug 4, 1989 |
| Salmon, Coho 13.63 lbs | Huron River | Barney Freeman Dec 1, 1982 |
| Salmon, Pink 3.06 lbs | Conneaut Creek | Andy Janoski Sep 24, 2004 |
| Sauger 7.31 lbs | Maumee River | Bryan Wicks Mar 10, 1981 |
| Saugeye 14.04 lbs | Antrim Lake | Roger Sizemore Nov 24, 2004 |
| Sucker, Buffalo 50.9 lbs | Hoover Reservoir | Andrew Peffly Jul 8, 2023 |
| Sucker, (other than buffalo) 9.25 lbs | Leesville Lake | Wayne Gleason Apr 3, 1977 |
| Sunfish, Bluegill 3.28 lbs | Salt Fork Reservoir | Willis D. Nicholes Apr 28, 1990 |
| Sunfish, Green 1.20 lbs | Richland County, Farm Pond | Sue Ann Newswanger May 13, 2018 |
| Sunfish, Hybrid 2.03 lbs | Champaign County, Farm Pond | Ray Durham Jul 21, 2003 |
| Sunfish, Longear 0.41 lbs | Greene County, Gravel Pit | Kevin Shanks Apr 22, 2012 |
| Sunfish, Pumpkinseed 1.10 lbs | Portage County, Farm Pond | Scott Boykin Jun 12, 2009 |
| Sunfish, Redear 3.58 lbs | Licking County, Farm Pond | Bert Redman Oct 2, 1998 |
| Sunfish, Warmouth 1.32 lbs | Mahoning County, Farm Pond | Douglas Koenig Jul 19, 2009 |
| Trout, Brown 14.675 lbs | Lake Erie | Robert D. Campbell Jul 14, 2012 |
| Trout, Lake 26.63 lbs | Lake Erie | James J. Beres Dec 1, 2017 |
| Trout, Rainbow (Steelhead) 21.3 lbs | Lake Erie | Jason Brooks Jun 25, 2010 |
| Walleye 16.19 lbs | Lake Erie | Tom Haberman Nov 23, 1999 |
Ohio Bowfishing Records
Bowfishing records are limited to certain species. Be sure to follow state fishing regulations.
| Bowfin 9.20 lbs | Mogadore Lake | Tim Makowski Jul 2, 2016 |
| Carp (Common) 53.65 lbs | Lake Erie, Sandusky County | Patrick Johnson Jun 9, 2013 |
| Gar, Longnose 19.21 lbs | Turkeyfoot Lake | Zachary Jared May 12, 2011 |
| Sucker, Buffalo 45.85 lbs | Lake Erie | Brent McGlone Nov 6, 2023 |
| Sucker, (other than buffalo) 11.21 lbs | Maumee River | Brent McGlone May 18, 2007 |
Setting a Fishing Record in Ohio
If you think you’ve caught a fish that would top one of those listed above, immediately take steps to have the Outdoor Writers of Ohio officially recognize your catch.
You will find the basic rules and the official application on OWO’s Ohio’s Record Fish page.