Virginia Game Fish Records

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Updated: February 2024

The following tables list the current fishing records for both freshwater and saltwater fish caught in waters of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

If you think you’ve caught a record-breaking fish in Virginia, be sure to check out the resources at the bottom of this page so you claim your spot among the trophy-catchers. Better yet, check the rules first so you’ll know what to do when opportunity strikes your hook.

Freshwater Fishing Records

The following table lists game fish that were caught and certified under rules adopted in 1985. The next table below lists some larger species caught prior to the current process.

Bass, Hybrid Striped
15 lbs, 13 oz
Claytor LakeDon Jessie
Mar 16, 2016
Bass, Largemouth
16 lbs, 4 oz
Connor LakeRichard Tate
May 20, 1985
Bass, Roanoke
2 lbs, 9 oz
Western Branch ReservoirHarry G. Swauger
May 28, 2005
Bass, Rock
2 lbs, 2 oz
Laurel Bed LakeLarry Ball
May 17, 1986
Bass, Smallmouth
8 lbs, 1 oz
New RiverDonald S. Eaton, Jr.
Mar 12, 2003
Bass, Spotted
4 lbs, 12 oz
Claytor LakeCliffton Joel Hamilton
Jan 1, 2020
Bass, Striped
53 lbs, 7 oz
Leesville ReservoirJames B. Davis
Mar 16, 2000
Bass, White
6 lbs, 13 oz
Lake OrangeRon Sprouse
Jul 31, 1989
Bowfin
16 lbs, 8 oz
Lake CahoonJohn Plyler, Jr.
Oct 17, 2004
Carp, Common
49 lbs, 4 oz
Lake PrinceJeff Graham
Jun 25, 1986
Catfish, Blue*
143 lbs
Buggs Island LakeRichard “Nick” Anderson
Jun 18, 2011
Channel Catfish
31 lbs, 8 oz
Rappahannock RiverSue Stanley
Oct 2, 1992
Catfish, Flathead
68 lbs, 12 oz
Lake SmithJeffrey E. Dill
May 25, 2018
Catfish, White
7 lbs, 6 oz
Western Branch ReservoirThomas Elkins
Mar 24, 1992
Black Crappie
4 lbs, 10 oz
Private PondJustin Elliott
Apr 24, 1994
Crappie, WhiteNo Record Listed
Drum, Freshwater
29 lbs, 6 oz
Buggs Island LakeDel Pool
Mar 26, 2018
Fallfish
3 lbs, 9 oz
Cowpasture RiverJosh D. Dolin
May 6, 2021
Gar
25 lbs, 2 oz
Lake PrinceRoger Beaver
May 28, 1987
Muskie
45 lbs, 8 oz
New RiverShannon Hill
Jun 1, 2007
Perch, White
3 lbs, 2 oz
Private PondBeau McLaughlin
Jun 13, 2012
Perch, Yellow
3 lbs
Flannagan ReservoirGeorge Mullins
Mar 8, 2010
Pickerel, Chain
7 lbs, 10 oz
Lake ShawneeR. L. White
Dec 31, 1996
Pike, Northern
31 lbs, 4 oz
Motts Run ReservoirGeorge Wood
Jul 24, 1994
Sauger
3 lbs
Clinch RiverRonald C. Davis
Apr 24, 2010
Saugeye
6 lbs, 8 oz
Lake GastonBrittany Watkins
May 29, 2023
Bluegill Sunfish
(2 lbs minimum)
No Qualifying Entry
Under Current Rules
Sunfish, Redear
4 lbs, 12 oz
Private PondMichael Mills
Apr 28, 1986
Trout, Brook
5 lbs, 15 oz
Cub RunThomas Garth
Mar 12, 2019
Trout, Brown
14 lbs, 12 oz
South Fork HolstonMike Perkins
May 24, 1990
Trout, Rainbow
14 lbs, 7 oz
Greers PondMichael Lowe
Jun 28, 1993
Walleye
15 lbs, 15 oz
New RiverAnthony P. Duncan
Dec 15, 2000
Source: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

Note: This blue catfish also is the current world record.

Historical Freshwater Records

The following record fish (select species) are larger than the records listed above. However, they were caught and qualified before Virginia adopted its current state record fish rules in 1985. Virginia DWR lists both new and old records where the older mark is larger than the new one.

Bass, Spotted
6 lbs, 10 oz
Flannagan ReservoirJoe Jett Friend
Mar 31, 1976
Bowfin
17 lbs, 8 oz
Chickahominy LakeE. C. Cutright
Nov 14, 1964
Catfish, Channel
32 lbs
Lake ChesdinHugh Wyatt
Apr 28, 1980
Crappie, Black
4 lbs, 14 oz
Lake ConnerE. L. Blackstock
Apr 8, 1967
Crappie, White
No Record Listed

Pickerel, Chain
7 lbs, 12 oz
Douthat LakeGlenn C. Williams
Jan 26, 1974
Pike, Northern
31 lbs, 4 oz
Motts Run ReservoirGeorge Wood
Jul 24, 1944
Salmon, Coho
8 lbs, 12 oz
Philpott ReservoirMelvin Chilton
Dec 27, 1971
Sauger
5 lbs, 8 oz
South Holston LakeR. Stallard
Jul 2, 1972
Sunfish, Bluegill
4 lbs, 8 oz
Private PondThomas E. Jones
Feb 7, 1970
Trout, Brook
5 lbs, 15 oz
Cub RunThomas Garth
Mar 12, 2019
Trout, Brown
18 lbs, 11 oz
Smith RiverWilliam W. Nease
Jun 22, 1979
Trout, Lake
5 lbs, 6 oz
Philpott ReservoirArthur A. Conner
Jul 6, 1966
Walleye
22 lbs, 8 oz
New RiverRoy G. Barrett
Aug 20, 1973
Source: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

Saltwater Fishing Records

Amberjack
118 lbs
Chesapeake Light TowerMark J. Roberts
1986
Atlantic Tripletail
16 lbs, 12 oz
Chesapeake Bay
York Spit Light
Richard H. Stuart, Jr.
Jul 23, 2021
Barracuda
45 lbs, 8 oz
CB Buoy LineWayne Seymour
1996
Bluefish
25 lbs, 4 oz
Bluefish RockGayle E. Cozzens
1986
Cobia
109 lbs
York SpitJoseph F. Berberich II
2006
Cod, Atlantic
35 lbs
Off WachapreagueRobert Crammer
1969
Crevalle Jack
48 lbs, 12 oz
Ches. Light TowerCharles McCaskill III
1993
Croaker
8 lbs, 11 oz
New Point LightNorman T. Jenkins
2007
Dolphin (Dorado, Mahi Mahi)
71 lbs, 8 oz
Off Virginia BeachDon Dorey
1991
Drum, Black
111 lbs
Off Cape CharlesBetty D. Hall
1973
Drum, Red (Redfish)**
85 lbs, 4 oz
Wreck IslandHerman Moore
1981
False Albacore
25 lbs, 4 oz
Off Virginia BeachJack Sparrow
1964
Flounder
17 lbs, 8 oz
Baltimore ChannelCharles E. Cross
1971
Gray Triggerfish
6 lbs, 12 oz
Off Virginia BeachDave Walden
2017
Kingfish (Roundhead)
2 lbs, 13 oz
Off SandbridgeChip Watters
2002
Mackerel, King
63 lbs, 1 oz
Off SandbridgeSusan M. Smith
2007
Mackerel, Spanish
9 lbs, 13 oz
Off Virginia BeachEverett Cameron
1993
Marlin, Blue
1,093 lbs
Norfolk CanyonEdward Alan Givens
1978
Marlin, White
131 lbs, 10 oz
Off Virginia BeachRudolph D. van’t Riet
1978
Pollock
23 lbs, 8 oz
Off ChincoteaugeLee Michalski
1998
Pompano
5 lbs, 10 oz
Scarborough IslandRobert T. Long
1992
Porgy (Scup)
5 lbs, 5 oz
Off Chincoteauge Charles B. Haines, Sr.
1978
Sailfish
68 lbs, 8 oz
Off Virginia BeachP.J. Murden
1977
Sea Bass
10 lbs, 4 oz
Off Virginia BeachAllan P. Paschall
2000
Shark, Bigeye Thresher*
149 lbs
The CigarWayne M. Gross
1992
Shark, Blacktip
76 lbs, 10 oz
Off Virginia BeachJohn W. Thurston, Jr.
1988
Shark, Blue
266 lbs
The CigarWayne C. DeFord
1987
Shark, Bull
256 lbs
V-BuoyCraig R. Paige
1982
Shark, Dusky*
673 lbs
S.E. LumpsMichael J. Halperin
1982
Shark, Hammerhead
(Great)
430 lbs
S.E. LumpsRonald E. Ault
1984
Shark, Hammerhead
(Scalloped)
245 lbs
The CigarDon Lips
1977
Shark, Hammerhead
(Smooth)
272 lbs
Off Virginia BeachCarolyn L. Mathews
1988
Shark, Lemon
312 lbs, 12 oz
Off SandbridgeBill Walker
1976
Shark, Mako
728 lbs
Ches. Light TowerGeoffrey H. Newbill
1983
Shark, Sandbar (Brown)*
213 lbs
Triangle WrecksBill Moffett
1986
Shark, Sand Tiger*
339 lbs
Off Cape CharlesKelly D. Capps
1983
Shark, Silky*
110 lbs
Norfolk CanyonGary W. Seay
1977
Shark, Spinner
129 lbs, 8 oz
Off ChincoteagueJohn E. Patton II
1991
Shark, Thresher
525 lbs
Triangle WrecksAndrew P. Schuyler
2004
Shark, Tiger
1,099 lbs, 12 oz
S.E. LumpsJohn W. Thurston, Jr.
1981
Shark, White*
131 lbs
S.E. LumpsFred Williams
1981
Sheepshead
20 lbs, 12 oz
CBBT,
Seagull Fishing Pier
Arun Nhek
2005
Snowy Grouper
70 lbs, 7 oz
Norfolk CanyonRoger C. Burnley
2011
Spadefish
14 lbs, 14 oz
The Cell
Chesapeake Bay
Roland E. Murphy
2009
Spot
2 lbs, 6 oz
Off PoquosonNathan Dryden
1980
Striped Bass
74 lbs
Off Virginia BeachCary Wolfe
2012
Swordfish
597 lbs
Off Virginia Beach
Norfork Canyon
Nicholas Kontodiakos
Sep 25, 2020
Tarpon
130 lbs
Off OysterBarry Truitt
1975
Tautog
24 lbs, 3 oz
Morgan WreckKen Neill III
2012
Tilefish, Blueline
23 lbs, 5 oz
Norfolk CanyonMichael Adkins
2009
Tilefish, Golden
58 lbs
Norfolk CanyonJoshua Jung
2017
Trout, Gray (Weakfish)
19 lbs
Ches. Bay Br. TunnelPhilip W. Halstead
1983
Trout, Speckled
16 lbs
Masons BeachBill Katko
1977
Tuna, Bigeye
311 lbs
Norfolk CanyonVic Gaspeny
2013
Tuna, Blackfin
33 lbs, 15 oz
Norfolk CanyonWilliam W. Charlton III
2004
Tuna, Bluefin
708 lbs
SSE of Rudee
“Tuna Hole”
Jake Hiles
Feb 16, 2020
Tuna, Skipjack
22 lbs, 11 oz
The CigarKitty Falk
1995
Tuna, True Albacore
70 lbs, 11 oz
Washington CanyonWendy Brockenbrough
2019
Tuna, Yellowfin
203 lbs, 12 oz
Norfolk CanyonBruce C. Gottwald, Jr.
1981
Wahoo
122 lbs, 1 oz
Off WachapreagueSusan Nelson
2012
Source: Virginia Marine Resources Commission

*These species are currently illegal to possess, so the records are closed.

**Red drum (redfish) may only be kept if between 18 and 26 inches under current Virginia regulations.

Always check for updates to rules before fishing.

Setting a Fishing Record

If you think you’ve caught a fish that might vie for a place in Virginia’s freshwater record books, see the Virginia DWR’s Rules for Certifying a State Record Fish.

If that potential record-breaker came from saltwater, check out the resources on the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament page.