State Record Fish

Missouri has a long, proud tradition of fishing, and its abundant lakes and streams have produced exceptional fish. MDC has developed the State Record Fish Program to acknowledge and honor anglers who have caught the largest recorded fish from a list of recognized species found in Missouri waters.

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  1. To qualify, the applicant’s fish must:
    • be captured by legal methods from Missouri waters, by the holder of a valid permit or proof of exemption.
    • be a species included on the Missouri State Record Fish list.
    • meet or exceed the current record.
  2. New open records must meet or exceed the Master Angler Award minimum weight for that species to be considered.
  3. Anglers may be recognized in two different categories: “pole and line” or “alternative methods” (this includes trotlines, throwlines, limblines, banklines, jug lines, spearfishing, snagging, snaring, gigging, grabbing, bow, crossbow or atlatl).
  4. Fish must be weighed on a certified scale in the presence of an employee of the Missouri Department of Conservation.
  5. The entry must be examined by a Missouri Department of Conservation staff member familiar with the genus. Contact any Department office, or if after business hours, the local conservation agent. If a positive identification cannot be made with certainty, the assistance of a designated fish identification expert must be sought.  Call a Department Regional Office to be connected with the nearest identification expert. The Department reserves the right to consult additional biologists to confirm the identity of the species.
  6. Potential record fish may be frozen while awaiting identification but must be thawed for weighing. Fish should not be mounted or consumed prior to receiving the results of the entry form review and certification.
  7. Genetic testing, for positive identification, and x-raying for weight authentication, will be performed by the Missouri Department of Conservation, when necessary, for positive identification at no cost to the applicant.
  8. A photo of the fish is required, with views showing areas key to identification preferred, as well as a photo of the person with the fish.
Think you have a record?
State Record Fish Entry Form262.12 KB
State Record Fish Entry Form
Master Angler Award

Latest State Record Fish

View Past Records

Displaying 101 - 110 of 136

Pole and line: Walleye

Gerry Partlow holding 21 pound 1 ounce walleye.
MDC
1/1
Gerry Partlow holding 21 pound 1 ounce walleye.
Weight
21 lbs.
1 oz.
Lake or Stream
Bull Shoals Lake
Date
03/26/1988
Angler
Gerry H. Partlow
Hometown
Linneus, MO

Pole and line: Buffalo: Smallmouth

Weight
36 lbs.
12 oz.
Lake or Stream
Lake of the Ozarks
Date
06/10/1986
Angler
Allen Andrew Schweiss
Hometown
Bloomington, IL

Alternative method: Grabbing: Redhorse: River

Weight
17 lbs.
0 oz.
Lake or Stream
Elk River
Date
04/28/1986
Angler
Frank W. Harding
Hometown
Nixa, MO

Pole and line: Warmouth

Weight
1 lbs.
4 oz.
Lake or Stream
Farm Pond
Date
07/31/1984
Angler
Tony Fincher
Hometown
Holcomb, MO

Pole and line: Muskellunge

Weight
41 lbs.
2 oz.
Lake or Stream
Lake of the Ozarks
Date
03/09/1981
Angler
Gene Snelling
Hometown
Camdenton, MO

Pole and line: Drum: Freshwater

Weight
40 lbs.
8 oz.
Lake or Stream
Lake of the Ozarks
Date
07/16/1980
Angler
Ronald P. Wagner
Hometown
Waterloo, IA

Pole and line: Bullhead: Black

Ron Miller and his state record black bullhead
Unknown
1/1
Ron Miller and his state record black bullhead
Weight
4 lbs.
11 oz.
Lake or Stream
Binder Lake
Date
06/05/1977
Angler
Ron Miller
Hometown
Jefferson City, MO

Alternative method: Bank line: Pickerel: Chain

Weight
6 lbs.
3 oz.
Lake or Stream
Duck Creek Conservation Area
Date
01/25/1977
Angler
Gordon Thornton
Hometown
Campbell, MO

Pole and line: Catfish: Channel

Gerald R. Siebenmorgen and his state record channel catfish
Unknown
1/1
Gerald R. Siebenmorgen and his state record channel catfish
Weight
34 lbs.
10 oz.
Lake or Stream
Lake Jacomo
Date
10/12/1976
Angler
Gerald R. Siebenmorgen
Hometown
Independence, MO

Pole and line: Buffalo: Bigmouth

Dr. W. J. Long and his state record bigmouth buffalo
Unknown
1/1
Dr. W. J. Long and his state record bigmouth buffalo
Weight
56 lbs.
0 oz.
Lake or Stream
Lake Loch Loma
Date
08/19/1976
Angler
Dr. W.J. Long
Hometown
Poplar Bluff, MO