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 Form243.61 KB
State Record Fish Entry Form
Master Angler Award

Latest State Record Fish

View Past Records

Displaying 11 - 20 of 136

Alternative Method: Bow: Quillback

Josh Lawmaster holding quillback fish.
MDC
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Josh Lawmaster holding quillback fish.
Weight
8 lbs.
5 oz.
Lake or Stream
Table Rock Lake
Date
03/15/2022
Angler
Josh Lawmaster
Hometown
LaRussell, MO

Pole and line: Eel: American

Carlin Allison holds his state record American eel
Carlin Allison of Doniphan now holds a rare state record for American eel after reeling in a 6-pound, 15-ounce fish on the Current River. MDC confirms this is the ninth state record fish recorded in 2021.
Photo courtesy Carlin Allison
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Carlin Allison holds his state record American eel
Weight
6 lbs.
15 oz.
Lake or Stream
Current River
Date
07/26/2021
Angler
Carlin Allison
Hometown
Doniphan

Alternative Method: Bow: Carp: Bighead

Matthew Neuling standing next to his bighead carp that is hanging from the ceiling.
MDC
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Matthew Neuling standing next to his bighead carp that is hanging from the ceiling.
Weight
125 lbs.
5 oz.
Lake or Stream
Lake Perry
Date
07/24/2021
Angler
Matthew Neuling
Hometown
Perryville

Alternative Method: Throwline: Sunfish: Longear

Recognized before the requirement to meet or exceed the Master Angler minimum was instituted.
A smiling thirteen year old Robert Audrain IV holds his longear sunfish.
MDC
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A smiling thirteen year old Robert Audrain IV holds his longear sunfish.
Weight
5 oz.
Lake or Stream
Private Pond-Franklin Co.
Date
07/03/2021
Angler
Robert Audrain IV
Hometown
St. Louis, MO

Pole and line: Carpsucker: River

A smiling Steven Henson holding a river carpsucker.
MDC
1/1
A smiling Steven Henson holding a river carpsucker.
Weight
3 lbs.
14 oz.
Lake or Stream
Mississippi River
Date
06/01/2021
Angler
Steven Henson
Hometown
Bonne Terre, MO

Pole and line: Gar: Longnose

Local fishing guide Cindy Dennison is holding longnose gar with angler Anthony Schnur Jr standing behind her.
MDC
1/1
Local fishing guide Cindy Dennison is holding longnose gar with angler Anthony Schnur Jr standing behind her.
Weight
32 lbs.
10 oz.
Lake or Stream
Table Rock Lake
Date
04/07/2021
Angler
Anthony Schnur Jr.
Hometown
Pevely, Mo.

Alternative Method: Snagging: Sucker: White

Harvey Smith holding white sucker with Conservation Agent Jeff Harris.
MDC
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Harvey Smith holding white sucker with Conservation Agent Jeff Harris.
Weight
6 lbs.
2 oz.
Lake or Stream
Roark Creek
Date
03/27/2021
Angler
Harvey Smith
Hometown
Sparta, Mo.

Pole and line: Perch: Yellow

Sharon Christopher holds her state record yellow perch
Unknown
1/1
Sharon Christopher holds her state record yellow perch
Weight
2 lbs.
7 oz.
Lake or Stream
Bull Shoals Lake
Date
03/07/2021
Angler
Sharon Christopher
Hometown
Cedar Hill, MO

Pole and line: Gar: Spotted

Devlin Rich holds his world record pole and line spotted gar
Unknown
1/1
Devlin Rich holds his world record pole and line spotted gar
Weight
10 lbs.
9 oz.
Lake or Stream
Wappapello Lake
Date
02/25/2021
Angler
Devlin Rich
Hometown
Williamsville, MO

Alternative method: Bow: Sucker: Spotted

John Garver holds his state record spotted sucker
MDC congratulates John Garver of Williamsville for shooting a new state-record spotted sucker. The 3-pound, 6-ounce fish was shot May 1 at Duck Creek Conservation Area north of Puxico.
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John Garver holds his state record spotted sucker
Weight
3 lbs.
6 oz.
Lake or Stream
Duck Creek Conservation Area
Date
05/01/2020
Angler
John Garver
Hometown
Williamsville, Mo