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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.
Title
State Record Fish Program Rules
Title
State Record Fish Program Rules
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- 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.
- New open records must meet or exceed the Master Angler Award minimum weight for that species to be considered.
- 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).
- Fish must be weighed on a certified scale in the presence of an employee of the Missouri Department of Conservation.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Title
Think you have a record?
Link or File
Media
State Record Fish Entry Form243.61 KB
Description
State Record Fish Entry Form
Link
Latest State Record Fish
Alternative method: Bow: Shad: Gizzard
Image
Caption
MDC congratulates Joseph Duncan of Fredericktown for shooting a new state-record gizzard shad. The 3-pound, 9-ounce fish was shot April 19 on a private pond in Madison County.
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Image
Weight
lbs.
3 lbs.
oz.
9 oz.
Lake or Stream
Private Pond
Date
04/19/2020
Angler
Joseph Duncan
Hometown
Fredericktown, MO
Pole and line: Sucker: Spotted
Image
Caption
MDC congratulates Tyler Goodale of Poplar Bluff for catching the new state-record spotted sucker from Duck Creek Conservation Area. The 5-pound, 4-ounce fish also qualifies for the world record.
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Image
Weight
lbs.
5 lbs.
oz.
4 oz.
Lake or Stream
Duck Creek Conservation Area
Date
04/01/2020
Angler
Tyler Goodale
Hometown
Poplar Bluff, MO
Note
World Record
Alternative method: Trotline: Redhorse: Shorthead
Image
Caption
MDC congratulates Bryant Rackers of Bonnots Mill on catching his fifth state-record fish. Rackers caught a 2-pound, 6-ounce shorthead redhorse Feb. 16 using a trotline on the Osage River.
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Image
Weight
lbs.
2 lbs.
oz.
6 oz.
Lake or Stream
Osage River
Date
02/16/2020
Angler
Bryant Rackers
Hometown
Bonnots Mill, MO
Alternative method: Throwline: Sauger
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Caption
Bryant Rackers holds the first state-record sauger caught by alternative methods. Rackers was using a throwline when he caught the fish Nov. 30 on the Osage River.
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Image
Weight
lbs.
2 lbs.
oz.
1 oz.
Lake or Stream
Osage River
Date
11/30/2019
Angler
Bryant Rackers
Hometown
Bonnots Mill, MO
Pole and line: Perch: White
Image
Credit
Unknown
Right to Use
Image
Weight
lbs.
0 lbs.
oz.
10 oz.
Lake or Stream
Osage River
Date
11/23/2019
Angler
Bryant Rackers
Hometown
Bonnots Mill, MO
Pole and line: Herring: Skipjack
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Caption
MDC confirms Bryant Rackers of Bonnots Mill has tied the state record for skipjack herring. Rackers caught his 3-pound fish from the Osage River Oct. 27.
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Image
Weight
lbs.
3 lbs.
oz.
0 oz.
Lake or Stream
Osage River
Date
10/27/2019
Angler
Bryant Rackers
Hometown
Bonnots Mill, MO
Note
Tie
Pole and line: Trout: Brown
Image
Caption
Bill Babler (left) holds the new state-record brown trout with his friend Ryan Titus. The fish was caught Sept. 4 at Lake Taneycomo, weighing in at 40-pounds, 6-ounces.
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Image
Weight
lbs.
40 lbs.
oz.
6 oz.
Lake or Stream
Lake Taneycomo
Date
09/04/2019
Angler
Bill Babler
Hometown
Blue Eye, MO
Alternative method: Jug line: Bullhead: Black
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Caption
Cody Sparkman of Perryville holds his 2-pound, 13-ounce black bullhead caught on a jugline July 21 in Perry County. Though it’s not the prettiest fish, it’s now the eighth state record caught in 2019.
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Image
Weight
lbs.
2 lbs.
oz.
13 oz.
Lake or Stream
Farm Pond
Date
07/21/2019
Angler
Cody Sparkman
Hometown
Perryville, MO
Pole and line: Bass: Hybrid Striped
Image
Credit
MDC Staff
Right to Use
Image
Weight
lbs.
21 lbs.
oz.
11 oz.
Lake or Stream
Lake of the Ozarks
Date
05/19/2019
Angler
Cesar Rodriguez
Hometown
Carthage, MO
Alternative method: Bow: Buffalo: Black
Image
Credit
MDC Staff
Right to Use
Image
Weight
lbs.
76 lbs.
oz.
0 oz.
Lake or Stream
Duck Creek Conservation Area
Date
04/21/2019
Angler
Joshua H. Lee
Hometown
Bernie, MO