Arkansas State Record Fish | Information and Application
Discover the guidelines, requirements, and application process for claiming the Arkansas State Record Fish. From legal catches and approved methods to fish identification and eligibility criteria, we provide the essential information you need to pursue fishing greatness in Arkansas.
Rules of Recognition for Arkansas State Record Fish
State-record fish must be legally caught in Arkansas with a sport-fishing license, excluding hatcheries and pay-to-fish lakes.
Fish must be caught using rod or pole with hook and line. Snagging equipment is accepted in legal snagging areas. Electric reels are prohibited. Other legal sport tackle can be considered for the “unrestricted tackle” category if it surpasses the record weight set by rod or pole fishing.
Only catches made by anglers with a valid sport-fishing license using legal sport-fishing methods will be considered.
Arkansas sport-fishing records for hybrid species only include those stocked by AGFC (tiger muskie, hybrid striped bass, saugeye). Commercial fish catches are not eligible.
Only one person can be involved in subduing the fish, except for assistance with netting or gaffing.
To apply for a state record, an angler must submit a State Record Fish Application, available from AGFC offices or click on the link on this page.
A fisheries professional from AGFC or USFWS must identify the fish, and their name, signature, and title/qualifications should appear on the application form.
The fish must be weighed on a certified scale legal for trade, witnessed by an AGFC or USFWS employee. Only the weight witnessed at the official weigh-in will be accepted.
GFC considers records for all fish over 8 oz. that are native or actively stocked or managed for recreational purposes. One-ounce gradations are used for records, and fractions of an ounce are disregarded. No alterations to the fish to increase weight are allowed.
Related Documents
These fish were caught by rod and reel.
| Species | Weight | Location | Date | State Record Holder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass, Hybrid Striped* | 27 lbs., 5 oz. | Greers Ferry Lake | 04/24/1997 | Jerald C. Shaum, Shirley, AR |
| Bass, Largemouth | 16 lbs., 8 oz. | Mallard Lake | 03/02/1976 | Aaron Mardis, Memphis, TN |
| Bass, Ozark | 1 lb., 1 oz. | Norfork Lake | 05/12/2014 | Dan Biery, Clinton, AR |
| Bass, Rock | 1 lb., 8 oz. | Norfork Lake (Clear Creek) | 08/02/1982 | Jerry Heard, Everton, AR |
| Bass, Shadow* | 1 lb., 12 oz. | Spring River | 07/05/1999 | James E. Baker, W. Monroe, LA |
| Bass, Smallmouth | 7 lbs., 5 oz. | Bull Shoals Lake | 04/01/1969 | Acie Dickerson, Lakeview, AR |
| Bass, Spotted | 7 lbs., 15 oz. | Bull Shoals Lake | 03/26/1983 | Mike Heilich, St. Louis, MO |
| Bass, Striped | 64 lbs., 8 oz. | Beaver Lake Tailwater | 04/28/2000 | Jeff Fletcher, Golden, MO |
| Bass, White | 5 lbs., 6 oz. | Mississippi River | 10/27/2005 | Bill Nelson, Memphis, TN |
| Bass, Yellow | 2 lbs., 4 oz. | Lake Ouachita | 01/26/2022 | Craig Viscardis, Hot Springs, AR |
| Bluegill | 3 lbs., 4 oz. | Fulton County | 08/07/1998 | Albert Sharp, Elizabeth, AR |
| Bowfin | 17 lbs., 5 oz. | Desha County | 02/21/1977 | Doug Smith, McGehee, AR |
| Buffalo, Bigmouth | 50 lbs., 0 oz. | Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir | 09/10/2007 | Tony Worm, Conway, AR |
| Buffalo, Black | 92 lbs., 8 oz. | Lake Maumelle | 02/26/2001 | Kenny DeLuca, Paron, AR |
| Buffalo, Smallmouth | 68 lbs., 8 oz. | Lake Hamilton | 05/15/1984 | Jerry Dolezal, Berwyn, IL |
| Bullhead, Black | 4 lbs., 12 oz. | Point Remove Creek | 04/11/1986 | Janet Story, Morrilton, AR |
| Bullhead, Brown | 3 lbs., 3 oz. | Upper White Oak Lake | 04/02/2013 | Christopher “JJ” Holeman, Camden, AR |
| Bullhead, Yellow | 2 lbs., 7 oz. | Private lake | 09/21/2014 | Jackie R. Mullins, Texarkana, AR |
| Catfish, Blue | 116 lbs., 12 oz. | Mississippi River | 08/03/2001 | Charles Ashley Jr., Marion, AR |
| Catfish, Channel | 38 lbs., 0 oz. | Lake Ouachita | 06/03/1989 | Joe Holleman, Waldron, AR |
| Catfish, Flathead | 80 lbs., 0 oz. | Arkansas River | 10/28/1989 | Wesley White, Hartford, AR |
| Eel, American | 5 lbs., 4 oz. | Spring River | 07/12/2015 | Cory Beeson, Jonesboro, AR |
| Crappie, Black | 5 lbs., 0 oz. | Lake Wilhelmina | 06/06/2011 | Donivan Echols, Mena, AR |
| Crappie, White | 4 lbs., 7 oz. | Mingo Creek | 04/12/1993 | Shelby D. Cooper, Bald Knob, AR |
| Drum, Freshwater | 45 lbs., 7 oz. | Lake Wilson | 07/11/2004 | Chuck Piker, Hamburg, AR |
| Eel, American | 5 lbs., 4.4 oz. | Spring River | 07/15/2015 | Cory Beeson, Jonesboro, AR |
| Flier | 0 lbs., 14 oz. | Saline River | 07/10/1985 | Harvey Jones, Warren, AR |
| Gar, Alligator | 215 lbs., 0 oz. | Arkansas River | 07/31/1964 | Alvin Bonds, Clarksville, AR |
| Gar, Longnose | 35 lbs., 12 oz. | Taylor Old River Lake | 06/28/2005 | Tommy Cantrell, Dumas, AR |
| Gar, Shortnose | 5 lbs., 13 oz. | Lake Dardanelle | 09/23/2011 | Thomas Kremers, Clarksville,AR |
| Gar, Spotted | 7 lbs., 15 oz. | Little Red River | 03/29/2018 | Tim Welch, Bono, AR |
| Goldeye | 2 lbs., 3 oz. | State Line Outlet Ditch | 04/02/2021 | Jamie Wilhoite, Manila, AR |
| Herring, Skipjack | 2 lbs., 10 oz. | Lake Dardanelle | 01/03/2004 | Jeremy Whitcomb, Little Rock, AR |
| Mooneye | 0 lbs., 11 oz. | Current River | 08/27/2022 | Shawn Clark, Poplar Bluff, MO |
| Muskie, Tiger | 23 lbs., 12 oz. | Spring River | 06/27/1995 | Randy Wyatt, Thayer, MO |
| Paddlefish | 118 lbs., 9 oz. | Beaver Lake | 08/27/2020 | James C. Johnson, North Oaks, MN |
| Pickerel, Chain | 7 lbs., 10 oz. | Little Red River | 01/06/1979 | Abe Vogel, Heber Springs, AR |
| Pike, Northern | 16 lbs., 1 oz. | DeGray Lake | 12/27/1973 | Dick Cooley, Arkadelphia, AR |
| Redhorse, Golden | 1 lb., 2 oz. | Spring River | 05/27/2011 | D. Victor Waits, Holts Summit, MO |
| Redhorse, River | 9 lbs., 3 oz. | Osage Creek | 12/20/2022 | Levi Wright, Bentonville, AR |
| Redhorse, Silver | 6 lbs., 9 oz. | Eleven Point River | 12/12/2020 | Russell “Rusty” Gibson, Marmaduke, AR |
| Sauger | 6 lbs., 12 oz. | Arkansas River | 12/15/1976 | Claude Eubanks, Fort Smith, AR |
| Saugeye | 9 lbs., 0 oz. | Lake Frierson | 01/30/2012 | Chris Owen, Alicia, AR |
| Shad, Alabama | 2 lbs., 13 oz. | Ouachita River | 04/04/1997 | Monte Pascoe, Hot Springs, AR |
| Shad, Gizzard | 2 lbs., 14 oz. | White River | 05/09/1992 | Charles Jordan, Mountain View, AR |
| Sturgeon, Shovelnose | 5 lbs., 0 oz. | Spring River | 10/10/2008 | D. Victor Waits, Holts Summit, MO |
| Sucker, Northern Hog | 1 lb., 6 oz. | Eleven Point River | 04/10/2021 | Rusty Gibson, Marmaduke, AR |
| Sucker, Spotted | 2 lb., 3 oz. | Twin Creek | 03/20/2023 | John Carter, Little Rock, AR |
| Sunfish, Green | 1 lb., 11 oz. | pond, Dierks | 04/12/1976 | Keith McCullough, Dierks, AR |
| Sunfish, Longear | 1 lb., 2 oz. | Table Rock Lake | 04/22/1991 | Carl Bohannan, Eureka Springs, AR |
| Sunfish, Redear | 2 lbs., 14 oz. | Bois d’Arc Lake | 05/04/1985 | Glenda Tatom, Stamps, AR |
| Trout, Brook | 5 lbs., 0 oz. | North Fork River | 06/03/2002 | Billy J. Meeks, Wylie, TX |
| Trout, Brown* | 40 lbs., 4 oz. | Little Red River | 05/09/1992 | Howard “Rip” Collins, Heber Springs, AR |
| Trout, Cutthroat | 10 lbs., 2 oz. | White River | 09/29/2018 | Mike Bowers, Abilene, KS |
| Trout, Lake | 11 lbs., 5 oz. | Greers Ferry Lake | 12/15/1997 | Clark Stevenson, Greenbrier, AR |
| Trout, Rainbow | 19 lbs., 1 oz. | White River | 03/14/1981 | Jim Miller, Memphis, TN |
| Walleye* | 22 lbs., 11 oz. | Greers Ferry Lake | 03/12/1982 | Al Nelson, Higden, AR |
| Warmouth | 1 lb., 8 oz. | Black Dog Bayou | 05/28/1998 | Michael Curtis, Pine Bluff, AR |
* World Record. Note: The brown trout is the 4-pound-line-class world record; the walleye is the 12-pound-line-class world record.
These fish were caught by legal means other than rod and reel.
| Species | Weight | Location | Date | State Record Holder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo, Bigmouth | 56 lbs., 4 oz. | Calion Lake | 04/03/2000 | Benny Alexander, El Dorado, AR |
| Buffalo, Black | 105 lbs., 0 oz. | Harris Brake Lake | 03/14/1994 | Kenneth Harvey, Perryville, AR |
| Buffalo, Smallmouth | 74 lbs., 0 oz. | Millwood Lake | 04/15/2007 | Zane Barrett, Murfreesboro, AR |
| Bullhead, Yellow | 4 lbs., 9 oz. | Blue Bayou | 05/22/2005 | Joshua Rosenbaum, Nashville, AR |
| Carpsucker, Highfin | 1 lbs., 12 oz. | Arkansas River | 06/19/2017 | Jimmy Ruple, Greenbrier, AR |
| Carpsucker, Quillback | 6 lbs., 9 oz. | Beaver Lake | 04/19/2019 | Caleb Broeker, Berryville, AR |
| Carpsucker, River | 3 lbs., 2 oz. | Arkansas River | 06/19/2017 | Jimmy Ruple, Greenbrier, AR |
| Catfish, Flathead | 85 lbs., 6 oz. | Blackfish Lake | 06/10/2019 | Preston Gracey, Forrest City, AR |
| Eel, American | 5 lbs., 5 oz. | Bull Shoals Lake | 06/24/2018 | Wilson Bowling, Bull Shoals, AR |
| Gar, Longnose | 54 lbs., 0 oz. | Arkansas River | 08/04/2011 | Torry Cook, Warren, AR |
| Gar, Shortnose | 11 lbs., 12 oz. | Cypress Bayou | 11/02/2016 | Bryson Harpole, Ward, AR |
| Gar, Spotted | 12 lbs., 5 oz. | Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir | 03/18/2017 | Jerrime Tucker, Conway, AR |
| Goldeye | 2 lb., 12 oz. | Cache River | 03/22/2020 | Tommy Medler, Judsonia, AR |
| Mullet, Striped | 5 lb., 6 oz. | Morgan Point Bendway Lake | 03/27/2020 | Samuel Yarberry, Bryant, AR |
| Redhorse, River | 9 lbs. 0 oz. | Lake Ouachita | 03/17/2013 | Asher Kight, Hot Springs, AR |
| Shad, Gizzard | 3 lbs. 7 oz. | DeGray Lake | 06/15/2013 | Ross Wooldridge, Malvern, AR |
| Sucker, Spotted | 4 lbs., 6 oz. | Big Hill Creek | 03/19/2018 | Ransum Mullens, Camden, AR |
Fisheries District Offices
Click here for contact information about the following locations: Brinkley, Camden, Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Monticello, Perrytown and Russellville.
Mayflower | D10
213 A Hwy. 89 South
833-340-7107
Mountain Home | D2
201 East 5th Street
870-425-7577
Rogers | D1
2805 West Oak Street
833-356-0880