State record fish: Catch and release

Records

18 additional fish species records now offer records

Applications now are being accepted so fish listed below can join flathead catfish, lake sturgeon, muskellunge and northern pike on the catch and release records list.

  • Bigmouth buffalo
  • Blue sucker
  • Bowfin
  • Brook trout
  • Brown trout
  • Channel catfish
  • Freshwater drum
  • Lake trout
  • Largemouth bass
  • Longnose gar
  • Rainbow trout
  • Sauger
  • Shortnose gar
  • Shovelnose sturgeon
  • Smallmouth bass
  • Smallmouth buffalo
  • Tiger muskellunge
  • Walleye

rules section to submit an application for a catch and release record. New records are listed in bold.

Last update: Monday, August 05, 2024 @ 04:42 pm CDT
Fish Length 1 Girth 1 Caught Place caught County Angler Photo
Flathead catfish 52½ 2 8/2/2017 St. Croix River Washington Mark Mosby, St. Anthony View

Flathead catfish caught Aug. 2, 2017, on the St. Croix River

Muskellunge 58¼ N/P 2 6/11/2022 Mille Lacs Lake Mille Lacs Eric Bakke, Princeton View

Muskellunge caught June 11, 2022, on Mille Lacs Lake

Lake sturgeon 78 29½ 2/9/2019 St. Croix River Washington Darren Troseth, Jordan View

Lake sturgeon caught Feb. 9, 2019, on the St. Croix River

Northern pike - tie 46¼ 23⅔ 1/22/2023 Mille Lacs Lake Aitkin Brad Lila, Hudson, Wis. View

Northern pike caught Jan. 22, 2023, on the Mille Lacs Lake

Northern pike - tie 46¼ N/P 2 6/19/2021 Basswood Lake Lake Brecken Kobylecky, Geneva, Ill. View

Northern pike caught June 19, 2019, on Basswood Lake

Shovelnose sturgeon 35 N/P 2 3/12/2024 Minnesota River Scott Elliot Feldman, Sturgeon Bay, Wis. View

Shovelnose sturgeon caught March 12, 2024, on the Minnesota River

Brown trout 30 N/P 2 4/15/2024 Lake Superior St. Louis Dan Zeleznikar, Duluth View

Brown trout caught April 15, 2024, in Lake Superior

Lake trout 42.5 N/P 2 4/21/2024 Lake Superior St. Louis Kelsey Vanderheyden, Stanchfield View

Lake trout caught April 21, 2024, on Lake Superior

1 Listed in inches • 2 N/P: Not provided

Rules

Download, review, save and print the complete rules and application package before you go fishing.

If you catch a fish that you think could be a record, follow these steps:

  • To ensure your catch qualifies:
    1. For a catch and release record that exists, find and review the listing in the table above to ensure your fish is at least ¼-inch longer than the existing record.

    2. For a new record, .

      Fish Minimum length
      Bigmouth buffalo 32 inches
      Blue sucker 28 inches
      Bowfin 31 inches
      Brook trout 18 inches
      Brown trout 24 inches
      Channel catfish 38 inches
      Freshwater drum 31 inches
      Lake trout 4o inches.
      Largemouth bass 22 inches
      Longnose gar 46 inches
      Rainbow trout 23 inches
      Sauger 22 inches
      Shortnose gar 3o inches
      Shovelnose sturgeon 32 inches
      Snallmouth bass 22 inches
      Smallmouth buffalo 31 inches
      Tiger musskellunge 44 inches
      Walleye 32 inches
  • Download the catch and release record fish application.
  • An observer must witness your catch and release and is required to sign and date your application in the appropriate area.
  • Complete the application, follow the application's detailed instructions on taking photographs and send all application materials to the address listed on the application.
  • Fish may not be caught using any methods other than angling and may not be snagged.
  • Fish caught from any fish hatchery (private, club or government) are not eligible to be considered for a state record.
  • Fish caught on a body of water without a public access are not eligible to be considered for a state record.
  • Fish must be caught during the legal open season and hours in Minnesota waters, including those boundary waters where a Minnesota fishing license is valid, by a person licensed or otherwise legally entitled to angle in Minnesota.
  • The girth of the fish, measured around the thickest portion of the body, is desired but optional.
  • Applications must be submited within 90 days of the date on which the fish was caught.

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