State record fish: Certified weight

Records

11 popular fish species records now open

Applications now are being accepted so new certified weight records can replace the existing non-certified weight records that were established for these fish species prior to 1980.

  • Black crappie
  • Bluegill
  • Brown bullhead
  • Channel catfish
  • Common carp
  • Flathead catfish
  • Lake trout
  • Northern pike
  • Smallmouth bass
  • Walleye
  • Yellow perch

Yellow bass added

Yellow bass are being established as a new record because the species has dramatically increased in both presence and popularity, particularly in south-central Minnesota.

Fish listed below were weighed on a certified scale and an application was submitted and approved. See the rules section to submit an application for a certified weight record. New records are listed in bold.

Use show entries, search and sort to locate and list record fish

Last update: Thursday, June 13, 2024 @ 11:46 am CDT

Fish

Lbs.

Oz.

Inches

Girth

Place caught

County

Caught

Bass, Largemouth

8

15

23½

17½

Auburn Lake

Carver

10/3/2005

Bass, Rock (tie)

2

0

13½

12½

Lake Osakis

Todd

5/10/1998

Bass, Rock (tie)

2

0

12½

12⅜

Lake Winnibigoshish

Cass

8/30/2004

Bass, White

4

8

20

16

Vadnais Lake

Ramsey

10/10/2016

Bass, Yellow

1

8

12.5

N/P

Clear Lake

Jackson

5/11/2024

Bowfin

12

9

31½

18

Mississippi River

Wabasha

9/14/2012

Buffalo, Bigmouth

41

11

38⅜

29½

Pool 4 Mississippi River

Goodhue

5/7/1991

Buffalo, Smallmouth

20

0

32

23¾

Big Sandy

Aitkin

9/20/2003

Bullhead, Black

3

13

17⅛

14⅞

Reno Lake

Pope

6/8/1997

Bullhead, Yellow

3

10

17⅞

11¾

Lake Osakis

Todd

8/5/2002

Burbot (Eelpout)

19

10

33

23⅞

Lake of the Woods; near Baudette

Lake of the

12/19/2016

Carpsucker, Quillback

7

4

22⅝

18

Upper Red Lake

Beltrami

8/9/2010

Carpsucker, River

4

6

21⅝

16

Minnesota River

Carver

11/19/2012

Cisco (Tullibee)

5

13

20¾

16¾

Sybil Lake

Otter Tail

3/9/2015

Crappie, Black

3

9

17.5

N/P

Cedar Lake

Rice

5/9/2024

Crappie, White

3

15

18

16

Lake Constance

Wright

7/28/2002

Drum, Freshwater (Sheepshead)

35

3

36

31

Mississippi River near Winona

Winona

10/5/1999

Gar, Longnose

16

12

53

16½

St. Croix River near Prescott

Washington

5/4/1982

Gar, Shortnose

5

4

31

11¾

Minnesota River

Renville

4/17/2017

Goldeye

3

5

20 ⅔

13½

Minnesota River

Blue Earth

5/3/2020

Hogsucker, Northern

3

4

18½

9

Mississippi River near St. Cloud

Stearns

5/3/2023

Mooneye

1

15

16½

Minnesota River

Redwood

6/18/1980

Muskellunge

55

14

57¾

29

Mille Lacs Lake

Mille Lacs

11/22/2021

Muskellunge, Tiger

34

12

51

22½

Lake Elmo

Washington

7/7/1999

Redhorse, Golden

4

8

22½

12¾

Otter Tail River

Otter Tail

4/7/2018

Redhorse, Greater

12

11

28½

18½

Sauk River

Stearns

5/20/2005

Redhorse, River

12

10

28⅜

20

Kettle River

Pine

5/20/2005

Redhorse, Shorthead

7

15

27

15

Rum River near Ramsey

Anoka

8/5/1983

Redhorse, Silver

10

6

26¾

17½

Rainy River

Koochiching

4/28/2018

Salmon, Atlantic

12

13

35½

16½

Baptism River

Lake

10/12/1991

Salmon, Chinook - Tie

33

4

44¾

25¾

Poplar River

Cook

9/23/1989

Salmon, Chinook - Tie

33

4

42¼

26⅛

Lake Superior

St. Louis

10/12/1989

Salmon, Coho

12

5

33.75

N/P

Lake Superior

St. Louis

6/1/2024

Salmon, Pink

4

8

23½

13⅛

Cascade River

Cook

9/9/1989

Sauger

6

2

23⅞

15

Mississippi River near Red Wing, (L&D No.3)

Goodhue

5/23/1988

Saugeye,Walleye x Sauger Hybrid

9

13

27

17¾

Mississippi River near Red Wing

Goodhue

3/20/1999

Sturgeon, Lake

94

4

70

26½

Kettle River

Pine

9/5/1994

Sturgeon, Shovelnose

6

7

33

13¾

Mississippi River near Red Wing

Goodhue

2/19/2012

Sucker, Longnose

3

10

21

10¼

Brule River

Cook

5/19/2005

Sucker, White

9

1

24¼

16¼

Big Fish Lake

Stearns

5/1/1983

Sunfish, Green

1

4

10¼

10⅝

North Arbor Lake

Hennepin

6/14/2005

Sunfish, HybridTie

1

12

11½

12

Zumbro River

Olmsted

7/9/1994

Sunfish, HybridTie

1

12

12

13

Green Lake

Kandiyohi

9/18/2022

Sunfish, Pumpkinseed

1

5

10

12⅛

Leech Lake

Cass

6/6/1999

Trout, Brook

6

5

24

14½

Pigeon River

Cook

9/2/2000

Trout, Brown

16

12

31⅜

20½

Lake Superior

St. Louis

6/23/1989

Trout, Rainbow (Steelhead)

16

6

33

19½

Devil Track River

Cook

4/27/1980

Trout, Splake, (Brook x Lake Trout Hybrid)

13

5

33½

19

Larson Lake

Itasca

2/11/2001

Trout, Tiger

2

9

20

9⅝

Mill Creek

Olmsted

8/7/1999

Whitefish, Lake

13

9

29½

22

Lake of the Woods

Lake of the Woods

4/6/2019

Whitefish, Menominee, (Round)

2

7

21

9

Lake Superior

Cook

4/27/1987

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 certified weight record that exists, find and review the listing in the table above for the fish you caught.
    2. For a new record for yellow bass or one of the existing 11 fish species records that have been re-opened, .

      Fish

      Minimum weight

      Black crappie

      2.5 lbs.

      Bluegill

      1.5 lbs.

      Brown bullhead

      3 lbs.

      Channel catfish

      30 lbs.

      Common Carp

      30 lbs.

      Flathead catfish

      58 lbs.

      Lake trout

      13 lbs.

      Northern pike

      32 lbs.

      Smallmouth bass

      7 lbs.

      Walleye

      14 lbs.

      Yellow bass

      1 lbs.

      Yellow perch

      1 lbs.

  • Download the certified weight record fish application.
  • Print it and bring it with you to the weighing so it can be signed by a witness.
  • Have the fish weighed on a state-certified scale, which can be found at most bait and butcher shops.
  • An observer must witness the weighing, sign and date your application in the appropriate area.
  • Take the fish and your application to a DNR area fisheries office for positive identification by fisheries biologists.
  • 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.
  • Fish must be weighted on a certfied scale, which is available at most bait and butcher shops.
  • Fish must be brought to an area fisheries office for species identfication/verification. Two DNR fisheries biologists must atest to the correct species identity.
  • 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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