Missouri State Record Bigmouth Buffalo: 56 lb
The Missouri state record bigmouth buffalo weighed 56 lb. It was caught in 1976 from Lake Loch Loma by Dr. W.J. Long, and the Missouri Department of Conservation still recognizes it as the state mark 50 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Lake Loch Loma. We don't carry a water-quality grade for it: our index covers standing lakes with enough EPA Water Quality Portal samples to score, which leaves out rivers and tributaries, Great Lakes water, and smaller ponds that are rarely sampled. Browse the Missouri lakes we do grade instead.
Bigmouth Buffalo records by state
Missouri ranks 1 of 2 among the states in our index for record bigmouth buffalo. No state we track has produced a heavier one.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missouri (this page) | 56 lb | 1976 | Lake Loch Loma |
| 2 | South Dakota | 51 lb 9 oz | 1993 | Lake Mitchell |
Each figure comes from that state's own fisheries agency. Agencies differ on what they certify — some recognize catch-and-release length records alongside weight — so treat this as a comparison of standing certified weights, not a single national list.
How it ranks inside Missouri
3 of Missouri's 20 standing records are heavier than the 56 lb bigmouth buffalo — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 4 Missouri records have stood longer, the bigmouth buffalo mark dating to 1976.