New York State Record Black Crappie: 4 lb 1 oz
The New York state record black crappie weighed 4 lb 1 oz and measured 18.5 inches. It was caught in 2018 from Lake Flavia in Cattaraugus County by William Wightman, and the New York DEC still recognizes it as the state mark 8 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Lake Flavia in Cattaraugus County. 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 New York lakes we do grade instead.
Black Crappie records by state
New York ranks 8 of 10 among the states in our index for record black crappie. Minnesota holds the heaviest at 5 lb, set in 1940.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | 5 lb | 1940 | Vermilion River |
| 2 | Missouri | 5 lb | 2006 | Private Pond |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 4 lb 8 oz | 1996 | Gile Flowage |
| 4 | Illinois | 4 lb 8 oz | 1976 | Rend Lake |
| 5 | Ohio | 4 lb 8 oz | 1981 | Private lake |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 4 lb 3 oz | 2000 | Hammond Lake |
| 7 | Michigan | 4 lb 2 oz | 1947 | Lincoln Lake |
| 8 | New York (this page) | 4 lb 1 oz | 2018 | Lake Flavia |
| 9 | Iowa | 3 lb 15 oz | 2026 | Lake of Three Fires |
| 10 | South Dakota | 3 lb 8 oz | 2004 | SDSU Pond |
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 New York
17 of New York's 20 standing records are heavier than the 4 lb 1 oz black crappie — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 14 New York records have stood longer, the black crappie mark dating to 2018.