Pennsylvania State Record Fish: All 18 Official Records (2026)
All 18 verified Pennsylvania record fish from the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. The heaviest is the Flathead Catfish at 66 lb 6 oz, caught in 2023 on Susquehanna River. The oldest standing record is the Muskellunge from 1924.
The official Pennsylvania state-fishing-records list is kept by Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Records range from prized gamefish like walleye, muskie, and bass to less-targeted species, and every one has been weighed and verified to the agency's standards.
A state record marks what a species is capable of in Pennsylvania water, and the lakes and rivers where those records were set point to the specific waters that have historically produced trophy-class fish. Reading the record-setting waters alongside the LakeQuality grade rubric is a useful exercise: coldwater species like trout and salmon tend to come from the cleanest, highest-grade waters, while warm-water trophies can come from across the grade distribution.
Record Fish by Species
Pennsylvania State Record Walleye
The Pennsylvania state record walleye weighed 18 lb 1 oz and measured 34 inches, caught in 2021 from Youghiogheny River in Fayette County by Richard E. Nicholson.
Pennsylvania State Record Muskellunge
The Pennsylvania state record muskellunge weighed 54 lb 3 oz, caught in 1924 from Conneaut Lake in Crawford County by Lewis Walker, Jr..
Pennsylvania State Record Northern Pike
The Pennsylvania state record northern pike weighed 35 lb, caught in 2003 from Allegheny Reservoir in McKean County by Carl Stoltz.
Pennsylvania State Record Largemouth Bass
The Pennsylvania state record largemouth bass weighed 11 lb 3 oz, caught in 1983 from Birch Run Reservoir in Adams County by Donald Shade.
Pennsylvania State Record Smallmouth Bass
The Pennsylvania state record smallmouth bass weighed 8 lb 8 oz, caught in 1997 from Scotts Run Lake in Berks County by Robert T. Steelman.
Pennsylvania State Record Lake Trout
The Pennsylvania state record lake trout weighed 31 lb 13 oz, caught in 2019 from Lake Erie in Erie County by Keith Miller.
All Pennsylvania Records
| Species | Weight | Length | Year | Water | County | Angler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 18 lb 1 oz | 34 in | 2021 | Youghiogheny River | Fayette | Richard E. Nicholson |
| Sauger | 4 lb | — | 2001 | Susquehanna River | Lycoming | Tim Waltz |
| Northern Pike | 35 lb | — | 2003 | Allegheny Reservoir | McKean | Carl Stoltz |
| Muskellunge | 54 lb 3 oz | — | 1924 | Conneaut Lake | Crawford | Lewis Walker, Jr. |
| Largemouth Bass | 11 lb 3 oz | — | 1983 | Birch Run Reservoir | Adams | Donald Shade |
| Smallmouth Bass | 8 lb 8 oz | — | 1997 | Scotts Run Lake | Berks | Robert T. Steelman |
| Striped Bass | 53 lb 13 oz | — | 1989 | Delaware River | Delaware | Donald J. Clark |
| Channel Catfish | 35 lb 3 oz | — | 1991 | Lehigh Canal | Northampton | Austin E. Roth III |
| Flathead Catfish | 66 lb 6 oz | — | 2023 | Susquehanna River | Lancaster | Michael Wherley |
| Black Crappie | 4 lb 3 oz | — | 2000 | Hammond Lake | Tioga | Richard A. Pino |
| Bluegill | 2 lb 9 oz | — | 1983 | Keystone Lake | Armstrong | Tom Twincheck |
| Yellow Perch | 3 lb | — | 2021 | Lake Erie | Erie | Kirk Rudzinski |
| Brown Trout | 20 lb 9 oz | — | 2020 | Lake Erie | Erie | Robert J. Ferraro |
| Rainbow Trout | 15 lb 6 oz | — | 1986 | Jordan Creek | Lehigh | Dennis L. Clouse |
| Brook Trout | 7 lb | — | 1996 | Fishing Creek | Clinton | Vonada Ranck |
| Lake Trout | 31 lb 13 oz | — | 2019 | Lake Erie | Erie | Keith Miller |
| Chinook Salmon | 28 lb 15 oz | — | 1990 | Lake Erie | Erie | Gregory Lasko |
| Coho Salmon | 15 lb 5 oz | — | 1985 | Lake Erie | Erie | Jack Scheirer |
Records by Decade
When each standing Pennsylvania record was set — a rough map of the state's trophy-fishing history.
How Pennsylvania Records Are Verified
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission requires that record-eligible fish be weighed on a certified scale, photographed, and verified by a fisheries biologist; some species also recognize catch-and-release length records. Each agency sets its own application form and filing deadline — check the official Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission records page for the current rules before submitting a claim.
Targeting a record? Many of these fish came from waters with strong populations of trophy-class fish — see the best fishing lakes ranking and Pennsylvania lake directory.