Pennsylvania State Record Striped Bass: 53 lb 13 oz
The Pennsylvania state record striped bass weighed 53 lb 13 oz. It was caught in 1989 from Delaware River in Delaware County by Donald J. Clark, and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission still recognizes it as the state mark 37 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Delaware River in Delaware 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 Pennsylvania lakes we do grade instead.
Striped Bass records by state
Pennsylvania ranks 3 of 5 among the states in our index for record striped bass. Missouri holds the heaviest at 65 lb 2 oz, set in 2015.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missouri | 65 lb 2 oz | 2015 | Bull Shoals Lake |
| 2 | New York | 60 lb | 2014 | Hudson River |
| 3 | Pennsylvania (this page) | 53 lb 13 oz | 1989 | Delaware River |
| 4 | Indiana | 40 lb 3 oz | 2023 | Blue River |
| 5 | Illinois | 31 lb 7 oz | 1994 | Sangchris Lake |
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 Pennsylvania
2 of Pennsylvania's 18 standing records are heavier than the 53 lb 13 oz striped bass — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 5 Pennsylvania records have stood longer, the striped bass mark dating to 1989.