South Dakota State Record Bigmouth Buffalo: 51 lb 9 oz
The South Dakota state record bigmouth buffalo weighed 51 lb 9 oz. It was caught in 1993 from Lake Mitchell by Reg Young, and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks still recognizes it as the state mark 33 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Lake Mitchell. 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 South Dakota lakes we do grade instead.
Bigmouth Buffalo records by state
South Dakota ranks 2 of 2 among the states in our index for record bigmouth buffalo. Missouri holds the heaviest at 56 lb, set in 1976.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missouri | 56 lb | 1976 | Lake Loch Loma |
| 2 | South Dakota (this page) | 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 South Dakota
2 of South Dakota's 20 standing records are heavier than the 51 lb 9 oz bigmouth buffalo — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 7 South Dakota records have stood longer, the bigmouth buffalo mark dating to 1993.