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April Killian
Record Breaking Fish That Were All Caught in Alabama!
2024-04-09
User-posted content
We have some whoppers in Alabama! Some really big fish, of course, but some even bigger tales to go along with them. A whole lot of people in Alabama claim to have an uncle or cousin that once caught a 250+ pound monster catfish in the local river or lake. The only problem: there's never any proof! I think it's time we settle the big fish debate in Alabama with catches that we know really happened. No more fish tales! Here is the official list of record freshwater fish caught in Alabama. These have all been verified and certified by the Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources.
*This list was produced and verified by the Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources and published to their state agency website, OutdoorsAlabama.com. Any disputes or complaints should be addressed to that agency here.
Bass,Striped(landlocked)*: 69 lbs. 9 oz. Caught: 2/28/2013 in Bankhead Reservoir of the Black Warrior River by James Bramlett of Dora *World Record, Rod And Reel
Crappie, Black (tie): 4 lbs. 5 oz. 3/37/2007 in Fort Payne Resevoir by Shelley Meadows of Mentone 6/2/1997 in Jefferson County pond by William D. Webb of Birmingham 3/18/1984 in Paint Creek by Sherril Harrid of Sylacauga
Crappie, White (two records): 4 lbs. 9 oz. Caught: 5/8/2000 in Lake Martin, Tallapoosa County, by Jeremy S. White of Alexander City 4 lbs. 8 oz. Caught: 4/4/1974 in Guntersville Reservoir by Jack Grant of Altoona
Alabama State Record White Crappie (Tie) 4 lb. 9 oz. Top: Jeremy S. White 2000 Lake Martin. Bottom: Jack Grant 1974 Guntersville ReservoirPhoto byAla. Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
Drum, freshwater*: 41 lbs. 8 oz. Caught: 7/24/1949 in Wilson Reservoir by Wilson Brock of Birmingham *Previous World Record, Rod and Reel
Eel, American: 5 lbs. 8 oz. Caught: 5/11/1989 in Lake Shechi, Chilton Co. by Tod A. Groover of Montevallo
Gar, Alligator: 151 lbs. 9 oz. Caught: 8/13/2009 in the Tensaw River by Richard Johnson of Bay Minette 151 lbs. 5 oz. Caught: 8/13/2004 in the Tensaw River by Michael houseknecht of Mobile
Gar, Longnose: 32 lbs. 14oz. Caught: 4/18/1985 in the Jordan Reservoir by Gary Smyth of Pelham
Gar, Spotted: 8 lbs. 12 oz. Caught: 8/26/1987 in Cotaco Creek by Winston Baker of Alex City
Herring, Skipjack: 3 lbs. 5 oz. Caught: 3/18/2020 in Wheeler Dam Tailwater by Chris S. Fuller of Athens 3 lbs. 4 oz. Caught: 5/2/2012 in Mulberry Fork by Bobby Lee Davis of Bessemer
Muskellunge (no longer stocked in Alabama): 19 lbs. 8 oz. Caught: 12/31/1972 in Wilson Dam tailwater by Steve Leatherwood of Haleyville
Paddlefish (now protected, release when captured): 52 lbs. 12 oz. Caught: 3/18/1982 in Wilson Dam tailwater by Susan Holland of Muscle Shoals
Perch, Yellow: 2 lb. 2 oz. Caught: 3/7/2015 in Yates Reservoir by Gary Lee Grove, Jr. of Opelika
Pickerel, Chain: 6 lbs. 6 oz. Caught: 6/24/1976 in Dyas Creek, Baldwin County by Michael P. Ryan of Bay Minette
Pickerel, Redfin (two records): 0 lbs. 14 oz. Caught: 9/4/2017 in Bassett Creek, Wash. Co. by Henry Merrit of Deer Park 0 lbs. 13 oz. Caught: 7/7/2014 in Armstrong Creek, Wash. Co. by Frank Lambert Dickey of Chatom
Several fish on the Alabama record list, also set world records when they were caught. Four of these Alabama catches hold the world record to this day! Here they are according to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources:
Bass, Yellow*: 2 lb. 8 oz. Caught: 4/12/2000 in Guntersville Reservoir, Jackson Co. by Dennis M. Woebbeking of Pisgah *World Record, Rod And Reel
Redhorse, Silver*: 14 lbs. 14 oz. Caught: 4/24/1995 in Wilson Dam tailwater by Chris Stephenson of Birmingham *World Record, Rod And Reel
Sunfish, Bluegill*: 4 lbs. 12 oz. Caught: 4/9/1950 in Ketona Lake, Birmingham, by T. S. Hudson of Birmingham
Would you like to catch a record fish in Alabama? In case you do, and you want it to be official, here's the procedure for the Certification of Alabama State Record Freshwater Fish, according to the state agency website:
Fish must be caught in Alabama waters by legal means.
Click "follow" for more of my articles about the great state of Alabama! I'm a native and resident of the Shoals area, sharing events and unique stories about the places and people of Alabama the Beautiful. Have a story to tell? Email me: april.newsbreak@gmail.com.
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