The N.C Wildlife Resources Commission's Inland Fisheries Division keeps a list of the largest common freshwater fish caught by hook and line in the state's waters. Below is a list of current records and information on how to apply for a new state record.
Apply for a North Carolina State Freshwater Fishing Record
If you catch a trophy fish that doesn't qualify for a state record, your catch can be recognized through the Commission's North Carolina Angler Recognition Program.
| Species & Weight | Location | Date | Bait | Angler | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass 66 lbs | Hiwassee Reservoir | 3/31/2012 | Black Zoom Trick Worm | Tyler Shields | 
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| Largemouth Bass 15 lbs, 14 oz | Farm Pond Union County | 3/29/1991 | Crankbait | William H. Wofford | 
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| Bodie Bass (Hybrid Striped Bass) 17 lbs, 7 oz | Lake Chatuge | 3/15/1996 | Rebel Jointed Plug | Michael R. Hogsed | 
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| Roanoke Bass 2 lbs, 11 oz | Nash Cty fishing creek | 4/27/1994 | Spinner bait | Richard Elijah Evans | 
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Rock Bass 1 lb, 14 oz | Deep River Carbonton | 4/29/1998 | Crappie jig | Robert W. Lytton | 
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Smallmouth Bass 10 lbs, 2 oz | Hiwassee Reservoir | 6/1/1951 | Unknown | Archie Lampkin | No image available |
| Spotted Bass 6 lbs, 5 oz | Lake Norman | 12/26/2003 | Zoom Finesse Worm | Eric M. Weir | 
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| White Bass 5 lbs, 14 oz | Kerr Reservoir | 3/15/1986 | Bucktail | Jim King | 
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| Species & Weight | Location | Date | Bait | Angler | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Catfish 127 lbs, 1 oz | Roanoke River | 7/10/2021 | Gizzard Shad | Rocky Baker | 
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Brown Bullhead 4 lbs | Greenfield Lake New Hanover County | 3/14/2016 | Cut Bait | Mitchell McConnell | 
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Channel Catfish 27 lbs, 7 oz | Local farm pond, Rockingham County | 5/21/23 | Bread Dough | Justin Hall | 
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Flathead Catfish 78 lbs, 14 oz | Neuse River | 07/20/2020 | Live sunfish | Tyler Barnes | 
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White Catfish 13 lbs | Lake James | 05/21/1990 | Night Crawler | Jerry Wayne Bentley | 
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| Species & Weight | Location | Date | Bait | Angler | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Perch 2 lbs, 15 oz | Falls of the Neuse Reservoir | 12/16/2001 | Strata Spoon | Bob G. Williams, Jr. | 
|
| Yellow Perch 2 lbs, 9 oz | Indiantown Creek | 02/08/1990 | Minnow | Evelyn G. Etheridge | 
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| Species & Weight | Location | Date | Bait | Angler | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chain Pickerel 8 lbs | Gaston Reservoir | 02/13/1968 | Minnow | John H. Leonard | 
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| Redfin Pickerel 2 lbs, 4 oz | Gallberry Swamp | 06/23/1997 | Minnow | Edward C. Davis | 
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| Species & Weight | Location | Date | Bait | Angler | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Shad 7 lbs, 15 oz | Tar River | 04/10/1974 | Shad Dart | R.S. Proctor | 
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| Hickory Shad 4 lbs, 1 ounce | Pitchkettle Creek | 02/24/2004 | Spoon | Trey Maroules | 
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| Species & Weight | Location | Date | Bait | Angler | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill 4 lbs, 5 oz | Henderson County | 7/27/1967 | Catalpa worm | Danny Case | 
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| Green Sunfish 1 lb, 15 oz | Private Pond | 7/12/2014 | Worm | Victoria Navaroli | 
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Flier 1 lb, 5 oz | Private Pond | 3/17/1990 | Cricket | Douglas N. McCall | 
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Pumpkinseed 1 lb, 6 oz | Trent River | 05/21/2003 | Eel | John Koonce | 
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Redbreast 2 lb, 1 ounce | Lumber River | 6/10/2019 | Cricket | Alphonso Jackson | 
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Redear (shellcracker) 4 lbs, 15 oz | Edgecombe County | 5/19/2008 | Worm | Travis Jackson | 
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Spotted Sunfish 7 oz | Big Swamp Robeson County | 6/25/2016 | Green beetle spin | Elijah Crabtree | 
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Warmouth 1 lb, 13 oz | McLeods Pond RIchmond County | 5/07/1976 | Minnow | Emma Sears | No image available |
| Species & Weight | Location | Date | Bait | Angler | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout 20 lbs, 3 oz | Horsepasture River Jackson County | 01/28/2006 | Rapala | Leah Johnson | 
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| Brook Trout 7 lbs, 7 oz | Raven Fork River | 05/15/1980 | Rooster Tail | G.L. Marshall, Jr. | No image available |
| Brown Trout 24 lbs, 10 oz. | Nantahala River | 04/17/1998 | #11 Rapala | Robert Lee Dyer | No image available |
| Species & Weight | Location | Date | Bait | Angler | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowfin 17 lbs, 15 oz | Black River | 06/21/1997 | Cut bait bream | Gregory A. Demery, Sr. | 
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| Black Crappie 4 lbs, 15 oz | Asheboro City Lake #4 | 04/27/1980 | Minnow | Dean Dixon | No image available |
| Carp 48 lbs | Mecklenburg County Pond | 03/11/1986 | Unknown | William Houston, Jr. | 
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| Freshwater Drum 23 lbs, 8 oz | Kerr Reservoir | 03/20/2013 | Plastic fluke | Jonathan Wilkerson | 
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| Grass Carp 68 lbs, 12 oz | Summerlins Pond Leland | 06/08/1998 | Rebel Pop R | David W. Stowell | 
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| Kokanee Salmon 4 lbs, 1 ounce | Nantahala Lake | 06/11/2014 | Dodgers & Flashers as lures | Jeffrey Todd Smith | 
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| Longnose Gar 25 lbs | Intracoastal Waterway near Coinjock | 01/30/2009 | Tube Jig | Kelly Williams | 
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| Muskellunge 41 lbs, 8 oz | Lake Adger | 01/23/2001 | Big Mack | Richard W. Dodd | 
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| Northern Pike 11 lbs, 13 oz | Lake James | 08/26/1978 | Storm Wiggle Wart | Keith Gilliam | 
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| Sauger 5 lbs, 15 oz | Lake Norman | 07/25/1971 | Topwater Rapala | David Shook | 
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| Smallmouth Buffalo 88 lbs | Lake Wylie | 11/14/1993 | Pack bait | Tony Crawford | 
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| Tiger Muskellunge 33 lbs, 8 oz | Lake James | 04/03/1988 | Buzzbait | Gary Dean Nanney | 
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| Walleye 13 lbs, 8 oz | Shooting Creek, Lake Chatuge | 08/16/1986 | Old Faithful Spoon | Lamar L. Cofer | 
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| White Crappie 3 lbs, 15 oz | Private Lake Wake County | 04/01/2013 | Storm WildEye Swim Shad Lure | Joey Boretti | 
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