Fishing Records

California Freshwater Fishing Records

Species----------------------Weight--------------Year-------Location-------------------Angler

Bass, Largemouth   21 lbs. 12oz.    3-5-91  Lake Castaic       Michael Arujo, Santa Monica
Bass, Redeye        No record
Bass, Smallmouth    9 lbs. 1oz     5-20-76  Clair Engle L.     Tim Brady, Weaverville
Bass, Spotted       9 lbs. 6oz.     2-5-84  Lake Perris        Jeff Mathews, Redlands
Bass, White         5 lbs. 5oz.     5-8-72  Ferguson L.        Milton Mize, Chula Vista
Bass, Striped      67 lbs. 8oz.     5-7-92  O'Neill Forebay    Hank Ferguson, Soquel
Carp               52 lbs.          4-?-68  Naciniento L.      Lee Bryant, Fresno
Catfish, Channel   52 lbs. 10oz.   7-12-93  Santa Ana River L. Lee Porter, Los Angeles
Catfish, Blue      61 lbs. 8oz.   10-22-94  Irvine L.          Hai Van Le, Westminister
Catfish, Flathead  60 lbs.          3-7-92  Colorado River     Virgil Grimes, Costa Mesa
Catfish, White     22 lbs.         3-21-94  William Land Park  James Robinson, Sacramento
Bullhead            4 lbs. 8oz.    10-7-93  Trinity L.         Garry Dittenbir, Lewiston
Crappie, Black      4 lbs. 1oz.    3-29-75  New Hogan L.       Wilma Lee Honey, Lodi
Crappie, White      4 lbs. 8oz.    4-26-71  Clear L.           Carol Carlton, Lakeport
Perch, Sacramento   3 lbs. 10oz.   5-22-79  Crowley L.         Jack Johnson, Carson
Perch, Yellow       No record
Sunfish, Bluegill   3 lbs. 8oz.    7-10-91  Lower Otay Res.    Davis Buckhanon, San Diego
Sunfish, Redear     5 lbs. 3oz.    6-27-94  Folsom S. Canal    Anthony White, Citrus Heights
Sunfish, Green      1 lb. 12oz.     6-3-78  Pond-Bella Vista   
Salmon, King       88 lbs.        11-21-79  Sacramento River   O.H. Lindberg, Red Bluff
Salmon, Coho       22 lbs.          1-3-59  Paper Mill Creek   Milton T. Hein
Salmon, Kokanee     4 lbs. 13oz.    8-1-73  Lake Tahoe         Dick Bournique, S. Lake Tahoe
Shad                7 lbs. 5oz.     5-9-85  Feather River      Craig Stillwell
Sturgeon          486 lbs.          7-9-83  San Pablo Bay      Joey Pallotta, Crockett
Trout, Brook        9 lbs. 9oz.     9-9-32  Silver L.          Texas Haynes
Trout, Brown       26 lbs. 8oz.    4-30-87  Upper Twin L.      Danny Stearman, Bakersfield
Trout, Bull         9 lbs. 11oz.    5-?-68  McCloud L.         James Scott, McCloud
Trout, Cutthroat   31 lbs. 8oz.       1911  Lake Tahoe         William Pomin
Trout, Golden       9 lbs. 8oz.    8-18-52  Virginia L.        O.A. Benefield, Compton
Trout, Lake        37 lbs. 6oz.    6-21-74  Lake Tahoe         Robert G. Aronsen, S. Lake Tahoe
Trout,Rainbow -
Steelhead          27 lbs. 4oz.   12-22-76  Smith River        Robert Halley, Crescent City
Grayling            1 lb. 12oz.    8-27-74  Lobdell L.         Don Acton, Jr., Bishop
Warmouth            12oz.          7-21-82  American River     Lester W. Falloon
Whitefish           1 lb. 8oz.    11-14-94  E. Carson River    Holden Brink, Orangevale
Orangemouth Corvina 37 lbs.        7-15-88  Salton Sea         Dick VanDam, Chino
Sargo                4 lbs. 1oz.      1972  Salton Sea         Mike Leonte, Thermal

The following are the current (June 1, 1994) guidelines regarding acknowledgment of a fish as a new state record in the State Record Program for California Inland Waters.

The fish must be legally taken under the provisions of a current, valid California sportfishing license.
The fish must be examined by an employee of the California Department of Fish and Game.
The facts regarding the capture must be recorded on a form FG 737 (CALIFORNIA INLAND WATER ANGLING RECORD VERIFICATION). This form must be signed by a permanent Department of Fish and Game employee. (In signing this form the employee is conditionally certifying the authenticity of the record.)
Following conditional certification, the new record application must be reviewed and approved by the California Department of Fish and Game Inland Fisheries Division. In the event of any dispute regarding the authenticity of any application for any reason, the determination of the Inland Fisheries Division shall be conclusive.
Photographs of the fish are strongly recommended but not necessarily required. Nor do they require that the fish be killed as part of the authentication process. However, the employee signing the form FG 737 should inform the prospective new record holder that in the event of a dispute regarding species, size, or other information related to the resolution of the dispute. It is the responsibility of the angler to retain the fish in a condition for possible further examination until the new record has been officially acknowledged.