Texas State Record Fish

Every freshwater and saltwater rod and reel record TPWD has certified.

Heaviest freshwater records

Biggest Texas freshwater fish on record

Alligator gar283 lb
Blue catfish121.5 lb
Flathead catfish98.5 lb
Bighead carp90 lb
Smallmouth buffalo82.22 lb
Hybrid gar70.22 lb
Bigmouth buffalo58.75 lb
Grass carp53.5 lb
Striped bass53 lb
Yellowedge grouper45.2 lb
Longnose gar44.5 lb
Common carp44.25 lb

TPWD state records, rod and reel all tackle.

Freshwater

Texas freshwater state records, rod and reel

SpeciesWeight (lb)Length (in)WaterYear
Alabama bass6.5Alan Henry2026
Alligator gar28372Sam Rayburn2023
American eel6.4542Lady Bird Lake2001
Amphilophus fishes0.548.25Granbury2022
Bighead carp9055.5Kirby2000
Bigmouth buffalo58.7540.75Sam Rayburn1994
Bigmouth sleeper2.4219Nueces River2005
Black buffalo34.8839.5Texoma2004
Black bullhead5.1520.25Brazos River2007
Black crappie417Toledo Bend2002
Black drum36.6342.5Nueces River2009
Blackbelly rosefish3.7518.25Gulf of America2024
Blue catfish121.558Texoma2004
Blue tilapia7.7521.5Houston2010
Bluegill sunfish2.0212.5Lampasas River1999
Bowfin17.6536.5Lake Fork1993
Brook trout0.6712Guadalupe River1984
Brown trout7.1224Guadalupe River1986
Chain pickerel4.7523.75Pat Mayse1996
Channel catfish36.538Pedernales River1965
Common carp44.2541Lady Bird Lake2021
Flathead catfish98.553Palestine1998
Freshwater drum4438.5Conroe2011
Gafftopsail catfish3.222.5San Bernard River2025
Gizzard shad2.6718Lady Bird Lake1997
Golden shiner0.7611.75San Marcos River2024
Goldeye2.3117.5Texoma1996
Goldfish8.826Richland College Upper Pond (Dallas)2020
Grass carp53.549Toledo Bend2006
Gray redhorse4.7522.25Lady Bird Lake2014
Green sunfish1.311Burke-Crenshaw Lake2005
Guadalupe bass3.7117.25Colorado River2014
Guadalupe x largemouth bass4.4620.25Austin2026
Guadalupe x smallmouth bass4.6920.39San Marcos River1999
Guadalupe x spotted bass3.0617.75Lady Bird Lake2007
Hardhead catfish0.813.5San Bernard River2025
Hybrid gar70.2275Trinity River2018
Hybrid green sunfish0.9610Tyler State Park2024
Hybrid striped bass19.6635.16Ray Hubbard Reservoir1984
Hybrid tilapia5.7819.5Travis2021
Koi carp9.4327Benbrook Reservoir2024
Largemouth bass18.1825.5Lake Fork1992
Largemouth bass x smallmouth bass bass11.0724.5O. H. Ivie2022
Largemouth x spotted bass4.6920.88Houston County2021
Longear sunfish0.849.25San Marcos River2009
Longnose gar44.5Trinity River2017
Nile perch12.0630.5Victor Braunig1980
Nile tilapia3.417.25Squaw Creek2025
Northern pike18.2841Lady Bird Lake1981
Orangemouth corvina16.3136Calaveras1991
Oscar1.2111.75Greenbelt1998
Other hybrid sunfish1.7312.5Bardwell2004
Rainbow trout12.3825Guadalupe River2023
Red drum36.8344Fairfield2001
Red-bellied pacu8.9519San Marcos River2006
Redbreast sunfish1.7512.5Wheeler Branch Reservoir2020
Redear sunfish2.9914Lady Bird Lake1997
Redfin pickerel0.6613Toledo Bend2009
Redtail catfish1.4814.76Cal Young Park Lake2002
Rio grande cichlid2.0211.1Dunlap2011
River carpsucker5.118.25Denton Creek2021
Rock bass1.1311San Marcos River2013
Saugeye7.7827Kirby1998
Shortnose gar13.5639Lavon2010
Skipjack herring0.5511.63Trinity River2010
Smallmouth bass7.9323Meredith1998
Smallmouth bass x spotted bass bass6.4221.5Ray Roberts2019
Smallmouth buffalo82.2243.5Athens1993
Southern flounder11.3526Brazoria Reservoir1987
Spotted bass5.5621Lake O` the Pines1966
Spotted gar12.1334Trinity River2025
Spotted seatrout8.3128.5Nueces River2009
Spotted seatrout x corvina20.835Victor Braunig1992
Spotted sucker1.4114.5Catfish Creek2002
Striped bass5348Brazos River1999
Striped mullet2.216.31Brazos River2008
Suckermouth catfish3.45Guadalupe River2011
Tarpon10.1237Victor Braunig1986
Tiger muskellunge9.0632Nocona1979
Walleye11.8831.75Meredith1990
Warmouth sunfish1.310.5Lady Bird Lake1991
White bass5.5620.75Colorado River1977
White crappie4.56Navarro Mills1968
White mullet1.1613Brays Bayou1998
White x yellow bass4.7519Lake Fork2005
Yellow bass3.4617.5Sabine River2009
Yellow bullhead3.68Lake Tyler2024
Yellow perch1.0412.5Meredith1996
Yellowedge grouper45.2Gulf of America2024
Saltwater

Texas saltwater state records, rod and reel

SpeciesWeight (lb)Length (in)WaterYear
African pompano43.152Gulf of America2003
Alligator gar186.1996.25Galveston Bay1995
Almaco jack50.349Gulf of America1996
American john dory7Gulf of America2021
Atlantic bonito27Gulf of America1969
Atlantic croaker5.4729Gulf of America2002
Atlantic cutlassfish5.1344Upper Laguna Madre2021
Atlantic guitarfish4.4431.5Gulf of America1998
Atlantic midshipman0.8833.75Upper Laguna Madre1999
Atlantic moonfish1.214.5Gulf of America2015
Atlantic needlefish1.2529.75Lower Laguna Madre2015
Atlantic sharpnose shark18.1Gulf of America2022
Atlantic spadefish12.9422.5Gulf of America2002
Atlantic stingray10.7541.5Galveston Bay1994
Atlantic wreckfish18.6932.5Gulf of America2015
Barred grunt1.413.75Gulf of America2022
Barrelfish17.7234.5Gulf of America2026
Bearded brotula2036Gulf of America1995
Beardfish8.925Gulf of America2009
Bermuda chub8.9723.5Gulf of America2007
Bigeye3.6319.4Gulf of America2023
Bigeye sixgill shark8.3640Gulf of America1996
Bigeye tuna172Gulf of America2023
Bighead searobin1.1413.25Corpus Christi Bay1987
Bigmouth sleeper1.8816.75Lower Laguna Madre1996
Bigscale pomfret24.535Gulf of America2010
Black driftfish25.3735.37Gulf of America2010
Black drum8151.18Gulf of America1988
Black durgon3.6916.75Gulf of America2017
Black grouper12463Gulf of America2003
Black jack23.536.25Gulf of America2020
Black margate12.827Gulf of America2000
Black snapper11.126.5Gulf of America1987
Blackbelly rosefish3.9Gulf of America2026
Blackedged moray3.139Gulf of America1999
Blackfin snapper13.6126.13Gulf of America2025
Blackfin tuna38.8941.75Gulf of America1988
Blacknose shark4557Gulf of America1993
Blacktail moray2.4236Gulf of America1998
Blacktip shark19097Gulf of America2003
Blackwing searobin0.5810.75Gulf of America1995
Blue angelfish2.914.75Gulf of America2007
Blue catfish42.7842.5Sabine Lake2005
Blue marlin972.7132.25Gulf of America2014
Blue runner9.5728.38Gulf of America2001
Bluefin tuna884Gulf of America2025
Bluefish16.6236.63Gulf of America1987
Blueline tilefish10.0930Gulf of America2017
Bluntnose stingray36.66Galveston Bay2003
Bonefish3.7523.25Gulf of America1977
Bonnethead24.350.12Gulf of America2004
Bowfin6.8125.75Sabine Lake2018
Bull shark515108Aransas Bay2007
Carolina hake1.616Gulf of America1996
Channel catfish7.4423.9Sabine Lake2018
Channel scabbardfish cutlassfishes1278Gulf of America2024
Cobia108.4471Gulf of America1998
Comb grouper10.8831Gulf of America2019
Common snook57.5Gulf of America1937
Coney4.721.25Gulf of America2008
Cottonmouth jack1.2512.5Gulf of America1984
Cottonwick2.316Gulf of America1998
Cownose ray50.552Gulf of America1986
Creole-fish1.5614Gulf of America2004
Crevalle jack50.2552.25Gulf of America1976
Cuban dogfish4.6330.5Gulf of America2011
Cubbyu111.13Gulf of America1987
Cubera snapper13156Gulf of America1983
Darwin's slimehead slimeheads5.2820Gulf of America2024
Deepbody boarfish0.637.91Gulf of America2009
Doctorfish1.2611.62Gulf of America1997
Dog snapper27.2434.02Gulf of America2020
Dolphin65.767Gulf of America2008
Dusky shark530129Gulf of America1975
Escolar41.0149.5Gulf of America2024
Finescale menhaden0.9813.63Sabine Lake2005
Finetooth shark100.580.25Gulf of America1979
Flat needlefish2.7538.94Gulf of America1994
Flathead catfish50.1545.25Sabine Lake2016
Florida pompano6.4124.63Lower Laguna Madre2006
French angelfish8.718.5Gulf of America1994
Freshwater drum33.6233Sabine Lake1995
Gafftopsail catfish13.3334Gulf of America1981
Gag69.451Gulf of America2003
Goldface tilefish4.8523.5Gulf of America2021
Goliath grouper551Gulf of America1937
Grass carp8.1626.42Galveston Bay1992
Gray snapper18.6728.5Gulf of America1998
Gray triggerfish12.4627.5Gulf of America1996
Graysby2.3114.75Gulf of America1998
Great barracuda52.8163.43Gulf of America1993
Great hammerhead1,033173.25Gulf of America2017
Greater amberjack13368Gulf of America2019
Green moray7.748Gulf of America1998
Guaguanche531.88Gulf of America2023
Gulf hake6.728.5Gulf of America2010
Gulf kingfish2.3819.5Gulf of America1995
Gulf toadfish315.88Gulf of America1989
Hardhead catfish4.0623Corpus Christi Bay2003
Highfin scorpionfish112.25Gulf of America2015
Horse-eye jack3243.13Gulf of America2012
Houndfish4.537.4Gulf of America2013
Hybrid striped bass8.7525San Antonio Bay1993
Inshore lizardfish1.8520Gulf of America1991
Irish pompano112.88Gulf of America2004
Jolthead porgy1.6213.63Gulf of America2008
King mackerel7958.5Gulf of America2006
King snake eel5286.5Gulf of America1997
Knobbed porgy5.819.75Gulf of America2000
Ladyfish729.5Brownsville Ship Channel2020
Lane snapper8.225Gulf of America2004
Largemouth bass6.8121.15Sabine River2018
Largetooth sawfish736Gulf of America1939
Lemon shark470122Gulf of America1987
Leopard toadfish3.1316.31Aransas Bay1991
Lesser electric ray0.8813Gulf of America1998
Lionfish2.13Gulf of America2025
Little tunny15.4432.5Gulf of America2013
Longbill spearfish6086.5Gulf of America1990
Longfin mako664128.5Gulf of America1986
Longfinned bigeye5.221.75Gulf of America2024
Longnose lancetfish8.253.75Gulf of America2016
Longspine scorpionfish0.8111.5Gulf of America2013
Longtail bass5.2522.25Gulf of America1998
Lookdown4.221Gulf of America2012
Marbled grouper47.5Gulf of America2020
Margined flyingfishes0.7914.5Gulf of America1986
Misty grouper3037Gulf of America2016
Mojarras0.8812.25Lower Laguna Madre1981
Mutton snapper1832Gulf of America2004
Nurse shark148.587Gulf of America1998
Ocean triggerfish11.225.5Gulf of America2011
Oceanic whitetip shark20095.75Gulf of America2014
Ocellated flounder2.6316.63Galveston Bay2001
Oilfish61.3860.75Gulf of America1995
Other flounder4.320.75Lower Laguna Madre2000
Palometa1.515.81Gulf of America2006
Permit4.1Galveston Bay2025
Pigfish1.213.13Offats Bayou2025
Pinfish2.8817.75Gulf of America2012
Pompano dolphin4.125.88Gulf of America1990
Puddingwife4.2919.5Gulf of America1996
Queen snapper19.440Gulf of America2021
Queen triggerfish10.4924.5Gulf of America1989
Rainbow runner28.147.94Gulf of America2004
Red barbier4.6621.5Gulf of America1996
Red cornetfish3.654.75Gulf of America2026
Red drum59.554.25Gulf of America2000
Red grouper2533.25Gulf of America2020
Red hind9.34Gulf of America2024
Red porgy8.1825.23Gulf of America2009
Red snapper38.7540Gulf of America2014
Remora428.25Gulf of America2017
Rock hind5.0319Gulf of America2019
Rock sea bass0.513.63Gulf of America2011
Roudi escolar5.3832Gulf of America2007
Roughtail stingray24184Gulf of America1991
Sailfish9597.5Gulf of America1972
Sand perch0.5910.67Gulf of America1993
Sand seatrout6.2523.5Galveston Bay1972
Sand tiger520119Gulf of America1976
Sand tilefish3.525.13Gulf of America2019
Sandbar shark22692Gulf of America1975
Saucereye porgy3.7517.87Gulf of America2023
Scalloped hammerhead300.5Gulf of America2021
Scamp34.641Gulf of America2026
Scrawled filefish4.6623Gulf of America2010
Sea bream1.1112.5Galveston Bay1996
Sharksucker4.530.5Gulf of America2004
Sheepshead15.2526.5Lower Laguna Madre2002
Short bigeye3.318.5Gulf of America2023
Shortfin mako707.5128Gulf of America2002
Shortnose gar3.3127Sabine Lake2019
Shrimp eel0.7524.33Copano Bay (Aransas Bay)2023
Silk snapper10.0128Gulf of America2019
Silky shark556140Gulf of America1973
Silver seatrout6.9124Gulf of America1992
Skipjack herring3.3426.5Gulf of America2001
Skipjack tuna28.2533.88Gulf of America1981
Smalleye hammerhead15195Gulf of America1986
Smallmouth buffalo28.1332Sabine River2021
Smooth butterfly ray18.6530.38Gulf of America2026
Smooth dogfish26.550.88Gulf of America1998
Smooth puffer10.7530Gulf of America2001
Smooth trunkfish0.769Gulf of America1998
Snake mackerel2.140.5Gulf of America2025
Snapper eel16.867Gulf of America2004
Snowy grouper75.351Gulf of America2011
Southern flounder1328Sabine Lake1976
Southern kingfish3.6222Gulf of America1992
Southern stargazer3.315.75Gulf of America1993
Southern stingray24696Galveston Bay1998
Spanish flag0.7110.5Gulf of America2020
Spanish hogfish2.2515.88Gulf of America2000
Spanish mackerel8.7434.5Gulf of America1976
Speckled hind43.939.38Gulf of America2016
Spinner shark212.689.75Gulf of America2000
Spiny dogfish2150.75Gulf of America1986
Spinycheek scorpionfish522Gulf of America2026
Spot1.1312.5Upper Laguna Madre2014
Spotfin hogfish1.0712.5Gulf of America1999
Spottail pinfish1.5112.5Gulf of America2016
Spotted eagle ray273.582Galveston Bay2012
Spotted goatfish1.1310.5Gulf of America2015
Spotted hake3.519.75Gulf of America1995
Spotted moray8.550Gulf of America1994
Spotted scorpionfish3.2516.5Gulf of America2012
Spotted seatrout15.637.25Lower Laguna Madre2002
Squirrelfish1.5615.25Gulf of America2016
Striped bass2833.5Galveston Bay1991
Striped burrfish1.6212Gulf of America2014
Striped mullet10.3829.25Upper Laguna Madre2009
Swordfish493145.75Gulf of America2013
Tarpon22990Gulf of America2017
Thresher shark333158.5Gulf of America2002
Tiger grouper19.5Gulf of America2022
Tiger shark1,129162Gulf of America1992
Tilefish41.844Gulf of America2022
Tomtate3.2619Gulf of America2019
Tripletail33.833.25Gulf of America2023
Unicorn filefish521.63Gulf of America1987
Vermilion snapper6.8425.25Gulf of America2022
Wahoo12473.5Gulf of America1987
Warsaw grouper370.482.5Gulf of America2010
Wenchman4.420Gulf of America2023
White grunt3.7518Gulf of America1997
White marlin111.593Gulf of America1979
Whitebone porgy4.4818.75Gulf of America1996
Yellow chub8.9724Gulf of America1994
Yellow conger2171Gulf of America1996
Yellow jack15.9835.75Gulf of America2009
Yellowedge grouper49Gulf of America2024
Yellowfin aulopus1.6316.63Gulf of America2018
Yellowfin grouper4739.25Gulf of America2021
Yellowfin tuna216.280Gulf of America1998
Yellowmouth grouper24.539.75Gulf of America2004
Yellowtail snapper9.8729.5Gulf of America1992

TPWD state records, retrieved October 2026. Angler names are left off this page.

Newest records

Recent Texas state records

  • Alabama bass, 6.5 lbrod and reel all tackle, Alan Henry, 2026
  • Guadalupe x largemouth bass, 4.46 lbrod and reel all tackle, Austin, 2026
  • Blue tilapia, 4.6 lbfly fishing, San Antonio River, 2026
  • Barrelfish, 17.72 lbrod and reel all tackle, Gulf of America, 2026
  • Red cornetfish, 3.6 lbrod and reel all tackle, Gulf of America, 2026
  • Smooth butterfly ray, 18.65 lbrod and reel all tackle, Gulf of America, 2026
  • Blackbelly rosefish, 3.9 lbrod and reel all tackle, Gulf of America, 2026
  • Scamp, 34.6 lbrod and reel all tackle, Gulf of America, 2026
Answers

Questions about Texas fish records

What is the Texas state record largemouth bass?

18.18 pounds from Lake Fork in 1992.

What is the biggest freshwater fish ever caught in Texas?

By the rod and reel list, Alligator gar at 283 pounds.

How many state record categories does Texas keep?

TPWD keeps rod and reel, fly fishing and bow fishing lists for fresh and salt water; this page has 479 records.

How do I submit a Texas state record?

Through the TPWD Angler Recognition Program. The fish must be weighed on a certified scale and identified by TPWD staff.

Which lake holds the most Texas freshwater records?

Lady Bird Lake appears most often in the freshwater list.

Are lake records different from state records?

Yes. Each lake page on this site lists that lake’s own records, which TPWD keeps separately.

How often is the Texas records list updated?

TPWD updates it as new records are certified. This page was checked October 2026.

Are angler names shown?

No. This page lists species, weight, water and year only.

Find the lake records too

Every Texas lake page lists its own record fish.

Texas lakes