Fly Fishing World Records
You never know when you could hook the big one – and some of these fly fishing world records were taken in spots are pretty close to home, in places not too hard to get to.
Save this post, and if you catch a record-beater, or one that is close to these records, take lots of photos then register your fish immediately at the nearest tackle shop! They will measure, witness, and report your record to make it valid in the record books. These are fly fishing specifically, not necessarily the overall world record, but most certainly a huge challenge to hook and land.
Here’s a good summary of how to register your own world record fish at https://igfa.org/world-record-requirements/
In summary here are the primary rules:
- IGFA is the entity that maintains world records, for both saltwater and freshwater game fish.
- In order to qualify, a catch must be a minimum of 1 pound, and must outweigh the existing record or meet the minimum weight requirement.
- No applications will be accepted for any fish caught in hatchery waters, in sanctuaries or in small bodies of water that are specifically stocked for commercial purposes.
- The catch must not be out of compliance with any laws or fishing regulations applicable to the species or the location / waters in which it was caught.
- When an additional species of fish is made eligible for IGFA All-Tackle, Line Class, Tippet Class, Junior, or Small-fry world records, the date will be announced by the IGFA. Fish caught on or after the announced date will be eligible for records, but not if caught beforehand.
- If an angler submits more than one fish for the same record, and they were caught on the same day, only the largest of the two fish will be accepted.
Fish | Weight | When | Where |
---|---|---|---|
Brook Trout | 10 lb. 7 oz. | September 5, 1982 | Assinica Broadback River, Quebec, Canada |
Brown Trout | 29 lb. 12 oz. | January 19, 1992 | Rio Grande, in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina |
Cutthrout Trout | 14 lb. 1 oz. | April 4, 1982 | Pyramid Lake, Reno, Nevada |
Lake Trout | 27 lb. 8 oz. | June 24, 1994 | Nueltin Lake, Alonsa, Canada |
Rainbow Trout | 28 lb. 0 oz. | October 20, 1985 | Skeena River, British Columbia, Canada |
Largemouth Bass | 13 lb. 9 oz. | April 4, 1984 | Lake Morena, San Diego, California |
Smallmouth Bass | 6 lb. 4 oz. | August 12, 1995 | Pine Lake, Michigan |
Northern Pike | 33 lb. 8 oz. | July 14, 1994 | Nejanilini Lake, Manitoba, Canada |
Pickerel | 4 lb. 5 oz. | October 21, 1995 | Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Missouri |
Bonefish | 14 lb. 8 oz. | March 30, 1996 | Islamorada, Florida |
Bluefish | 19 lb. 12 oz. | November 2, 1987 | Nags Head, North Carolina |
Redfish | 43 lb. 0 oz. | May 7, 1995 | Banana River Lagoon, Florida |
Striped Bass | 64 lb. 8 oz. | July 28, 1973 | Smith River, Oregon |
Tarpon | 188 lb. 0 oz. | May 13, 1982 | Homosassa, Florida |
Weakfish (Sea Trout) | 14 lb. 2 oz. | June 5, 1987 | Delaware Bay, Delaware |