Record fish caught in Kentucky

Written by:
October 21, 2022
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Record fish caught in Kentucky

Anglers the world over gather regularly for fishing derbies to see who can land the biggest catch. But record-breaking fish can be caught at anytime, weighed on an International Game Fish Association-certified scale at any number of tackle shops or marinas, and compared to the IGFA's online records database. Sport-fishing enthusiasts can even have their own scales certified by the IGFA for a $40 fee.

compiled a list of record fish caught in Kentucky using data from . Fish pictured are not the actual record catch. Keep reading to see which bodies of water in your state hold some of the most massive fish around.

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Rostislav Stefanek // Shutterstock

Bighead Carp

- Weight: 64 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Jonathan Creek - Kentucky Lake
- Record set by Drew Fulmer in 2010
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M Huston // Shutterstock

Blue Catfish

- Weight: 104 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Ohio River - Cannelton Dam tailwaters
- Record set by Bruce W. Midkiff in 1999
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USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Spencer Neuharth / USFWS // Wikimedia Commons

Blue Sucker

- Weight: 8 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Ohio River
- Record set by Stacy L. Boik in 2009
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dcwcreations // Shutterstock

Bluegill Sunfish

- Weight: 4 lbs 3 oz
- Location: Strip mine lake
- Record set by Phil Conyers in 1980
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Bowfin

- Weight: 15 lbs 1.28 oz
- Location: Green River
- Record set by Norman Moran in 1999
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Brook Trout

- Weight: 1 lbs 5 oz
- Location: Martins Fork
- Record set by R. James in 1982
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Rostislav Stefanek // Shutterstock

Brown Trout

- Weight: 21 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Cumberland River - Lake Cumberland tailwaters
- Record set by Thomas Malone in 2000
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WH_Pics // Shutterstock

Bullhead

- Weight: 5 lbs 3 oz
- Location: Guist Creek Lake
- Record set by Harry Case in 1992
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Rostislav Stefanek // Shutterstock

Carp

- Weight: 54 lbs 14 oz
- Location: South Fork Licking River
- Record set by Ricky Vance in 1971
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Chain Pickerel

- Weight: 5 lbs 6 oz
- Location: Forked Lake
- Record set by Tommy Thompson in 1983
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Aleron Val // Shutterstock

Channel Catfish

- Weight: 28 lbs 4.8 oz
- Location: private pond
- Record set by Hope Tinsley in 1994
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Crappie

- Weight: 4 lbs 14 oz
- Location: Watershed Lake
- Record set by Penny Hopper in 2005
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M Huston // Shutterstock

Flathead Catfish

- Weight: 97 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Green River
- Record set by Esker Carroll in 1956
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Freshwater Drum

- Weight: 38 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Green River
- Record set by Larry Cardwell in 1980
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M Huston // Shutterstock

Golden Redhorse

- Weight: 4 lbs 5 oz
- Location: Red River
- Record set by Leif Meadows in 1998
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USFWS Mountain-Prairie // Wikimedia Commons

Goldeye

- Weight: 2 lbs 6.4 oz
- Location: Kentucky River
- Record set by Mark Smith in 2001
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Vladimir Wrangel // Shutterstock

Grass Carp

- Weight: 58 lbs 8 oz
- Location: Forest Lawn Lake
- Record set by Robert Marsh in 2009
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Clint H // Shutterstock

Grass Pickerel

- Weight: 0 lbs 10.08 oz
- Location: Wilson Creek
- Record set by Gerald Gallagher in 1989
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Green Sunfish

- Weight: 1 lbs 5 oz
- Location: private pond
- Record set by Raymond Peyton in 2000
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Hybrid Bass

- Weight: 20 lbs 8 oz
- Location: Barren River
- Record set by Mark Wilson in 1991
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Pi-Lens // Shutterstock

Lake Trout

- Weight: 5 lbs 5 oz
- Location: Cumberland River
- Record set by John McDonogh in 1983
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Pierre Rebollar // Shutterstock

Largemouth Bass

- Weight: 13 lbs 10.4 oz
- Location: Wood Creek Lake
- Record set by Dale Wilson in 1984
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Dewitt // Shutterstock

Longear Sunfish

- Weight: 0 lbs 13.28 oz
- Location: Strip mine lake
- Record set by Anthony Lynch in 1994
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Mikhail Blajenov // Shutterstock

Longnose Gar

- Weight: 40 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Ohio River
- Record set by Kelsie Travis Jr. in 1956
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M Huston // Shutterstock

Muskellunge

- Weight: 47 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Cave Run Lake
- Record set by Sarah Salchli in 2008
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Northern Pike

- Weight: 9 lbs 8 oz
- Location: strip mine lake
- Record set by Howard F. Renfro in 1981
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Paddlefish

- Weight: 82 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Parrish Lake
- Record set by Standley Shelton in 1982
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Rainbow Trout

- Weight: 14 lbs 6 oz
- Location: Cumberland River - Lake Cumberland tailwaters
- Record set by Jim Mattingly in 1972
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M Huston // Shutterstock

Redbreast Sunfish

- Weight: 0 lbs 14.08 oz
- Location: Marsh Creek
- Record set by Tim King in 1997
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Clint H // Shutterstock

Redear Sunfish

- Weight: 3 lbs 1 oz
- Location: private pond
- Record set by Betty Truax in 1982
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Brian Gratwicke // Wikimedia Commons

River Redhorse

- Weight: 7 lbs 13 oz
- Location: North Fork Kentucky River
- Record set by Darrell W. Sparkman in 2000
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Steve Brigman // Shutterstock

Rock Bass

- Weight: 1 lbs 10 oz
- Location: Casey Creek
- Record set by H.S. White in 1975
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Steve Oehlenschlager // Shutterstock

Sauger

- Weight: 7 lbs 7 oz
- Location: Lake Cumberland
- Record set by Rastie Andrew in 1983
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Saugeye

- Weight: 6 lbs 9.28 oz
- Location: Ohio River
- Record set by Chuck Kouns in 1998
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Duane Raver // Wikimedia Commons

Skipjack Herring

- Weight: 2 lbs 13 oz
- Location: Cumberland River
- Record set by Greg Cary in 2001
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CSNafzger // Shutterstock

Smallmouth Bass

- Weight: 8 lbs 7.36 oz
- Location: Laurel River Lake
- Record set by Coolie Williams in 1998
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Ohio DNR // Wikimedia Commons

Smallmouth Buffalo

- Weight: 55 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Kentucky Lake
- Record set by Clinton Roby in 2000
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Sean McVey // Shutterstock

Spotted Bass

- Weight: 7 lbs 10 oz
- Location: not available
- Record set by A.E. Sellers in 1970
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Striped Bass

- Weight: 58 lbs 4 oz
- Location: Beaver Creek
- Record set by Roger Foster in 1985
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Sturgeon

- Weight: 36 lbs 8 oz
- Location: Lake Cumberland
- Record set by Barney Frazier in 1954
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Jennifer de Graaf // Shutterstock

Tiger Muskellunge

- Weight: 13 lbs 12 oz
- Location: Dewey Lake
- Record set by James Mollet in 1981
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wwwarjag //Shutterstock

Walleye

- Weight: 21 lbs 8 oz
- Location: Lake Cumberland
- Record set by Abe Black in 1958
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Bclegg77 // Wikimedia Commons

Warmouth

- Weight: 1 lbs 6.2 oz
- Location: Farm Pond
- Record set by Jon Hoover in 2003
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Apostrophe // Shutterstock

White Bass

- Weight: 5 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Kentucky Lake
- Record set by Lorne E. Dawson in 1943
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Apostrophe // Shutterstock

White Bass

- Weight: 5 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Herrington Lake
- Record set by B.B. Hardin in 1957
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RLS Photo // Shutterstock

White Sucker

- Weight: 1 lbs 10 oz
- Location: Slate Creek
- Record set by Larry S. Salchli in 1998
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Yellow Bass

- Weight: 1 lbs 6.4 oz
- Location: Cumberland River
- Record set by William Hinton in 2009
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John Piekos // Shutterstock

Yellow Perch

- Weight: 1 lbs 7 oz
- Location: Kentucky Lake
- Record set by Klint Thaxton in 2010

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