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With very few exceptions, it’s safe to say that the majority of anglers grew up fishing for bluegill or other panfish.
And for good reason.
For starters, they are everywhere! Bluegill can be caught in practically every freshwater lake and stocked pond in the United States. In fact, bluegill and other panfish are so common that they might attack your bait when fishing for trout, crappie, or other smaller species.
Also, bluegill are super easy to catch. They are one of the simplest species to hook and retrieve, especially for those just getting started with fishing.
While bluegill aren’t the biggest or most exciting species in the world, any time an anglers can haul in the largest recorded fish of any species in his state, it deserves recognition.
A Wide Variety of Sizes, but All Records…
As you will see on the records list below, the current world record bluegill, caught on Alabama’s Ketona Lake, weighed an astonishing 4 pounds, 12 ounces!
For comparison, that is heavier than a lot of experienced anglers’ personal best largemouth bass.
Caught in 1950 by T.S. Hudson, not only is the Alabama state record the largest recorded bluegill in state, national, and world history, but it is the oldest active bluegill state fishing record in the United States.
Hawaii and Maine, however, share the distinction of producing the lightest blue state record. Both states — which, understandably, are at extreme points — hold a state record that is a mere 8 ounces.
It should also be noted that Alaska does not have a record bluegill listed, thus it has been omitted from the list.
Every Bluegill State Fishing Record
| State | Weight | Location | Angler | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4 pounds, 12 ounces* | Ketona Lake | T.S. Hudson | 1950 |
| Arizona | 3 pounds, 15.68 ounces | Goldwater Lake | Christopher Mapes | 2004 |
| Arkansas | 3 pounds, 4 ounces | Fulton County | Albert Sharp | 1998 |
| California | 3 pounds, 14 ounces | Rancho Murieta Reservoir | Michael Holoubek | 2008 |
| Colorado | 2 pounds, 9 ounces | Totten Reservoir | Gregory Wallace | 2019 |
| Connecticut | 2 pounds, 4 ounces | Private Pond | Daniel Gesner | 1996 |
| Delaware | 3 pounds, 10 ounces | Diamond Pond | Clifford Snyder | 2001 |
| Florida | 2 pounds, 15 ounces | Crystal Lake | John LeMaster | 1989 |
| Georgia | 3 pounds,, 5 ounces | Shamrock Lake | P.F. Gumm | 1977 |
| Hawaii | 8 ounces | Lake Wilson | June Maeda | 2000 |
| Idaho | 3 pounds, 8 ounces | C.J. Strike Reservoir | Darrell Grim | 1966 |
| Illinois | 3 pounds, 8 ounces | Farm Pond | Darren May | 1987 |
| Indiana | 3 pounds,. 4 ounces. | Pond | Harold L. Catey | 1972 |
| Iowa | 3 pounds, 2 ounces | Farm Pond | Phil Algree | 1986 |
| Kansas | 2 pounds, 5 ounces | Farm Pond | Robert Jefferies, Modoc | 1962 |
| Kentucky | 4 pounds, 3 ounces | Strip Mine Lake | Phil Conyers | 1980 |
| Louisiana | 1 pounds, 10 ounces | N/A | Mike Lamb | 1999 |
| Maine | 8 ounces | Knight Pond | Liam Clayton | 2008 |
| Maryland | 3 pounds, 7 ounces | Deep Creek Lake | Sarah Brenneman | 1998 |
| Massachusetts | 2 pounds, 1 ounces | South Athol Pond | Heather Bulger | 1982 |
| Michigan | 2 pounds, 13 ounces | Vaughn Lake | Unknown | 1983 |
| Minnesota | 2 pounds, 13 ounces | Alice Lake | Unknown | 1948 |
| Mississippi | 3 pounds, 7 ounces | Gerald Thurmond | Farm Pond | 1995 |
| Missouri | 3 pounds | Private Pond | Robert Giovanini | 1963 |
| Montana | 2 pounds, 10 ounces | Peterson’s Stock Dam | Brent Fladmo | 1983 |
| Nebraska | 2 pounds, 13 ounces | Grove Lake | Gary Ralston | 1977 |
| Nevada | 4 pounds, 12 ounces | Colorado River | Mike Tahash | 2010 |
| New Hampshire | 2 pounds, 1 ounces | Goodwins Pond | Justin Therieau | 1992 |
| New Jersey | 3 pounds | Farm Pond | Dom Santarelli | 1990 |
| New Mexico | 3 pounds, 2 ounces | Lovington Lake | Thomas Smith | 1963 |
| New York | 2 pounds, 8 ounces | Kohpounds,ach Pond | Devin VanZandt | 1992 |
| North Carolina | 4 pounds, 5 ounces | Henderson County Lake | Danny Case | 1967 |
| North Dakota | 2 pounds, 12 ounces | Strawberry Lake | Budd Hystad | 1963 |
| Ohio | 3 pounds, 4 ounces | Salt Fork Lake | Willis Nicholes | 1990 |
| Oklahoma | 2 pounds, 6 ounces | Kay Co. Pond | Tom Shorter | 1987 |
| Oregon | 2 pounds, 5 ounces | Farm Pond | Wayne Elmor | 1981 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 pounds, 9 ounces | Keystone Lake | Tom Twincheck | 1983 |
| Rhode Island | 2 pounds, 1 ounces | Unknown | C. Rizzo | 1987 |
| South Carolina | 3 pounds, 4 ounces | Lancaster County Lake | J.P. Hegler | 1973 |
| South Dakota | 3 pounds, 4 ounces | Stanley Co. Stock Dam Scott Sanner | Scott Sanner | 1980 |
| Tennessee | 3 pounds | Farm Pond (Pendergrass) and Fall Creek (Grissom) | Brad Pendergrass and Thelma Grissom (tie) | 1987 (Pendergrass) and 1977 (Grissom) |
| Texas | 2 pounds | Lampasas River | Gibbs Milliken | 1999 |
| Utah | 2 pounds, 7 ounces | Mantua Reservoir | Jack Rask | 1993 |
| Vermont | 2 pounds | Miller Pond | John Konya | 2016 |
| Virginia | 4 pounds,. 8 ounces | Private Pond | Thomas Jones | 1970 |
| Washington | 2 pounds, 5 ounces | Tampico Park | Ron Hinote | 1984 |
| West Virginia | 2 pounds, 12 ounces | Pond | Mark Lewis | 1986 |
| Wisconsin | 2 pounds, 10 ounces | Lake Michigan | Tom Glafcke | 1995 |
| Wyoming | 2 pounds, 15 ounces | Pond | Rod Horsley | 2008 |
At Premier Angler, we strive to keep our records as up-to-date as possible, checking every state’s data several times per year. That said, we are human and, with a ton of content on our website, we may miss recent changes. If you notice an inaccuracy or inconsistency, please let us know in the comments below.
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