If you believe you have caught an all-time state record fish in Iowa, follow these steps:
- Look up the size of the current state record on the following list (State Record Fish - Current Records) to see if your fish is larger than the current record. New all-time state record fish will be recognized when the weight of the fish exceeds by one ounce or more the weight of the previous record for that species or recognized hybrid.
- Weigh your fish on a scale certified for trade (like at a grocery store, meat locker and some bait shops), preferably while it is still alive. The fish will start to lose weight the longer you keep it. The DNR will not accept the weight of a frozen fish. If you need to freeze the fish before you can get it weighed, you must thaw it out before you weigh it. The fish will be lighter after it is frozen and then thawed. A witness must attest to the weight of the fish to the nearest ounce.
- Contact your local conservation officer or fisheries biologist. The fisheries biologist must examine and verify the fish. If you cannot reach the biologist, the conservation officer will contact someone who can help.
- Submit your record fish online through the Master Angler system. A photo of the fish and angler are required. All-time records are posted until broken.
Current State Records
| Species | Weight | Fisher & Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bighead Carp | 112.00 lbs. | Randy Conover May 28, 2018 | Des Moines River (Red Rock to Ottuma Dam) |
| Bigmouth Buffalo | 64.38 lbs. | Ronald Anderson April 18, 2007 | Lake Manawa |
| Black Buffalo | 63.38 lbs. | Jim Winters Aug. 14, 1999 | Pool 9, Mississippi River |
| Black Bullhead | 5.50 lbs. | Michael Hurd June 1, 1986 | Farm pond |
| Black Crappie | 4.08 lbs. | John Foster Sept. 23, 2024 | Sundown Lake |
| Blue Catfish | 101.00 lbs. | Mike Rush June 8, 2004 | Missouri River (Council Bluffs to state line) |
| Blue Sucker | 15.38 lbs. | Steven Jones April 11, 2011 | Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction) |
| Bluegill | 3.13 lbs. | Phil Algreen July 1, 1986 | Farm pond |
| Bowfin | 11.69 lbs. | Bill Greten May 1, 1994 | Pool 10, Mississippi River |
| Brook Trout | 7.00 lbs. | Doug Korvarik July 1, 1996 | Fountain Springs |
| Brown Bullhead | 1.25 lbs. | Dick Newcomer Aug. 24, 2015 | Pool 9, Mississippi River |
| Brown Trout | 15.38 lbs. | Georld Lewis June 1, 1995 | North Prairie Lake |
| Channel Catfish | 38.13 lbs. | Dustin Curtis June 11, 2005 | Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs) |
| Common Carp | 50.00 lbs. | Fred Hougland April 1, 1969 | Glenwood Lake |
| Flathead Catfish | 81.00 lbs. | Joe Blaze June 1, 1958 | Ellis Lake |
| Freshwater Drum | 46.00 lbs. | R.F. Farren Oct. 1, 1962 | Spirit Lake |
| Golden Redhorse | 2.41 lbs. | David Galvan Sept. 28, 2024 | Iowa River (above Iowa Falls) |
| Goldeye | 2.94 lbs. | Scott Kinkead Aug. 20, 2004 | Pool 10, Mississippi River |
| Grass Carp | 85.50 lbs. | Jesse Lane May 1, 2007 | Greenfield Lake |
| Greater Redhorse | 8.20 lbs. | Marcus Majerczyk July 24, 2022 | Cedar River (above Nashua) |
| Green Sunfish | 2.06 lbs. | Ralph Mayer July 29, 2000 | Farm pond |
| Largemouth Bass | 10.75 lbs. | Patricia Zaerr May 1, 1984 | Lake Fisher |
| Longnose Gar | 22.20 lbs. | Lawrence Cates May 25, 2021 | Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs) |
| Mooneye | 1.52 lbs. | Tricia Steines Oct. 23, 2016 | Pool 9, Mississippi River |
| Muskellunge | 50.38 lbs. | Kevin Cardwell Aug. 21, 2000 | Spirit Lake |
| Northern Hog Sucker | 1.91 lbs. | Ashley Robell May 16, 2019 | Des Moines River (Humboldt to Stratford) |
| Northern Pike | 25.31 lbs. | Allen Forsberg Feb. 5, 1977 | West Okoboji Lake |
| Ocean Striped Bass | 9.25 lbs. | Richard Pauley July 1, 1983 | Rathbun Reservoir |
| Orangespotted Sunfish | 0.04 lbs. | Brandon Stucker May 28, 2024 | Frog Creek |
| Paddlefish | 107.00 lbs. | Robert Pranschke March 1, 1981 | Missouri River (Sioux City to Little Sioux) |
| Pumpkinseed | 0.96 lbs. | Rick Olson June 5, 2020 | Lake Petocka |
| Rainbow Trout | 19.50 lbs. | Jack Renner July 1, 1984 | French Creek |
| Redear Sunfish | 2.31 lbs. | Elijah Parrett Oct. 19, 2018 | Farm pond |
| River Carpsucker | 1.85 lbs. | Hope Wilcox Aug. 8, 2024 | Manhatten Robbins Lake Park |
| River Redhorse | 7.48 lbs. | Todd Hardy March 28, 2020 | Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock) |
| Rock Bass | 1.50 lbs. | Jim Driscoll June 1, 1973 | Pool 11, Mississippi River |
| Sauger | 6.50 lbs. | Mrs. W. Buser Oct. 1, 1976 | Missouri River (Sioux City to Little Sioux) |
| Saugeye | 12.25 lbs. | Don Ostergaard March 1, 2000 | Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock) |
| Shorthead Redhorse | 3.65 lbs. | Rory Petersen April 5, 2020 | Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction) |
| Shortnose Gar | 8.05 lbs. | Jeremy Suiter July 16, 2020 | Missouri River (Council Bluffs to state line) |
| Shovelnose Sturgeon | 12.00 lbs. | Randy Hemm April 1, 1974 | Des Moines River (Ottumwa Dam to Farmington) |
| Silver Carp | 62.00 lbs. | Billie Summers June 2, 2018 | Des Moines River (Red Rock to Ottumwa Dam) |
| Silver Redhorse | 8.54 lbs. | George Paulson April 24, 2018 | Wapsipinicon River (Oxford Junc. to Mississsippi River) |
| Smallmouth Bass | 7.75 lbs. | Rick Gray Sept. 1, 1980 | West Okoboji Lake |
| Smallmouth Buffalo | 43.00 lbs. | John Dirks Dec. 1, 2021 | Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction) |
| Spotted Bass | 2.06 lbs. | Davis Horton June 19, 2021 | Lake Macbride |
| Tiger Muskie | 27.13 lbs. | Shannon Green Aug. 1, 1989 | West Okoboji Lake |
| Walleye | 14.50 lbs. | Gloria Eoriatti Sept. 1, 1986 | Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock) |
| Warmouth | 1.13 lbs. | Celsey Rynearson May 12, 2018 | Farm pond |
| White Bass | 5.11 lbs. | Justin Sturtz June 3, 2019 | East Okoboji Lake |
| White Crappie | 4.56 lbs. | Ted Trowbridge May 1, 1981 | Green Castle Lake |
| White Sucker | 5.06 lbs. | Austin Steffen March 22, 2016 | Otter Creek |
| Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) | 19.63 lbs. | Youa Lovan Aug. 29, 2005 | Saylorville Reservoir |
| Yellow Bass | 1.75 lbs. | Bill Campbell April 1, 1991 | Lake Manawa |
| Yellow Bullhead | 2.60 lbs. | Mark Miller April 12, 2024 | Private pond |
| Yellow Perch | 2.79 lbs. | Royce Krummen Feb. 16, 2019 | Private pond |