Tennessee State Record Fish
As published by tn.gov, checked Sep 17, 2026. 74 records. Tennessee fishing tournaments
Tennessee state fish: Smallmouth bass, Channel catfish (freshwater). Records kept by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (state records page ↗).
| Species | Record | Year | Water | County | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Bass | 7 lb 3 oz | 2024 | Ocoee River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| American Eel | 8 lb 14 oz#3 of 14 states | 2019 | Old Hickory Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Atlantic NeedlefishAlso listed as Needlefish | 0 lb 1.6 oz | 2008 | Pickwick Dam Tailwater | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Bighead CarpAlso listed as Carp | 90 lb#3 of 10 states | 2005 | Guntersville Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Bigmouth Buffalo | 62 lb#6 of 18 states | 2010 | J. Percy Priest Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Black Buffalo | 58 lb#3 of 9 states | 2013 | Nickajack Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Black Bullhead CatfishAlso listed as Black Bullhead | 3 lb 6 oz#13 of 18 states | 1997 | Emberton's Pond | Cannon | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Black Crappie | 5 lb 7 oz#1 of 34 states | 2018 | Private Pond | Loudon | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Black Redhorse | 3 lb 1 oz | 2009 | South Holston River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Blue Catfish | 122 lb 3 oz#5 of 25 states | 2023 | Barkley Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Bluegill | 3 lb#16 of 40 states | 1987 | Farm Pond | Bledsoe | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Bowfin | 15 lb 7 oz#12 of 27 states | 1983 | Reelfoot Lake | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Brook Trout | 4 lb 12 oz#28 of 33 states | 2016 | Caney Fork River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Brown Bullhead CatfishAlso listed as Brown Bullhead | 3 lb 15 oz#21 of 30 states | 2014 | Whiteville Lake | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Brown Trout | 28 lb 12 oz#11 of 36 states | 1988 | Clinch River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Central Stoneroller | 0 lb 10 oz | 1983 | Hiwassee River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Chain Pickerel | 7 lb 7 oz#12 of 25 states | 1991 | Kentucky Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Channel Catfish | 41 lb#11 of 40 states | 1982 | Fall Creek Falls Lake | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Cherokee Bass | 23 lb 3 oz | 1998 | Stones River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Common Carp | 53 lb#7 of 37 states | 1997 | Marrowbone Lake | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Creek Chub | 0 lb 8 oz#5 of 5 states | 2017 | West Blackburn Fork Creek | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Cutthroat Trout | 6 lb 9 oz | 2024 | Ft. Patrick Henry | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Flathead Catfish | 85 lb 15 oz#6 of 31 states | 1993 | Hiwassee River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Flier SunfishAlso listed as Flier | 0 lb 8 oz#6 of 8 states | 2001 | Kentucky Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Freshwater Drum | 54 lb 8 oz#1 of 32 states | 1972 | Nickajack Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Gizzard ShadAlso listed as Shad | 3 lb 3 oz#6 of 9 states | 2008 | Holston River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Golden Redhorse | 3 lb 3.2 oz#4 of 6 states | 2025 | Old Hickory Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Golden Shiner | 1 lb 0.05 oz#1 of 7 states | 2016 | Kentucky Lake | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Goldeye | 0 lb 14 oz | 1993 | Cumberland River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Goldfish | 3 lb 5 oz | 2016 | Douglas Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Grass Carp | 70 lb#5 of 16 states | 2005 | Guntersville Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Green Sunfish | 1 lb 4 oz#18 of 24 states | 1991 | North Cross Creek | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Lake Trout | 22 lb 2 oz#22 of 25 states | 2008 | Watauga Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Largemouth Bass | 15 lb 3 oz#15 of 43 states | 2015 | Chickamauga Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Longear Sunfish | 0 lb 13 oz#4 of 7 states | 1985 | Pond | Overton | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Longnose Gar | 38 lb 3 oz#6 of 25 states | 2002 | Barkley Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Mooneye | 1 lb 4 oz#4 of 7 states | 2005 | Hiwassee River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| MuskellungeAlso listed as Musky | 43 lb 14 oz#10 of 22 states | 2017 | Melton Hill Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Nile Tilapia | 7 lb 6.6 oz | 2017 | Old Hickory Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Northern Hogsucker | 2 lb 9 oz#2 of 8 states as Northern Hog Sucker | 2009 | South Holston River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Northern Pike | 24 lb 8 oz#28 of 33 states | 1995 | South Holston Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Ohrid Trout | 14 lb 5 oz | 1986 | Watauga Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Paddlefish | 149 lb#2 of 11 states | 2023 | Cherokee Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Pumpkinseed SunfishAlso listed as Pumpkinseed | 0 lb 5 oz | 1998 | Dogwood Lake | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Quillback Carpsucker | 6 lb 5 oz#5 of 6 states | 2019 | South Holston Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Rainbow Trout | 18 lb 8 oz#18 of 39 states | 2016 | Pond | Polk | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Redbreast Sunfish | 1 lb 5 oz#6 of 7 states | 1974 | Holston River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Redear Sunfish | 3 lb 6 oz#11 of 25 states | 1979 | Private Pond | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Redeye Bass | 1 lb 15 oz | 1991 | Parksville Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| River Carpsucker | 1 lb 9 oz | 1980 | Pickwick Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| River Redhorse | 11 lb 10 oz#2 of 6 states | 2009 | Pigeon River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Rock Bass | 2 lb 8 oz#5 of 26 states | 1958 | Stones River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Sauger | 7 lb 6 oz#6 of 25 states | 1973 | Kentucky Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Saugeye | 10 lb 12 oz#7 of 18 states | 1998 | Melton Hill Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Shortnose Gar | 7 lb 3 oz#5 of 12 states | 2014 | Cross Creeks | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Silver Carp | 37 lb 0.4 oz#2 of 6 states | 2021 | Old Hickory Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Silver Redhorse | 6 lb 14.7 oz#5 of 8 states | 2023 | Nolichucky River | Hamblen | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Skipjack Herring | 4 lb 3 oz#1 of 9 states | 2015 | Watts Bar Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 11 lb 15 oz#1 of 40 states | 1955 | Dale Hollow Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Smallmouth Buffalo | 62 lb 7 oz#5 of 14 states | 2001 | Percy Priest Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Smallmouth Redhorse | 1 lb 10 oz | 2013 | French Broad River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Spotted Bass | 6 lb 1 oz#12 of 22 states | 2011 | Chickamauga Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Spotted Gar | 10 lb 10 oz#1 of 9 states | 2014 | Cross Creeks | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Spotted Sucker | 3 lb 5 oz | 2024 | Woods Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Spotted Sunfish (Stumpknocker)Also listed as Orangespotted Sunfish | 0 lb 5 oz#4 of 6 states as Spotted Sunfish | 1982 | Nolichucky River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Striped Bass | 65 lb 6 oz#9 of 35 states | 2000 | Cordell Hull Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Walleye | 25 lb#1 of 37 states | 1960 | Old Hickory Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Warmouth | 1 lb 12 oz#8 of 20 states | 1984 | Nolichucky River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| White Bass | 5 lb 10 oz#6 of 31 states | 2003 | Mississippi River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| White Crappie | 5 lb 1 oz#2 of 28 states | 1968 | Garner Brown's Pond | Dickson | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| White Sucker | 1 lb 10 oz | 2007 | Little War Creek | Hancock | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Yellow Bass | 2 lb 9 oz#6 of 15 states | 1998 | Duck River | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Yellow Bullhead CatfishAlso listed as Yellow Bullhead | 4 lb 8 oz#5 of 17 states | 1979 | Chickamauga Reservoir | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Yellow Perch | 2 lb 5 oz#25 of 36 states | 2019 | Ocoee #3 Lake | — | tn.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
Weights and lengths are shown as each list gives them, with units spelled out. Record holders' names are on the linked lists. Where one list shows the same fish under two names, it appears once with both names. Waters that have a page in this directory are linked. A rank such as "#3 of 46 states" places a record among the states' records for that species by weight; it is shown only where the record matches the national ranking exactly.
Compare With Other States
- Bass records44 states
- Bowfin records27 states
- Carp records40 states
- Catfish records44 states
- Crappie records43 states
- Gar records27 states
- Muskie records32 states
- Panfish records42 states
- Perch records37 states
- Pike records34 states
- Striped bass records40 states
- Sucker records22 states
- Trout records41 states
- Walleye records40 states