California Fishing Records From 1976

Halley, Robert (Crescent City) landed this California state record — a 27.25 lb Steelhead (Rainbow Trout) — caught in Smith River, California on December 22, 1976. It is part of a national archive of 5,856 certified state records.

All photos credited to the anglers and state wildlife agencies who took them.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Record.Fish?

Record.Fish makes it easy to browse more than 5,000 official state fishing records from all 50 states and alerts subscribers when new records are set. Search across all states instantly, filter by species or location, and compare records for each state.

We aggregate and standardize records from state fish and game agencies so you can explore trophy catches across the country. Each record links back to its official state source for verification. All records are sourced from official state agencies or recognized record-keeping organizations.

We are not the certifying authority. Always verify with the state agency (via the source link) for official recognition, contests, or legal purposes. Record.Fish is independently maintained and not affiliated with any state agency.

How does the bubble chart work?

The bubble chart shows fishing records as colored circles. Each bubble’s size represents the fish’s weight. A 100 lb fish appears twice as large as a 25 lb fish, not four times larger. This square root scaling keeps the chart balanced so lighter fish remain visible.

Bubbles are positioned vertically by weight (heavier fish higher up) and grouped horizontally based on your selected view: Species, State, or Year. When one of those categories has more than 150 records, the chart shows a representative sample spread across the full weight range, from the lightest to the heaviest fish in that group.

What species are included?

The database includes records for hundreds of freshwater and saltwater species, including: Bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, striped, white), Catfish (blue, channel, flathead), Trout & salmon (rainbow, brown, brook, lake trout, chinook, coho), Panfish (crappie, bluegill, perch, sunfish), Pike & muskie (northern pike, muskellunge, tiger muskie, chain pickerel), Saltwater gamefish (marlin, tuna, shark species, grouper, snapper), and hundreds more. Species vary by state.

How do I search, filter, and share specific results?

Use the search bar on the table to search for species name, state name, angler name, water body, method of take, specific lures etc. You can also use the filter dropdowns to narrow by state or species group. Results update in real-time as you type or select filters.

Many states maintain separate record lists for different methods—search or tap a method name on any record to find similar catches. The URL automatically updates as you filter or search, so you can bookmark the page with your filters active.

You can copy and share the URL to show specific results, or link directly to filtered views in articles or social media. Examples:

record.fish/?state=Alabama shows all Alabama records
record.fish/?species=Black+Bass shows all bass records across all states
record.fish/?state=Texas&species=Black+Bass shows Texas bass records only

Browse our sitemap to see hundreds of pre-built filter combinations.

Can I embed this table on my website or use the data?

Yes! Each record card has an “Embed” button that generates an embed code for the page you’re on and the filters you have enabled. You can put this on your website. The embed is free to use (attribution is appreciated).

The table can be resized to fit your page, it scales properly for all display sizes (mobile or desktop), you can customize the embed URL to show the records you want shown on your page, and the embed will always stay current with the records in our database.

The table can be embedded on fishing blogs and websites, news articles, academic research, social media posts, and educational materials.

What news appears in the Latest Updates feed?

Instead of having to follow 50+ state agency pages or looking for random stories on different industry sites, our page shows news about record-breaking fish from all of those sources. We monitor daily for record-breaking catches. The feed is updated as relevant stories emerge.

This includes state records, IGFA world records, records for specific bodies of water etc. We also include a small amount of highly relevant news such as major stocking events.

How can I contribute?

You can contribute by submitting tips about new records, share additional information or corrections for existing records, share links to state agency announcements, or suggest stories for the feed. We review all submissions.

How often is the database updated and what date is used?

We monitor daily and update the database when new records emerge. Some states update their records frequently (multiple times per year), while others update less often. We add new record stories to Latest Updates as they are discovered, and add them to the table as they are recognized by record-keeping agencies.

For new records, where possible we use the date that the fish was caught. But maintaining accurate catch dates is tricky. There’s the day someone caught the fish, the day it was certified, the day of the press release or news story, and whatever day a given state decides to display on their site — if any. Some just have years, or months and years. We display whatever date the state provides and prioritize catch dates when available.

Why is the same species listed multiple times in one state?

There are many reasons: Different methods of take, different measurement categories, different species subspecies or strains, and other types of divisions. Each listing represents a distinct record category maintained by that state.

Does this include IGFA world records?

Our primary focus is U.S. state records. However, we include IGFA world records in the news feed, and of course some U.S. state records are IGFA world records. For comprehensive IGFA world records, visit igfa.org.