From my early days as an angler, I have always been intrigued by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) fishing records. To be honest, they always seemed to be out of reach for local angler like myself. The what was until a recent announcement by the IGFA to open an ‘All-Tackle Length Category‘ in their record books.
This mean any large fish that you catch and release could become an IGFA length record!
You do NOT need special certification or a specific type of fish scale. Essentially, all that is required is that you catch and release according to the IGFA rules for this category and take specific photos of the fish on an IGFA fish measuring mat.
This opportunity not only encourages a quick release of a trophy class fish (for someone else to enjoy), but also increases the chances that an angler’s name, and released fish, could make the IGFA record books because the entry requirements can practically be met in any boat – anywhere.
Here are the current IGFA records for some common freshwater fish that may be lurking in a lake near you. When you catch one – let me know.
Current IGFA All-Tackle Length Records
Bass, largemouth Micropterus salmoides 48 cm
Bass, smallmouth Micropterus dolomieu 34 cm
Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus1 19 cm
Carp, common Cyprinus carpio 55 cm
Catfish, blue Ictalurus furcatus 73 cm
Catfish, channel Ictalurus punctatus 60 cm
Grayling Thymallus thymallus 25 cm
Grayling, Arctic Thymallus arcticus 37 cm
Muskellunge Esox masquinongy 76 cm
Perch, white Morone Americana 21 cm
Perch, yellow Perca flavescens 18 cm
Pickerel, chain Esox niger 39 cm
Pike, northern Esox lucius 68 cm
Salmon, Atlantic Salmo salar 64 cm
Salmon, Atlantic (landlocked) Salmo salar 46 cm
Salmon, chinook Oncorhynchus tshawytscha 53 cm
Salmon, chum Oncorhynchus keta 48 cm
Salmon, coho Oncorhynchus kisutch 53 cm
Salmon, pink Oncorhynchus gorbuscha 39 cm
Salmon, sockeye Oncorhynchus nerka 35 cm
Trout, brook Salvelinus fontinalis 34 cm
Trout, brown Salmo trutta 51 cm
Trout, bull Salvelinus confluentus 51 cm
Trout, cutthroat Oncorhynchus clarki 44 cm
Trout, lake Salvelinus namaycush 74 cm
Trout, rainbow Oncorhynchus mykiss 54 cm
Walleye Stizostedion vitreum 52 cm
