47 Largest Fish Ever Caught in Texas

Special Report

The alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) is a ray-finned euryhaline fish related to the bowfin in the infraclass Holostei.

Published: December 21, 2023 9:10 am

“Everything is bigger in Texas” is a familiar colloquialism that often proves true. As the largest state in the contiguous U.S. by total area and the second largest by population (trailing only California), Texas really is big in every sense of the world. And, in true Texas style, the state has also posted some big fishing records. Actually, “big” doesn’t necessarily do it justice. The Lone Star State has produced some gargantuan fish. Here is a look at the largest fish ever caught in Texas. (As an example of how Texas’s “big” population is only getting bigger, the state is home to 30% of the nation’s 50 fastest-growing counties. Here is the complete list.)

According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD), sportfishing pumps $4.6 billion into the state’s economy each year. That’s certainly a Texas-sized number, but it’s not necessarily surprising when you consider the resources available to both in and out-of-state anglers.

Texas boasts over 3,700 named streams, 15 major rivers, thousands of lakes, and 367 miles of open Gulf shoreline. The state also features warm temperatures throughout the year, meaning anglers never have to hang up their rod and reel for the winter. This allows some species of fish to grow to mammoth sizes and it gives anglers endless opportunities to catch them.

As the official holder of Texas state fishing records, TPWD was the exclusive source of information for the record-setting fish listed below. The following list contains every official Texas freshwater fishing record over 15 pounds and every saltwater record over 200 pounds.

Texas Freshwater Fish Records (Over 15 pounds)

Aerial view of downtown Ft Worth Texas during the day with Trinity River in the foreground — The Trinity River has produced multiple Texas freshwater fishing records.

22. Orangemouth Corvina

Small prawns are used as bait for fishing. — Shrimp is a superb bait choice when fishing for orangemouth corvina, also known as orangemouth weakfish.

Weight: 16.31 pounds
Length: 36 inches
Water Body: Calaveras
Date: November 16, 1991
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Earl L. Tenpenny

21. Bowfin

Bowfin (Amia calva) — The bowfin’s appearance has been described as a cross between a catfish and an eel.

Weight: 17.65 pounds
Length: 36.5 inches
Water Body: Lake Fork
Date: February 21, 1993
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Brenda Walsh

20. Largemouth Bass

Big Bass Largemouth - Fishing — The largemouth bass is the most popular freshwater sportfish in North America.

Weight: 18.18 pounds
Length: 25.5 inches
Water Body: Lake Fork
Date: Jan 24, 1992
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Barry St. Clair

19. Northern Pike

The Northern Pike - Esox Lucius. Underwater photo of giant fish from freshwater lake. Animals and wildlife theme. — The northern pike is a stealthy predator.

Weight: 18.28 pounds
Length: 41 inches
Water Body: Lady Bird Lake
Date: August 29, 1981
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Mike Sharpe

18. Hybrid Striped Bass

striped bass-white bass hybrid — The hybrid striped bass is a hybridization of the white bass and striped bass.

Weight: 19.66 pounds
Length: 35.16 inches
Water Body: Ray Hubbard
Date: June 20, 1984
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: John Haney

17. Spotted Seatrout x Corvina

A freshly caught Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) on ice in a cooler. — The spotted seatrout, seen here, can be hybridized with the corvina.

Weight: 20.8 pounds
Length: 35 inches
Water Body: Victor Braunig
Date: April 25, 1992
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Phillip Mann

16. Black Buffalo

Black Buffalo (Ictiobus niger) by Chris Light — The black buffalo is often confused with the common carp.

Weight: 34.88 pounds
Length: 39.5 inches
Water Body: Texoma
Date: May 19, 2004
Bait/Lure: Coho Minnow
Angler: Ricky Stephenson

15. Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) — The channel catfish is the most widespread and popular catfish species in North America.

Weight: 36.5 pounds
Length: 38 inches
Water Body: Pedernales River
Date: March 7, 1965
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Mrs. Joe Cockrell

14. Black Drum

black drum (pogonias cromis) fish underwater — The black drum can be found in rivers and creeks, but it can also survive in water that is twice as salty as the Gulf of Mexico.

Weight: 36.63 pounds
Length: 42.5 inches
Water Body: Nueces River
Date: November 17, 2009
Bait/Lure: Gulp
Angler: Filip Spencer

13. Red Drum

Fisherman with a big catch - golden fish Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). Texas Gulf Coast, USA — Red drum proliferate Texas Gulf Coast (where this fish was caught), but the fish can also be found miles from the Gulf in the state’s rivers and streams.

Weight: 36.83 pounds
Length: 44 inches
Water Body: Fairfield
Date: May 22, 2001
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Billy Tyus

12. Freshwater Drum

Freshwater Drum also known as a Sheepshead — The freshwater drum is sometimes known as the sheepshead.

Weight: 44 pounds
Length: 38.5 inches
Water Body: Conroe
Date: May 22, 2011
Bait/Lure: Dough Bait
Angler: Jesse Ashley

11. Common Carp

Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) by Dezidor — The common carp is native to Eurasia but has become one of the most widespread invasive species in the U.S.

Weight: 44.25 pounds
Length: 41 inches
Water Body: Lady Bird Lake
Date: March 28, 2021
Bait/Lure: Tigernut
Angler: Kevin Olivier

10. Longnose Gar

Longnose Gar (Lepisosteus osseus) — The longnose gar is a “living fossil” dating back to the Cretaceous period.

Weight: 44.5 pounds
Length: Unavailable
Water Body: Trinity River
Date: May 7, 2017
Bait/Lure: Cut Carp
Angler: Rock Shaw

8. Striped Bass

School of striped bass — Striped bass can survive in both salt and freshwater.

Weight: 53 pounds
Length: 48 inches
Water Body: Brazos River
Date: May 27, 1999
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Ron Venerable

8. Grass Carp

Underwater picture of Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Wild life animal. Grass carp in beautifull nature habitat. Live in the river. — Grass carp can grow to impressive sizes while eating mainly “salad,”

Weight: 53.5 pounds
Length: 49 inches
Water Body: Toledo Bend
Date: August 2, 2006
Bait/Lure: Jig
Angler: Tontie Pennock

7. Bigmouth Buffalo

Bigmouth Buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus) by Alus164 — The bigmouth buffalo is remarkably long-lived, with some individuals living over 100 years.

Weight: 58.75 pounds
Length: 40.75 inches
Water Body: Sam Rayburn
Date: January 29, 1994
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Allen Chesney

6. Hybrid Gar

Trinity River Flowing through Texas — The Trinity River produced the Texas state record hybrid gar.

Weight: 70.22 pounds
Length: 75 inches
Water Body: Trinity River
Date: June 27, 2018
Bait/Lure: Live Mullet
Angler: Shelton Shoemake

5. Smallmouth Buffalo

Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus) caught near green moss rock on shoreline of Grapevine Lake, Texas, USA. American native rough fish in Catostomidae species fishing with method feeder — This smallmouth buffalo was caught in Texas’ Grapevine Lake.

Weight: 82.22 pounds
Length: 43.5 inches
Water Body: Athens
Date: June 13, 1993
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Randy Collins

4. Bighead Carp

Bighead carp by mark6mauno — The bighead carp is effective at cleaning waters such as sewage ponds, but that hardiness also allowed it to become a widespread invasive species in the U.S.

Weight: 90 pounds
Length: 55.5 inches
Water Body: Kirby
Date: July 22, 2000
Bait/Lure: Cut Carp
Angler: Timothy Conner

3. Flathead Catfish

Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) — The flathead catfish has a mottled (spotted) body and a noticeably flat head.

Weight: 98.5 pounds
Length: 53 inches
Water Body: Palestine
Date: December 2, 1998
Bait/Lure: Minnow/Crappie Hook
Angler: James Laster

2. Blue Catfish

Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) by Thomsonmg2000 — The blue catfish is the largest freshwater catfish species in the U.S.

Weight: 121.5 pounds
Length: 58 inches
Water Body: Texoma
Date: January 16, 2004
Bait/Lure: Shad
Angler: Cody Mullennix

1. Alligator Gar

Weight: 283 pounds
Length: 72 inches
Water Body: Sam Rayburn
Date: September 2, 2023
Bait/Lure: Cut-Bait on J-Hook
Angler: Arthur Weston

Texas Saltwater Fish Records (Over 200 Pounds)

A heron sits atop a piling looking for fish as the sun rises over Seabrook, Texas along the Texas Gulf Coast. — The Texas Gulf Coast provides both herons and human anglers with boundless fishing opportunities.

25. Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Weight: 200 pounds
Length: 95.75 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: July 25, 2014
Bait/Lure: Bonita
Angler: Blake Oestreich

24. Spinner Shark

Shark fishing big game spinner shark biting bait man fisher reeling in animal in catch and release sports activity on water. Boat tour. — Spinner sharks are commonly caught in the Texas Gulf region.

Weight: 212.6 pounds
Length: 89.75 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: April 29, 2000
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Howell Kines

23. Yellowfin Tuna

Yellowfin by John Buie — The yellowfin tuna is clearly named for its bright yellow fins.

Weight: 216.2 pounds
Length: 80 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: October 11, 1998
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Jim Dickson

22. Sandbar Shark

Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus), also known as the thickskin shark. — The sandbar shark is also known as the thickskin shark.

Weight: 226 pounds
Length: 92 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: Mar 21, 1975
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: James Wilson

21. Tarpon

Tarpon Jumping in the Caribbean Sea — The tarpon puts up quite an acrobatic fight after it is hooked.

Weight: 229 pounds
Length: 90 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: August 20, 2017
Bait/Lure: Coon Pop
Angler: Michael Shane LaRue II

20. Roughtail Stingray

Roughtail Ray swimming in blue waters at the Aquarium — Anglers must be cautious of the roughtail stingray’s large venomous spine.

Weight: 241 pounds
Length: 84 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: September 2, 1991
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Rick A. Jansky

19. Southern Stingray

Southern Stingray in the Tropical Western Atlantic — The southern stingray is a bottom-feeding fish in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

Weight: 246 pounds
Length: 96 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: June 30, 1998
Bait/Lure: Mullet
Angler: Carissa Egger

18. Spotted Eagle Ray

Spotted eagle ray at mid water — The spotted eagle ray really does look like a spotted bird flying through the water.

Weight: 273.5 pounds
Length: 82 inches
Water Body: Galveston Bay
Date: Jun 2, 2012
Bait/Lure: Cut Bait
Angler: Jimmy Anderson

17. Scalloped Hammerhead

Scalloped hammerhead, Darwin's arch, Galapagos islands. — The scalloped hammerhead is a shark named for the indentations on its hammer-shaped head.

Weight: 300.5 pounds
Length: Unavailable
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: October 4, 2021
Bait/Lure: Skipjack
Angler: Derrick Bonner

16. Thresher Shark

Thresher sharks are carnivorous and primarily feed on small fish and squid. They use their tails to herd their prey and then strike them with their jaws. — The thresher shark often uses its exceptionally long tail to stun its prey.

Weight: 333 pounds
Length: 158.5 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: May 2, 2002
Bait/Lure: Bonita
Angler: Robert Robinson

15. Warsaw Grouper

Weight: 370.4 pounds
Length: 82.5 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: September 16, 2010
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Tim Oestreich II

14. Lemon Shark

Lemon shark in blue water. — Lemon sharks are known to dive up to 1,300 deep in search of prey.

Weight: 470 pounds
Length: 122 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: August 28, 1987
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Jim Blackburn

13. Swordfish

Weight: 493 pounds
Length: 145.75 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: June 4, 2013
Bait/Lure: Squid
Angler: Brian K. Barclay

12. Bull Shark

Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) in Bimini, Bahamas — The bull shark is one of the most aggressive sharks in the world.

Weight: 515 pounds
Length: 108 inches
Water Body: Aransas Bay
Date: May 18, 2007
Bait/Lure: Mullet
Angler: Randall Rickerson

11. Sand Tiger

head of big sand tiger shark in detail with dark background — The sand tiger is also known as the ragged-tooth shark, for obvious reasons.

Weight: 520 pounds
Length: 119 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: April 4, 1976
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Joey Vermuelem

10. Dusky Shark

Dusky shark in hadera beach — The dusky shark is listed as “endangered” on the IUCN Red List.

Weight: 530 pounds
Length: 129 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: March 1, 1975
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Raymond Hein

9. Goliath Grouper

Atlantic goliath grouper, jewfish or itajara (Epinephelus itajara) Jardines de la Reina, Cuba — As one of the world’s largest species of bony fish, the Goliath grouper certainly lives up to its name.

Weight: 551 pounds
Length: Unavailable
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: June 29, 1937
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Gus Pangarakis

8. Silky Shark

Silky Shark in the Bahamas — The silky shark is known by many other names, such as the blackspot shark, olive shark, gray whaler shark, sickle shark, and ridgeback shark.

Weight: 556 pounds
Length: 140 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: July 23, 1973
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Wolfgang Bushang

7. Longfin Mako

Endangered Long fin Mako — The longfin mako is another endangered shark.

Weight: 664 pounds
Length: 128.5 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: May 4, 1986
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Donald Ewing

6. Shortfin Mako

Short fin mako shark swimming just under the surface, offshore, about 50 kilometres past Western Cape in South Africa. This picture was taken during a blue water baited shark dive. — The shortfin mako is a popular shark among saltwater anglers due to its acrobatic, hard-fighting style.

Weight: 707.5 pounds
Length: 128 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: January 27, 2002
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Jeff Shindle

5. Largetooth Sawfish

largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis) swimming around large aquarium tank, The sawfish also they known as carpenter sharks — While the longtooth sawfish is sometimes known as the carpenter shark, it is not a shark but rather a type of ray.

Weight: 736 pounds
Length: Unavailable
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: January 1, 1939
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Gus Pangarakis

4. Bluefin Tuna

Weight: 876 pounds
Length: 121 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: April 13, 2021
Bait/Lure: Live Bait
Angler: Troy Lancaster

3. Blue Marlin

Weight: 972.7 pounds
Length: 132.25 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: July 11, 2014
Bait/Lure: Live Bait
Angler: Richard Richardson Jr.

2. Great Hammerhead

Great hammerhead shark, Mokarran, with the sun shining behind. Bimini. Bahamas — The great hammerhead casts an unmistakable silhouette.

Weight: 1,033 pounds
Length: 173.25 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: July 9, 2017
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Timothy W. McClellen

1. Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark Up Close Full Body Shot. Stripes showing in clear blue water with white sandy bottom. Photo taken in The Bahamas. — The tiger shark is the largest fish ever caught in Texas waters.

Weight: 1,129 pounds
Length: 162 inches
Water Body: Gulf of Mexico
Date: May 24, 1992
Bait/Lure: Unavailable
Angler: Chap Cain III

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