Meet the Anglers in 2025 who are Breaking the Records
Explore the biggest catches of this year and years past, and see how you can enter to be featured here.
Hover over the picture to see the size and length of the fish, and where it was caught!
Catch and keep
Jason Rabe
Species: Tilapia*
Size: 9 lb 7.68 oz, 22.5 in.
Location: Colorado River
Date: 03/02/2025
Jason Rabe
Species: Tilapia*
Size: 10 lb 11.2 oz, 23.125 in.
Location: Gila River
Date: 03/02/2025
Brenda Birmingham
Species: Redear Sunfish
Size: 1 lb 4.8 oz, 11.5 in.
Location: Lake Pleasant
Date: 03/12/2025
Catch and Release**
Species: Redear Sunfish*
Size: 16 in.
Location: Lake Havasu
Angler: Joshua Daniels
Date: 04/28/2025
Species: Bluegill
Size: 9.125 in.
Location: Tempe Canal
Angler: Axel Thompson
Date: 08/31/2025
* New State Record
** Based on length only and rounded down to nearest inch. New entries must exceed existing entry by at least 1 inch.
Arizona Fish Entry Form with Rules [PDF] (page 44 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
Arizona Fish Weighing Scale Locations [PDF] (page 45 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
Big Fish of the Year Archive
2023 Big Fish of the Year
Catch and Keep
Sarina VanAsdlan
Species: Black Buffalo
Size: 56 lb 0 oz, 44 in.
Location: Apache Lake
Date: 03/10/2024
Thomas Farchione
Species: Redear Sunfish
Size: 6 lb 4.8 oz, 17 in.
Location: Lake Havasu
Date: 05/04/2021
Catch and Release**
Species: Redear Sunfish
Size: 13 in.
Location: Peña Blanca Lake
Angler: Colin Parish
Date: 06/19/2021
Species: Striped Bass
Size: 34 in.
Location: Lake Pleasant
Angler: Eric Martinez Jr
Date: 04/11/2021
Species: Carp
Size: 34 in.
Location: Salt River
Angler: Michael Huffman
Date: 03/23/2021
Species: Rainbow Trout
Size: 34 in.
Location: Silver Creek
Angler: Michael R Sims
Date: 01/28/2021
Species: Smallmouth Buffalo
Size: 35 in.
Location: Saguaro Lake
Angler: Tristen McGee
Date: 02/20/2021
Species: Gila Trout
Size: 16 in.
Location: Green Valley Park
Angler: Zachary Young
Date: 11/14/2021
* New State Record
** Based on length only and rounded down to nearest inch. New entries must exceed existing entry by at least 1 inch.
Arizona Fish Entry Form with Rules [PDF] (page 44 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
Arizona Fish Weighing Scale Locations [PDF] (page 45 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
2022 Big Fish of the Year
Catch and Keep
Kenny Won
Species: Channel Catfish
Size: 11 lb 1.76 oz, 30 in.
Location: Riparian Park
Date: 07/18/2021
Thomas Farchione
Species: Redear Sunfish
Size: 6 lb 4.8 oz, 17 in.
Location: Lake Havasu
Date: 05/04/2021
Catch and Release**
Species: Desert Sucker*
Size: 18 in.
Location: Salt River
Angler: Kendra Loubere
Date: 01/17/2022
Species: Striped Bass
Size: 34 in.
Location: Lake Pleasant
Angler: Eric Martinez Jr
Date: 04/11/2021
Species: Carp
Size: 34 in.
Location: Salt River
Angler: Michael Huffman
Date: 03/23/2021
Species: Rainbow Trout
Size: 34 in.
Location: Silver Creek
Angler: Michael R Sims
Date: 01/28/2021
Species: Smallmouth Buffalo
Size: 35 in.
Location: Saguaro Lake
Angler: Tristen McGee
Date: 02/20/2021
Species: Gila Trout
Size: 16 in.
Location: Green Valley Park
Angler: Zachary Young
Date: 11/14/2021
* New State Record
** Based on length only and rounded down to nearest inch. New entries must exceed existing entry by at least 1 inch.
Arizona Fish Entry Form with Rules [PDF] (page 44 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
Arizona Fish Weighing Scale Locations [PDF] (page 45 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
2021 Big Fish of the Year
Catch and Keep
Kenny Won
Species: Channel Catfish
Size: 11 lb 1.76 oz, 30.25 in.
Location: Riparian Park
Date: 07/18/2021
Thomas M Farchione
Species: Redear Sunfish
Size: 6 lb 4.8 oz, 17 in.
Location: Lake Havasu
Date: 05/04/2021
Catch and Release**
Species: Redear Sunfish*
Size: 13 in.
Location: Peña Blanca Lake
Angler: Colin Parish
Date: 06/19/2021
Species: Striped Bass*
Size: 34.25 in.
Location: Lake Pleasant
Angler: Eric Martinez Jr.
Date: 04/11/2021
Species: Carp
Size: 34 in.
Location: Salt River
Angler: Michael Huffman
Date: 03/23/2021
Species: Rainbow Trout
Size: 30 in.
Location: Silver Creek
Angler: Michael R Sims
Date: 01/28/2021
Species: Smallmouth Buffalo*
Size: 35.5 in.
Location: Saguaro Lake
Angler: Tristen K McGee
Date: 02/20/2021
Species: Gila Trout*
Size: 16 in.
Location: Green Valley Park
Angler: Zachary Young
Date: 11/14/2021
* New State Record
** Based on length only and rounded down to nearest inch. New entries must exceed existing entry by at least 1 inch.
Arizona Fish Entry Form with Rules [PDF] (page 44 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
Arizona Fish Weighing Scale Locations [PDF] (page 45 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
2020 Big Fish of the Year
Catch and Keep
Anthony Lerma
Species: Tiger Trout
Size: 3 lb 0.16 oz, 18.75 in.
Location: Morton Tank
Date: 05/23/2020
Dan Martin
Species: Striped Bass
Size: 32 lb 14.08 oz, 45.96 in.
Location: Lake Mead
Date: 08/10/2020
Ron Johnson
Species: Yellow Bass
Size: 2 lb 2.56 oz, 14.25 in.
Location: Canyon Lake
Date: 02/07/2020
Ronald Nuss Jr.
Species: Sonora Sucker
Size: 6 lb, 23 in.
Location: Lower Salt River
Date: 10/20/2020
Vincent Ybarra
Species: Brown Trout
Size: 11 lb 0.8 oz, 30.2 in.
Location: River Reservoir
Date: 07/16/2020
Nolan Smith
Species: White Bass
Size: 2 lb 2.56 oz, 18 in.
Location: Lake Pleasant
Date: 07/09/2020
Catch and Release**
Species: Rainbow Trout
Size: 28.5 in.
Location: Silver Creek
Angler: Brian Savoy
Date: 11/28/2020
Species: Black Crappie
Size: 10.25 in.
Location: Willow Springs Lake
Angler: Chad Sanders
Date: 05/09/2020
Species: Cutthroat Trout
Size: 19 in.
Location: Big Lake
Angler: David Michael Ruiz
Date: 11/13/2020
Species: Yellow Perch
Size: 12.25 in.
Location: Upper Lake Mary
Angler: Larry Larsen
Date: 05/30/2020
Species: Flathead Catfish
Size: 50.75 in.
Location: The Colorado River
Angler: Robert Wright
Date: 02/16/2020
* New State Record
** Based on length only and rounded down to nearest inch. New entries must exceed existing entry by at least 1 inch.
Arizona Fish Entry Form with Rules [PDF] (page 44 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
Arizona Fish Weighing Scale Locations [PDF] (page 45 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
2019 Big Fish of the Year
Catch and Keep
Randy D. Blachley
Species: Yellow Perch
Size: 1 lb 2.72 oz, 12 in.
Location: Upper Lake Mary
Date: 06/25/2019
Trevin Janssen
Species: Rainbow Trout
Size: 6 lb 11.2 oz, 24.5 in.
Location: Blue Ridge Reservoir
Date: 05/18/2019
Jeff K. Gunnell
Species: Tiger Trout
Size: 2 lb 2.88 oz, 18.375 in.
Location: Carnero Lake
Date: 10/15/2019
Sheldon Kunz
Species: Walleye
Size: 9 lb 10.08 oz, 30.5 in.
Location: Fool Hollow Lake
Date: 04/30/2019
Ronald Nuss Jr.
Species: Bigmouth Buffalo
Size: 30 lb 4.48 oz., 37 in.
Location: Canyon Lake
Date: 06/11/2019
Ronald Nuss Jr.
Species: Carp
Size: 35 lb 1.92 oz, 36.5 in.
Location: Canyon Lake
Date: 06/05/2019
Ted Keller
Species: Carp
Size: 38 lb 39.5 in.
Location: Lake Havasu
Date: 05/09/2019
Richard Steele
Species: Channel Catfish
Size: 12 lb 6.72 oz, 31.5 in.
Location: Red Mountain Lake
Date: 03/19/2019
Catch and Release**
Species: Bluegill
Size: 10 in.
Location: Roosevelt Lake
Angler: Scott Alan Purtee
Date: 08/03/2019
Species: Tiger Trout
Size: 20 in.
Location: Becker Lake
Angler: Reese Mcfarland
Date: 10/19/2019
Species: Walleye
Size: 25.5 in.
Location: Upper Lake Mary
Angler: Jack K. Moody
Date: 06/22/2019
Species: Brook Trout
Size: 14 in.
Location: Perkins Tank
Angler: Michael R. Sims
Date: 05/03/2019
Species: Redear Sunfish
Size: 14.25 in.
Location: Lake Havasu
Angler: Darren Van Houten
Date: 04/25/2019
Species: Flathead Catfish
Size: 26 in.
Location: Lake Havasu
Angler: Michael A. Simmons
Date: 05/05/2019
Community Fishing Entries
Catch and Keep
Mike Porter
Species: Largemouth Bass
Size: 8 lb 8.8 oz, 22 in.
Location: Kennedy Lake
Date: 01/17/2019
Julian Martinez
Species: Crappie
Size: 1 lb 2.24 oz, 13 in.
Location: Kennedy Lake
Date: 02/09/2019
Cameron Gilliam
Species: Rainbow Trout
Size: 3 lb 14.08 oz, 19.5625 in.
Location: Red Mountain Lake
Date: 01/25/2019
Catch and Release**
* New State Record
** Based on length only and rounded down to nearest inch. New entries must exceed existing entry by at least 1 inch.
Arizona Fish Entry Form with Rules [PDF] (page 44 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
Arizona Fish Weighing Scale Locations [PDF] (page 45 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
2018 Big Fish of the Year
Catch and Keep
Scott Gaulin
Species: Black Crappie
Size: 2 lb 7.36 oz, 14 in.
Location: San Carlos Reservoir
Date: 03/31/18
Ronald Nuss Jr.
Species: Bigmouth Buffalo
Size: 31 lb 3.2 oz, 37 in.
Location: Apache Lake
Date: 06/18/18
Shawn Toolson
Species: Channel Catfish
Size: 12 lb 1.6 oz, 30 in.
Location: Apache Lake
Date: 03/29/18
Ted Keller
Species: Carp
Size: 35 lb 6.4 oz, 40 in.
Location: Lake Havasu
Date: 05/04/18
Ronald Nuss Jr.
Species: Smallmouth Buffalo
Size: 18 lbs. 8 oz. 40 in.
Location: Apache Lake
Date: 06/18/18
David Worsham
Species: Gila Trout
Size: 5 lb 1.92 oz
Location: Goldwater Lake
Date: 06/02/18
Darryl Brammeier
Species: Northern Pike
Size: 3 lb 6 oz
Location: Rainbow Lake
Date: 06/04/18
Gregg P. Smith
Species: Tiger Trout
Size: 1 lb 12.76 oz
Location: Wood Canyon Lake
Date: 11/05/18
Catch and Release**
George Tarro Jr.
Species: Channel Catfish
Size: 35 in.
Location: Lake Havasu
Date: 04/28/18
Robert Morse
Species: Tiger Trout
Size: 16 in.
Location: Becker Lake
Date: 04/25/18
Matthew Rokusek
Species: White Crappie
Size: 16 in.
Location: San Carlos Reservoir
Date: XX/XX/XXXX
* New State Record
** Based on length only and rounded down to nearest inch. New entries must exceed existing entry by at least 1 inch.
Arizona Fish Entry Form with Rules [PDF] (page 44 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
Arizona Fish Weighing Scale Locations [PDF] (page 45 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
2017 Big Fish of the Year
Catch and Keep
Ronald Nuss Jr.
Species: Sonoran Sucker
Size: 5 lb 2.88 oz, 20.88 in.
Location: Lower Salt River
Date: 01/16/2017
David Campbell
Species: Striped Bass
Size: 20 lb 14.72 oz, 35 in.
Location: Lake Pleasant
Date: 02/16/2017
Carson Pete
Species: Channel Catfish*
Size: 33 lb 5.76 oz, 39.5 in.
Location: Upper Lake Mary
Date: 03/26/2017
Roger Thompson
Species: Tiger Trout
Size: 1.49 lb, 15.4 in.
Location: Carnero Lake
Date: 03/27/2017
Ronald Nuss Jr.
Species: Carp
Size: 26 lb 13.12 oz, 39 in.
Location: Canyon Lake
Date: 06/06/2017
James Brooks
Species: White Bass
Size: 2 lb 2.88 oz, 17 in.
Location: Lake Pleasant
Date: 10/19/2017
James Brooks
Species: Green Sunfish
Size: 1 lb 15.84 oz, 12.5 in.
Location: Patagonia Lake
Date: 05/20/2017
Paul Deming
Species: Brown Trout
Size: 4 lb 14.88 oz, 20.8 in.
Location: Black River
Date: 06/19/2017
Sue Nowak
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Size: 6 lb 4.48 oz, 21 in.
Location: Lake Havasu
Date: 02/23/2017
Catch and Release**
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Size: 23.5 in.
Location: Roosevelt Lake
Angler: David Peterson
Date: 04/21/2017
Species: Green Sunfish
Size: 13 in.
Location: Lake Pleasant
Angler: Tyler Johnson
Date: 04/10/2017
Species: Sonora Sucker
Size: 24 in.
Location: Lower Salt River
Angler: Levi Flood
Date: 02/11/2017
Community Fishing Entries
Catch and Keep
Quentin Johnson
Species: Rainbow Trout
Size: 3 lb 5.44 oz, 19.1 in.
Location: Pioneer Lake
Date: 02/25/2017
Quentin Johnson
Species: Sonoran Sucker
Size: 25 lb 6.4 oz, 36 in.
Location: Tempe Town Lake
Date: 01/14/2017
Quentin Johnson
Species: White Amur
Size: 20 lb 10.4 oz, 33.5 in.
Location: Kiwanis Lake
Date: 03/05/2017
Richard Steele
Species: Channel Catfish
Size: 9.6 lb, 27 in.
Location: Red Mountain Lake
Date: 04/06/2017
Catch and Release**
Species: Rainbow Trout
Size: 26 in.
Location: Silver Creek
Angler: Michael Sims
Date: 02/23/2017
Species: Tiger Trout*
Size: 26 in.
Location: Silver Creek
Angler: Savannah Thompson
Date: 03/10/2017
* New State Record
** Based on length only and rounded down to nearest inch. New entries must exceed existing entry by at least 1 inch.
Arizona Fish Entry Form with Rules [PDF] (page 44 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
Arizona Fish Weighing Scale Locations [PDF] (page 45 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
2016 Big Fish of the Year
Catch and Keep
Ronald Nuss Jr.
Species: Smallmouth Buffalo
Size: 26 lb 15.68 oz, 34 in.
Location: Apache Lake
Date: 06/27/2016
Sheri Hopkins
Species: Cutthroat Trout
Size: 2 lb 3.52 oz, 18.25 in.
Location: Big Lake
Date: 07/07/2016
Marissa Mandigo
Species: Largemouth Bass
Size: 7 lb 15.68 oz, 23.75 in.
Location: Saguaro Lake
Date: XX/XX/XXXX
Evan Veloz
Species: Tilapia
Size: 3 lb 12.16 oz, 16.5 in.
Location: Saguaro Lake
Date: 01/02/2016
Emily McCeachin
Species: Yellow Bass
Size: 1 lb 11.2 oz, 13.25 in.
Location: Apache Lake
Date: 03/12/2016
Jake Peters
Species: Carp
Size: 37 lb 7.36 oz, 38.5 in.
Location: Saguaro Lake
Date: 03/19/2016
Joshua Rose
Species: Brown Trout
Size: 4 lb 4.8 oz, 22.75 in.
Location: Dogtown Reservoir
Date: 04/02/2016
Kyle Johnson
Species: Flathead Catfish
Size: 18 lb 14.4 oz, 33 in.
Location: Kiwanis Lake
Date: 03/27/2016
Bruce Hudson
Species: Channel Catfish
Size: 22 lb 10.88 oz, 34 in.
Location: Goldwater Lake
Date: 05/22/2016
Ronald Nuss
Species: Black Buffalo
Size: 36 lb 2.88 oz, 39 in.
Location: Apache Lake
Date: 06/21/2016
Larry Johnson
Species: Tiger Trout*
Size: 0 lb 9.28 oz, 12 in.
Location: Willows Springs Lake
Date: 12/04/2016
Delmar Keen
Species: Rainbow Trout
Size: 0 lb 8.64 oz, 11 in.
Location: Willow Springs Lake
Date: 08/15/2016
Catch and Release**
Species: Rainbow Trout
Size: 25 in.
Location: Silver Creek
Angler: Michael R. Sims
Date: 02/04/2016
Species: Green Sunfish
Size: 8.75 in.
Location: Saguaro Lake
Angler: Tom Judson
Date: 06/03/2016
Species: Tiger Trout*
Size: 10 in.
Location: Becker Lake
Angler: Dave Mattausch
Date: 07/17/2016
Community Fishing Entries
Catch and Keep
Bob Foy
Species: Channel Catfish
Size: 9 lb 10.24 oz, 28.25 in.
Location: Red Mountain
Date: 03/01/2016
Trevor A. Dugan
Species: Redear Sunfish
Size: 1 lb 13.12 oz, 10.75 in.
Location: Papago Pond #1
Date: 03/20/2016
Catch and Release**
* New State Record
** Based on length only and rounded down to nearest inch. New entries must exceed existing entry by at least 1 inch.
Arizona Fish Entry Form with Rules [PDF] (page 44 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
Arizona Fish Weighing Scale Locations [PDF] (page 45 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
2015 Big Fish of the Year
Catch and Keep
James Thompson
Species: Rainbow Trout
Size: 15 lb 13.92 oz, 32.88 in.
Location: Lower Salt River
Date: 08/07/2015
Bruce Williams
Species: Yellow Bass
Size: 1 lb 10.24 oz, 13.88 in.
Location: Apache Lake
Date: 02/03/2015
Jenny Blumenstein
Species: White Bass
Size: 1 lb 9.92 oz, 15.5 in.
Location: Lake Pleasant
Date: 11/20/2015
Gary Becko
Species: Smallmouth Buffalo*
Size: 42 lb 13.76 oz, 38 in.
Location: Apache Lake
Date: 02/20/2015
Susan Weber
Species: Redear Sunfish
Size: 1 lb 8 oz, 13.2 in.
Location: Lake Pleasant
Date: 03/19/2015
Trevor Gamble
Species: Tilapia*
Size: 10 lb 0 oz, 21 in.
Location: SRP Canal
Date: 03/21/2015
Steve Jarvis
Species: Largemouth Bass
Size: 7 lb 10.24 oz, 23.25 in.
Location: Colorado River below Laguna Dam
Date: 03/27/2015
Marci Alderman
Species: Rainbow Trout
Size: 8 lb 0.8 oz, 26.62 in.
Location: Silver Creek
Date: 04/01/2015
Dean W. Linne
Species: Flathead Catfish*
Size: 60 lb 0 oz, 47 in.
Location: Roosevelt Lake
Date: 05/31/2015
Troy Ackerman
Species: Hybrid Sunfish
Size: 1 lb 7.04 oz, 11.75 in.
Location: Lake Pleasant
Date: 07/28/2015
James Thompson
Species: Carp
Size: 19 lb 2.24 oz, 38.5 in.
Location: Lower Salt River
Date: 08/16/2015
Catch and Release**
Species: Channel Catfish*
Size: 34 in.
Location: Upper Mary Lake
Angler: Jared Sandall
Date: 03/28/2015
Species: Brook Trout*
Size: 15 in.
Location: Perkins Tank
Angler: Rob Gerlak
Date: 04/09/2015
Species: Brown Trout
Size: 21 in.
Location: Canyon Creek
Angler: Brian Savoy
Date: 03/15/2015
Species: Rainbow Trout
Size: 23 in.
Location: Silver Creek
Angler: Michael Sims
Date: 11/04/2015
Species: White Amur
Size: 32 in.
Location: SRP Canal
Angler: Daniel Jackson
Date: 06/17/2015
Species: Largemouth Bass
Size: 20.5 in.
Location: Apache Lake
Angler: Bruce Williams
Date: 07/08/2015
Species: Walleye
Size: 17 in.
Location: Apache Lake
Angler: Bruce Williams
Date: 07/08/2015
Species: Roundtail Chub*
Size: 19 in.
Location: Verde River
Angler: Rudolph Hoffman
Date: 07/12/2015
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Size: 17.25 in.
Location: Apache Lake
Angler: Bruce Williams
Date: 07/28/2015
Species: Bluegill
Size: 8 in.
Location: SRP Canal
Angler: Daniel Jackson
Date: 09/14/2015
Community Fishing Entries
Catch and Keep
Kevin Wood
Species: Carp
Size: 5 lb 14.4 oz, 20.25 in.
Location: Surprise Lake
Date: 01/19/2015
Augustine Pupungatoa
Species: Channel Catfish
Size: 10 lb 6.72 oz, 27.75 in.
Location: Freestone Park
Date: 10/18/2015
Kyle Johnson
Species: Carp
Size: 20 lb 9.6 oz, 32 in.
Location: Kiwanis Lake
Date: 08/01/2015
Catch and Releases**
Species: Channel Catfish
Size: 28.5 in.
Location: Rio Vista Community Park
Angler: Joel Gapayao
Date: 06/04/2015
* New State Record
** Based on length only and rounded down to nearest inch. New entries must exceed existing entry by at least 1 inch.
Arizona Fish Entry Form with Rules [PDF] (page 44 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
Arizona Fish Weighing Scale Locations [PDF] (page 45 of the 2014 Fishing Regulations)
Want to Go Fishing around the State?
Find ways to experience fishing all over the state, including community waters.
buy your fishing license
If you need a fishing license, a combo hunt & fish license, or a short-term license, read about them here.
find a community lake to fish
There are 50+ community lakes in Arizona. Make a memory fishing with the family!