Four new record fish in three months caught in West Virginia

CHARLESTON, WV (WFXR) — West Virginia is known as the Mountain State. But, these days maybe it should be called “The Land of the Giants”?

That is because, in just a three-month period, four new state-record fish have been caught in West Virginia.

It all started back in December 2023, when John Drake of St. Albans caught a record 69.45-pound blue catfish from the Ohio River near Gallipolis Ferry. That fish was certified and released.

Then in February, Zach Adkins of Petersburg caught a 9.1 ounce redbreast sunfish. Redbreast sunfish do not grow large, so any redbreast over half a pound is considered a trophy. Adkins caught that record fish from New Creek Lake.

New Creek Lake was also the site of the next record. It was also caught in February. This time the species was a tiger trout, and it was hooked and landed by Nate Smith of Burlington. Smith’s tiger trout weighed 11.98 pounds.

The most recent record was set by Lauren Noble of Letart when she netted a 10.6-pound bowfin. Noble was fishing the Ohio River in Mason County when she made her record catch. That fish was also released.

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