Discover the 15 Largest Fish Ever Caught in Tennessee

Tennessee is one of the most exciting states for anglers. With its many incredible rivers and lakes, the state offers a variety of fish species. Tennessee holds some impressive records for large fish, including one world record! This article explores the 15 largest fish ever caught in Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

1. American Paddlefish – 149 lbs.

American paddlefish are native to the Mississippi River watershed. These massive fish are the oldest animal species in North America, dating back to around 125 million years ago. On April 13, 2023, Henry Dyer set the Tennessee state record for the largest American paddlefish. The incredible fish weighed a whopping 149 pounds! Additionally, it measured 79.5 inches long and 44 inches in circumference. Henry Dyer caught the record-breaking American paddlefish in the beautiful Cherokee Lake in West Tennessee. Tennessee’s state record is just 15 pounds less than the world record, a 164-pound American paddlefish caught in Oklahoma.

Here is a photo of the amazing record-breaking American paddlefish:

2. Blue Catfish – 122 lbs., 3 oz.

Blue catfish is the largest North American species of catfish. These absolute behemoths can grow to weigh 165 pounds and measure 65 inches long. Micka Burkhart caught the largest blue catfish ever in Tennessee on June 28, 2023. It weighed a whopping 122 pounds! This was the second time that Micka Burkhart set the blue catfish record in Tennessee. The first time, she caught a 118-pound blue catfish in 2022. Micka Burkhart caught both record-breaking catfish at Barkley Reservoir, in West Tennessee near the Kentucky border. The Tennessee record is only 21 pounds less than the blue catfish world record, a 143-pound specimen caught on the border of Virginia and North Carolina.

3. Bighead Carp – 90 lbs.

Bighead carp are native to Asia but introduced in North America. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Invasive Species Information Center, bighead carp are invasive in the United States due to their negative impacts on the environment and native fish species. As a result, in 2011 it became illegal to import them into the United States. Still, these massive fish are common in the Mississippi River watershed. The largest bighead crap ever caught in Tennessee weighed 90 lbs., which is about as much as a baby hippopotamus! The angler Jeffrey J. Rorex caught this massive fish at Guntersville Reservoir on June 2, 2005.

4. Flathead Catfish – 85 lbs., 15 oz.

The flathead catfish is the second-largest North American catfish species, after the blue catfish. These fish can grow to weigh 123 pounds and measure 61 inches long. The largest flathead catfish ever caught in Tennessee weighed 85 pounds and 15 ounces. It was caught by Larry Kaylor on July 25, 1993, at the Hiwassee River in East Tennessee.

5. Grass Carp – 70 lbs.

Grass carp are native to Asia but introduced in North America. They are widespread in the United States, where they are an invasive species. The largest grass carp ever caught in Tennessee weighed a whopping 70 pounds! Chad A. Killian caught it on June 4, 2005, at Guntersville Reservoir near the Alabama border. While this is a pretty large fish, even larger individuals exist in their native range. The grass carp world record was set in Bulgaria, with a fish that weighed 87 pounds and 10 ounces.

6. Striped Bass – 65 lbs., 6 oz.

Striped bass are native to North America’s Atlantic Coast. They are also introduced to many inland areas. The largest striped bass ever caught in Tennessee weighed a whopping 65 pounds and 6 ounces. Ralph H. Dallas caught it on May 1, 2000, at the Cordell Hull Reservoir, which is around 60 miles west of Nashville.

7. Smallmouth Buffalo – 62 lbs., 7 oz.

The smallmouth buffalo is native to the Mississippi River watershed. Smallmouth buffalo can live an extremely long time, sometimes up to 60 years! That’s a long time for these fish to grow into massive individuals. The largest smallmouth buffalo ever caught in Tennessee weighed 62 pounds and 7 ounces. Jerry W. Young caught it on April 28, 2001, at Percy Priest Reservoir outside of Nashville.

8. Bigmouth Buffalo – 62 lbs.

The bigmouth buffalo is native to the Mississippi River watershed. Like the smallmouth buffalo, its close relative, the bigmouth buffalo also has an incredibly long lifespan. They can live to be over 100 years old! The largest bigmouth buffalo ever caught in Tennessee weighed 62 pounds. It was caught by Jeff Wilkins on March 31, 2010, at Percy Priest Reservoir outside of Nashville.

9. Black Buffalo – 58 lbs.

The black buffalo is native to the Mississippi River watershed and the southern Great Lakes. Like the bigmouth and smallmouth buffalo, its close relatives, the black buffalo also lives for a long time. One of the oldest black buffaloes lived to be 56 years old. The largest black buffalo ever caught in Tennessee weighed 58 pounds. It was caught by Steve Coursey on May 20, 2013, at Nickajack Reservoir near the border of Alabama.

10. Freshwater Drum – 54 lbs., 8 oz.

The freshwater drum is native to North and Central America. Freshwater drums get their scientific name, Aplodinotus grunniens, from the grunting noises that adult males make during spawning season. The word grunniens comes from the Latin word for “grunt”. While freshwater drums typically only grow to be around 5-15 pounds, some grow to be significantly larger. The largest freshwater drum ever caught in Tennessee was 54 pounds and 8 ounces. Benny Hull caught it on April 20, 1972, at Nickajack Reservoir. Not only is this the Tennessee state record, but it is also the world record! This impressive record has stood for over five decades.

11. Common Carp – 53 lbs.

The common carp is native to Europe and Asia but introduced in North America. Due to its negative impacts on the environment and native species, the common carp is an invasive species in the United States. In fact, the common carp is such a concern that it appears on the 100 worst invasive species list created by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The largest common carp ever caught in Tennessee weighed a whopping 53 pounds! It was caught by John R. Pepper, Jr. on May 21, 1997, at Marrowbone Lake outside of Nashville.

12. Muskellunge – 43 lbs., 14 oz.

Muskellunge is a species of pike native to North America. They are predatory fish that eat mammals, insects, amphibians, and other fish. The name muskellunge comes from an Ojibwe word meaning “great fish”. The largest Muskellunge ever caught in Tennessee weighed 43 pounds and 14 ounces. It was caught by Steven Paul on March 2, 2017, at Melton Hill Reservoir outside of Knoxville.

13. Channel Catfish – 41 lbs.

The channel catfish is a smaller species of catfish native to North America. While they may not be as large as the blue catfish or flathead catfish, they are far more numerous. In fact, channel catfish are the most abundant catfish species in North America. The largest channel catfish ever caught in Tennessee was 41 pounds. It was caught by Clint Walters, Jr. on July 30, 1982, at Fall Creek Falls Lake. While it may not be as large as the world record channel catfish, caught in South Carolina, it is still an impressive fish.

14. Longnose Gar – 38 lbs., 3 oz.

Longnose gar is one of North America’s oldest fish species, dating back to around 100 million years ago. They are carnivorous, with a diet consisting mainly of other fish. The largest longnose gar ever caught in Tennessee weighed 38 pounds and three ounces. It was caught by Mathew A. Norton on April 9, 2002, at Barkley Reservoir, in West Tennessee near the Kentucky border.

15. Silver Carp – 37 lbs., 0.4 oz.

Silver carp are native to Asia but introduced in North America. Due to their negative impacts on the environment and native fish species, silver carp are considered invasive in the United States. The silver carp are the most common fish in aquaculture worldwide, alongside the grass carp. However, they are listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in their native range. The largest silver carp ever caught in Tennessee weighed 37 pounds and 0.74 ounces. It was caught by Brian Keith Townsend on May 8, 2021, at Old Hickory Reservoir outside of Nashville.

Summary of the Largest Fish Ever Caught in Tennessee

Without a doubt, Tennessee is a fantastic state for anglers and holds some impressive records. Here is a recap of the largest fish ever caught in Tennessee.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Marina Veder/Shutterstock.com