Red drum world record
Red Drum - An Angler's Delight
Kyle Spiller, Ecosystem Leader, Upper Laguna Madre, Coastal Fisheries Division
Rarely has a single fish so strongly captured the imagination, dedication and admiration of so many anglers as the red drum. Revered for its power, speed and delectable flavor, red drum possess become one of the most popular game fish in Texas marine waters.
Many old salts will remember in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s when red drum all but disappeared from our bays. Management measures were adopted in the late 1980’s which included banning commercial netting, implementation of bag and size limits, and the designation of red drum as a game fish. In addition to carrying out these traditional management measures, Coastal Fisheries began a stocking program to enhance the wild population of red drum. The first red drum fingerings were stocked in 1983 and about 30 million are stocked in Texas bays each year. While stocking red drum to enhance the wild population had not been done before, it has proven to be a successful and important part of our leadership program. Thanks to these organization measures and research into the mysteries of re
Look at the list of International Game Fish Association World Records for the most popular inshore gamefish and one thing becomes evident: time. The most recent all-tackle world record, Greg Myerson’s 2011 striped bass, is over a decade old. And the longest-standing record for common snook was set more than 50 years ago. Tired of waiting for these records to fall, we tracked down pundits and professionals to ask when they think the biggest inshore records will be broken.
Striped Bass: 81 pounds, 14 ounces
- Gregory Myerson
- Long Island Sound, Connecticut
- August, 4 2011
Who better to ask about the next World Record striped bass than the current record holder. It’s been over a decade since Greg Myerson caught one of the world’s most famous fish and he’s ready to set the next mark. “If they ever lift the slot limit, I’ll catch the next world record, too,” he says. His boasts aren’t hot air, Myerson holds the several striped bass records and striper tournament trophies. Myerson credits the deep ocean bottom and strong tidal currents off Connecticut and Rhode Island for bringing a steady stream of bait and big bass. “Big bass don’t like to move a lot so they are looking for a l
20 Enduring IGFA World Records
Legendary Catches That Have Stood the Test of Time
Since 1939, the IGFA has safeguarded the legacy of sport fishing by maintaining the most trusted and comprehensive database of world records in the world. These records are more than just statistics—they’re living stories of angling triumph, written by passionate anglers from every corner of the globe and preserved in the IGFA’s World Record Game Fishes book, now in its 82nd year.
The 20 enduring world records we’ve highlighted below are just a small sample of what you’ll find in the new 2025 IGFA World Record Game Fishes book.
This iconic annual publication is packed with over 500 pages of verified world records, inspiring editorial content, IGFA Slam & Trophy Clubs, and exclusive reference listings including IGFA Captains & Guides, Weigh Stations, and much more.
If you're already an IGFA member, you can view the digital edition of the 2025 IGFA World Record Game Fishes book by clicking here. If you're still waiting on your printed copy—don't worry, it's in the mail and headed your way now.
If you're not yet a member, now is the perfect time to join the IGFA com
Kayak angler Rob Choi landed a potential world-record 53-pound red drum on May 14 on a fly.
The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) is currently reviewing the world record application for a red drum caught by Rob Choi while fly fishing on a 20-pound tippet. This catch, if approved, will far surpass the existing world record of 41 pounds.
Choi is a kayak-angling enthusiast based in Richmond, Virginia. A lifelong obsession fuels his fishing ventures in local waters. He even makes Gyotaku art out of caught fish. He pursues speckled trout, muskie, striped bass, sheepshead, and flounder.
But his latest motivation revolves around a record-setting red drum.
Red drums are well-known in locations like Charleston and down to the tip of Florida. But the species ranges as far north as Massachusetts. In the Gulf of Mexico, the species thrives all the way to northern Mexico.
Red Drum on the Fly
Rob was able to land this incredible specimen while fly fishing off the shores of eastern Virginia close to his home. His fly of choice was a chartreuse Half & Half.
The fly combines two of the most popular flies: Bob Clouser’s Clouser Minnow and Lefty Kreh’s Deceiver.
Can't Beat Those Red Drum!
Read the Red Drum Species Profile
The North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation in 1971 designating channel bass (red drum) as the official state saltwater fish. NCPedia states that newspaper article at the time pointed out the Channel Bass has black spots on its tail, evoking North Carolina's "Tar Heel" nickname.
North Carolina is famous for its trophy-sized red drum that can weigh in excess of 40 pounds. They are traditionally caught in the surf and sound between Oregon Inlet and Cape Lookout. In 1984, a giant red drum weighing 94 pounds, 2 ounces was caught off Hatteras Island. It broke both the state and all-tackle world record, and it remains the International Game Fish Association All Tackle world record for red drum today. North Carolina waters also produced 18 of the current IGFA Line Class (Conventional Tackle) world records, one IGFA Tippet Class (Fly Tackle) world record, and one IGFA Junior and Smallfry world record.
Red drum derive their name from their color and the fact that during spawning time, males produce a drum-like noise by vibrating a muscle in their swim bladder. The color of red drum ranges from a de