To become the stuff of legends as a fisherman in Louisiana, you need more than tall tales. You need your name in the record books. It is where you prove your worth when you say you have a record-size freshwater catch in Louisiana.
When it comes to keeping track,
the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association keeps tabs on it, and the following are among the state record holders.
1. Largemouth Bass
Greg Wiggins caught a 15.97-pound largemouth bass on Caney Lake in February 1994, giving him first place in that category. The catch is one of the things that gave the lake a reputation for being
home to lunkers, Sportsman's Guide noted.
ALERT: Should Obama Have More Control Over Guns? Vote Now
2. Spotted Bass
Vernon Johnson Jr.'s record goes back awhile. He has held the record for spotted bass since he caught a 4.88-pound one in the Tickfaw River in August 1976. Even today, anglers go to the upper reaches of the Tickfaw River for spotted bass and longear sunfish. Anglers use small, top-water or suspended crankbaits, or creature baits like crawfish and lizards,
the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries noted.
3. Striped Bass
In the category of striped bass, James L. Taylor caught a monster – a 47.50-pound fish from Toledo Bend Lake in August 1991.
Toledo Bend Lake, the home of the largest manmade lake in the Southern United States (186,000 acres) dubs itself as having "some of the best fishing in Louisiana, and the country for that matter." Meanwhile, angler William Hungerford caught a 16.25-pound hybrid striped bass in Lake Pontchartrain in February 2000, earning him the top spot for that type of fish.
4. White Bass
The white bass record goes to Corey Crochet, who caught a 6.81-pound one in the Amite River in August 2010. The Amite River, a tributary of Lake Maurepas and the largest tributary in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, has an average depth of 12 feet and is also known for other species of fish such as sturgeons, bowfin, trout perches, herrings, carps, and minnows,
the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries noted.
5. Yellow Bass
In the category of yellow bass, Eddie Halbrook caught the prize, a 2.67-pound one from Lake Darbonne in January 2014.
Lake Darbonne Live called the feisty yellow bass "the Rodney Dangerfield of bass," but Halbrook still gets props for being in the record books.
VOTE NOW: Is Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy Doing a Good Job?
6. Bluegill
The bluegill prize goes to Oliver Hertzog, who snagged a 1.63-pound fish in Old River in July 2008. Old River is a 12-mile ox-bow lake that was once the main channel of the Mississippi River. In that waterway, the most sought-after fish is crappie (known in these parts as sac-a-lait). Other species here include bluegill, largemouth bass, catfish, largemouth buffalo, and the endangered paddlefish.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.