Florida Fishing Records: 29 National #1s and 8 World Records

Florida holds 115 official state fishing records — 35 freshwater and 80 saltwater — spanning from Panhandle bayous to the Gulf Stream edge. Among them are 29 national #1 records (more than any other state) and 8 catches that are still the current IGFA All-Tackle world record. For a full overview of the state’s fisheries, see our complete Florida fishing guide.

With 1,350 miles of coastline, 7,700 lakes, and year-round fishing, these records come from nearly every corner of the state. Ten have fallen since 2020, meaning the record book is still actively being rewritten.

Records That Stand Out

Largemouth Bass — 17 lb 4 oz (#5 of 47 states)

Billy O’Berry was fishing a small, unnamed lake in Polk County — the heart of Florida’s bass belt — when he landed the fish that would define the state’s largemouth legacy. At 17 lb 4 oz, it ranks 5th nationally, behind Georgia’s legendary 22 lb 4 oz world record. Nearly 40 years later, it still stands. The lakes that keep threatening it — Okeechobee, the Kissimmee chain, Stick Marsh — regularly produce double-digit bass, and the state’s TrophyCatch program has documented thousands of 8+ pounders. A new record feels overdue.

Goliath Grouper — 680 lbs (#1 of 3 states)

Lynn Joyner battled this fish for over an hour off Fernandina Beach before landing what remains the largest Goliath Grouper ever documented — 680 lbs, a record that doubles as the IGFA world record after 64 years. The species is now catch-and-release only in Florida, meaning Joyner’s record is effectively permanent. You can still target Goliath Grouper throughout the state — the Keys, Jupiter, and Southwest Florida are the hotspots — but you’ll be releasing whatever you catch.

Spotted Seatrout — 17 lb 7 oz (#1 of 10 states)

Craig Carson fished for four days near Ft. Pierce and caught exactly one fish. It turned out to be the biggest speckled trout ever recorded — 17 lb 7 oz, simultaneously the Florida record, the #1 across all 10 states that track the species, and the IGFA world record. The Indian River Lagoon around Ft. Pierce remains one of the best spotted seatrout fisheries in the country, with fish over 7 lbs caught regularly through winter.

King Mackerel — 90 lbs (#1 of 13 states)

Norton Thornton’s 90 lb kingfish, caught off Key West in 1976, leads all 13 states and sits just 3 lbs under the IGFA world record. It’s one of the oldest saltwater records still standing — nearly 50 years. The deep waters off Key West and the Dry Tortugas still produce monster kings, especially during the winter run when the biggest smokers migrate through. Destin and Pensacola are the other kingfish hotspots, particularly during fall tournaments.

Snook — 45 lb 12 oz (#1 of 4 states)

Sebastian Inlet is the undisputed capital of trophy Snook fishing, and it’s where Heather Lynn Connors set the state record in 2015 at 45 lb 12 oz. The inlet’s unique current structure concentrates big fish year-round. Florida also holds the freshwater Snook record (44 lb 15 oz from Ft. Myers), and both records lead nationally. Jupiter Inlet, Ft. Pierce, and the Captiva/Sanibel passes are the other prime spots — all producing 30+ lb fish regularly.

Mahi Mahi — 81 lbs (#1 of 14 states)

Robert Vail’s 81 lb bull dolphin, caught off Lantana in 2007, leads all 14 states that track the species and sits at 93% of the 87 lb IGFA world record. Southeast Florida — from Palm Beach down through the Keys — is ground zero for trophy mahi, especially from April through June when the spring migration pushes big bulls close to shore along the Gulf Stream edge.

Hammerhead Shark — 1,063 lb 12 oz (#1 of 8 states)

Capt. Bucky Dennis’s half-ton hammerhead, caught off Boca Grande in 2009, is the heaviest fish in Florida’s entire record book. Boca Grande Pass is famous for concentrating tarpon — and the giant sharks that follow them. The catch was controversial (Dennis was initially denied the record due to tackle questions) but it stands as the national #1 across all 8 states that track the species.

Tarpon — 243 lb 3 oz (#1 of 7 states)

Gus Bell’s 243 lb tarpon, caught off Key West in 1975, leads all 7 states. The Florida Keys remain the world’s premier tarpon fishery — Boca Grande Pass, Islamorada, and the bridges of the Lower Keys produce triple-digit fish every spring and summer. The current record has stood for over 50 years, though fish in the 200+ lb class are seen (and released) regularly during peak migration.

Red Snapper — 46 lb 8 oz (#1 of 8 states)

Lane Nichols III pulled this fish from the deep Gulf waters off Destin in 1985, and it still leads all 8 states. Destin’s access to the deep continental shelf — the 100-fathom curve is closer to shore here than almost anywhere else in the Gulf — makes it the epicenter for big snapper. Federal season is short (usually a few weeks in June/July), but state waters stay open longer.

Swordfish — 612 lb 12 oz (#1 of 7 states)

Stephen Stanford’s 612 lb broadbill, caught off Key Largo in 1978, leads all 7 states. South Florida pioneered the modern daytime deep-drop swordfishing technique that has since spread worldwide. The deep waters off Miami, Islamorada, and Key Largo — where the Gulf Stream pushes close to shore and the bottom drops to 1,500+ feet — remain the country’s most productive swordfish grounds.

Where the Records Come From

Florida’s record fish cluster around a handful of legendary fishing destinations. Destin leads with 7 state records — almost all deep-water species like Warsaw Grouper, Gag Grouper, and Red Snapper, a reflection of the Panhandle’s access to the deep shelves of the northeastern Gulf. The Florida Keys — Islamorada (6 records), Key West (5), and Key Largo (3) — dominate for billfish, permit, bonefish, and the pelagics that ride the Gulf Stream.

On the Atlantic side, the stretch from Ft. Pierce through Jupiter and Juno Beach is the sleeper record producer, especially for inshore species like Spotted Seatrout, Snook, and Ladyfish. Pensacola rounds out the saltwater picture with 4 records.

The freshwater records come from a different Florida entirely. The Apalachicola and Choctawhatchee rivers in the Panhandle produce the state’s biggest catfish and gar. Central Florida’s lakes hold the bass and panfish records. And the Suwannee River holds two species records you won’t find in any other state — Suwannee Bass and the national-leading Redbreast Sunfish.

Florida’s record book spans 87 years — from Harold Goodstone’s 67 lb Great Barracuda off Islamorada in 1949 to Joel Hierholzer’s Bonito caught out of Stuart earlier this year. Ten records have fallen since 2020, proof that these aren’t just historical footnotes. The state’s combination of tropical and temperate fisheries, year-round season, and sheer diversity of habitat means there are always records in play. Both of Florida’s state fish — the Florida Bass and the Atlantic Sailfish — hold prominent places in the record book.

All records are maintained by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. A valid Florida fishing license is required to fish in state waters.

Complete Florida Saltwater Records

🏆 = also the current IGFA All-Tackle world record

Complete Florida Freshwater Records

🏆 = also the current IGFA All-Tackle world record

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the biggest fish ever caught in Florida?

The heaviest fish in Florida’s record book is a 1,063 lb 12 oz Hammerhead Shark, caught by Capt. Bucky Dennis off Boca Grande in 2009. It’s the national #1 across all 8 states that track the species.

What is the Florida state record largemouth bass?

The Florida largemouth bass record is 17 lb 4 oz, caught by Billy O’Berry from a lake in Polk County in 1986. It ranks 5th nationally out of 47 states.

What is the Florida state record snook?

The saltwater snook record is 45 lb 12 oz, caught by Heather Lynn Connors at Sebastian Inlet in 2015. Florida also holds the freshwater snook record at 44 lb 15 oz. Both lead nationally.

How many IGFA world records were caught in Florida?

Eight current IGFA All-Tackle world records were caught in Florida waters, including Goliath Grouper (680 lbs), Spotted Seatrout (17 lb 7 oz), Gag Grouper (80 lb 6 oz), and Warsaw Grouper (436 lb 12 oz).

Where are most Florida fishing records caught?

Destin leads with 7 state records, followed by Islamorada (6), Key West (5), and the Apalachicola River (5). The Florida Keys as a cluster account for the highest concentration of saltwater records in the state. See our guide to the best fishing spots in Florida for more on these destinations.

Sources: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. IGFA world records from the International Game Fish Association.