In many areas across the US, channel catfish are held in high esteem among anglers. Some would even claim that catfish rank a close second in popularity behind bass and I believe it.
Few fish have garnered the attention like big channel cats. Deliciously mild meat coupled with their raw fighting power and willingness to bite almost any bait makes them a prime target for boat and shoreline anglers alike.
With as many anglers who fish for channel catfish, it is no wonder plenty of behemoth cats make the cut for state records. Who knows, the next time you’re out chasing these amazing fish you might get your name in the record books. Check out our complete list of current record-sized channel catfish for all 50 states to see if you too can make the cut.
| State | Weight | Angler | Location | Date Caught |
| Alabama | 40 lbs | Donald R. Cox | Inland Lake | Jun 17, 1967 |
| Alaska | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Arizona | 33 lbs 5.76 oz | Carson Pete | Upper Lake Mary | Mar 26, 2017 |
| Arkansas | 38 lbs | Joe Holleman | Lake Ouachita | Jun 3, 1989 |
| California | 53 lbs 8 oz | Randall Gilbert Jr. | San Joaquin River, Stanislaus County | Sep 22, 2008 |
| Colorado | 43 lbs 6 oz | Jessica Walton | Aurora Reservoir | 2010 |
| Connecticut | 29 lbs 6 oz | Appleton Barrows | Mashapaug Lake, Union | 2004 |
| Delaware | 36 lbs 3.2 oz | Jordan Chelton | Nanticoke River Creek | Jun 20, 2017 |
| Florida | 44 lbs 8 oz | Joe Purvis | Lake Bluff, Lake County | May 19, 1985 |
| Georgia | 44 lbs 12 oz | Bobby M. Smithwick | Altamaha River | May 18, 1972 |
| Hawaii | 43 lbs 13 oz | Dayton Miyamura | Lake Wilson, O’ahu | Mar 24, 1974 |
| Idaho | 31 lbs | Kenny Decker | Mann Lake | Aug 25, 2001 |
| Illinois | 45 lb 4 oz | NA | Baldwin Lake, St. Clair County | Feb 7, 1987 |
| Indiana | 37 lbs 8 oz | Randy E. Jones | Lake, Vanderburgh County | 1980 |
| Iowa | 38 lbs 2 oz | Dustin Curtis | Missouri River | Jun 11, 2005 |
| Kansas | 36 lbs 8 oz | Rick Barnow | Mined Land, WA-Cherokee County | Jun 3, 2003 |
| Kentucky | 32 lbs | Kyle Estep | Ohio River, Boyd County | May 26, 2004 |
| Louisiana | 30.31 lbs | Harold W. Chubb | Minor’s Jan./Intracoasta | Aug. 1977 |
| Maine | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Maryland | 27.9 lbs | Steven Trent Abell | Upper Potomac River | Jul 5, 2004 |
| Massachusetts | 26 lbs 8 oz | Dana Dodge | Ashfield Lake Ashfield | 1989 |
| Michigan | 40 lbs | NA | Houghton Lake, Roscommon County | 1964 |
| Minnesota | 38 lbs | NA | Mississippi River, Hennepin County | Feb 16, 1975 |
| Mississippi | 51 lbs 12 oz | Tom Edwards | Lake Tom Bailey, Toomsuba | May 31, 1997 |
| Missouri | 29 lbs 14 oz | Monte B. Hoover | Farm Pond | Jul 28, 1974 |
| Montana | 38.75 lbs | John D. Smith | Colstrip Surge Pond | Jul 7, 2019 |
| Nebraska | 41 lbs 8 oz | John Cunning | Merritt Reservoir | Jul 26, 1985 |
| Nevada | 32 lbs 7 oz | Scott Barrett | South Fork Reservoir | Jun 27, 2011 |
| New Hampshire | 12 lbs 4.8 oz | Dave Kellam | Connecticut River, Hinsdale | Sep 20, 2014 |
| New Jersey | 33 lbs 3 oz | Howard Hudson | Lake Hopatcong | 1978 |
| New Mexico | 36 lbs 8 oz | Julie Kulhan | Stubblefield Lake | Apr 12, 1999 |
| New York | 35 lbs 3 oz | Eric Scordo | Lake Ontario, Jefferson County | Apr 29, 2017 |
| North Carolina | 23 lbs 4 oz | E.J. Bowden | City Lake, Rocky Mount | Sep 1, 1970 |
| North Dakota | 42 lbs 1 oz | Tina Willis | Moon Lake, Barnes | Jul 25, 2009 |
| Ohio | 37.65 lbs | Gus J. Gronowski | LaDue Reservoir | Aug 15, 1992 |
| Oklahoma | 35 lbs 15 oz | Gary Doak Jr. | Taft Lake | Sep 11, 2005 |
| Oregon | 36 lbs 8 oz | Boone Haddock | McKay Reservoir | 1980 |
| Pennsylvania | 35 lbs 3 oz | Austin Roth III | Lehigh Canal, Northampton County | 1991 |
| Rhode Island | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| South Carolina | 58 lbs 0 oz WORLD RECORD! | W.H.Whaley | Lake Moultrie | 1964 |
| South Dakota | 30 lbs 1 oz | Drew Mathews | Farm Pond | Jul 14, 2019 |
| Tennessee | 41 lbs | Clint Walters Jr. | Fall Creek Falls Lake | Jul 30, 1982 |
| Texas | 36 lbs | Mrs. Joe Cockrell | Pedernales River | Mar 7, 1965 |
| Utah | 32 lbs 8 oz | LeRoy Mortensen | Utah Lake | 1978 |
| Vermont | 35 lbs 14.7 oz | Robert Scott | Lake St. Catherine | Jun 28, 2012 |
| Virginia | 32 lbs | Hugh Wyatt | Lake Chesdin | Apr 28, 1980 |
| Washington | 37.70 lbs | Cole Abshere | Lake Terrell, Whatcom County | Aug 20, 2019 |
| West Virginia | 33.42 lbs | Michael Sears | Patterson Creek | 2005 |
| Wisconsin | 44 lbs | NA | Wisconsin River, Columbia County | 1962 |
| Wyoming | 28.52 lbs | William Dale | Sloan Lake | May 7, 2012 |
