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Record fish caught in North Carolina

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Anglers the world over gather regularly for fishing derbies to see who can land the biggest catch. But record-breaking fish can be caught at anytime, weighed on an International Game Fish Association-certified scale at any number of tackle shops or marinas, and compared to the IGFA's online records database. Sport-fishing enthusiasts can even have their own scales certified by the IGFA for a $40 fee.

Stacker compiled a list of record fish caught in North Carolina using data from Land Big Fish. Fish pictured are not the actual record catch. Keep reading to see which bodies of water in your state hold some of the most massive fish around.

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American Shad

Biswaphotograhy // Shutterstock

1 / 39

American Shad

- Weight: 7 lbs 15 oz
- Location: Tar River
- Record set by R.S. Proctor in 1974
Blue Catfish

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2 / 39

Blue Catfish

- Weight: 85 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Lake Norman
- Record set by Joel Lineberger in 2004
Bluegill Sunfish

dcwcreations // Shutterstock

3 / 39

Bluegill Sunfish

- Weight: 4 lbs 5 oz
- Location: not available
- Record set by Danny Case in 1967
Bowfin

Miroslav Halama // Shutterstock

4 / 39

Bowfin

- Weight: 17 lbs 15 oz
- Location: Black River
- Record set by Gregory A. Demery Sr. in 1997
Brown Bullhead

slowmotiongli // Shutterstock

6 / 39

Brown Bullhead

- Weight: 3 lbs 12 oz
- Location: Buckhall Creek
- Record set by Gregory D. Hughes in 1997
Brown Trout

Rostislav Stefanek // Shutterstock

7 / 39

Brown Trout

- Weight: 24 lbs 10 oz
- Location: Nantahala River
- Record set by Rober L. Dyer in 1998
Carp

Rostislav Stefanek // Shutterstock

8 / 39

Carp

- Weight: 48 lbs 0 oz
- Location: private pond
- Record set by William Houston Jr. in 1986
Chain Pickerel

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9 / 39

Chain Pickerel

- Weight: 8 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Gaston Reservoir
- Record set by John H. Leonard in 1968
Crappie

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11 / 39

Crappie

- Weight: 4 lbs 15 oz
- Location: Asheboro City Lake #4
- Record set by Dean Dixon in 1980
Flathead Catfish

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12 / 39

Flathead Catfish

- Weight: 78 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Cape Fear River
- Record set by Brian Newberger in 2005
Flier Sunfish

dmitro2009 // Shutterstock

13 / 39

Flier Sunfish

- Weight: 1 lbs 5 oz
- Location: private pond
- Record set by Douglas N. McCall in 1990
Freshwater Drum

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14 / 39

Freshwater Drum

- Weight: 13 lbs 22 oz
- Location: Kerr Lake
- Record set by Henry W. Proctor, Sr in 2003
Green Sunfish

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16 / 39

Green Sunfish

- Weight: 1 lbs 14 oz
- Location: Private pond
- Record set by Sean Vanderburg in 2008
Hickory Shad

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17 / 39

Hickory Shad

- Weight: 4 lbs 1 oz
- Location: Pitchkettle Creek
- Record set by Trey Maroules in 2004
Largemouth Bass

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18 / 39

Largemouth Bass

- Weight: 15 lbs 14 oz
- Location: private pond
- Record set by William H. Wofford in 1991
Longnose Gar

Mikhail Blajenov // Shutterstock

19 / 39

Longnose Gar

- Weight: 15 lbs 6 oz
- Location: Intracoastal Waterway
- Record set by Kelly WIlliams in 2009
Northern Pike

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21 / 39

Northern Pike

- Weight: 11 lbs 13 oz
- Location: Lake James
- Record set by Keith Gilliam in 1978
Pumpkinseed Sunfish

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22 / 39

Pumpkinseed Sunfish

- Weight: 1 lbs 6 oz
- Location: Trent River
- Record set by John Koonce in 2003
Rainbow Trout

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23 / 39

Rainbow Trout

- Weight: 16 lbs 5 oz
- Location: not available
- Record set by Terry L. Gregory in 1989
Redbreast Sunfish

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24 / 39

Redbreast Sunfish

- Weight: 1 lbs 12 oz
- Location: Big Swamp
- Record set by Ronald Stanley in 1983
Redeye Bass

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26 / 39

Redeye Bass

- Weight: 1 lbs 14 oz
- Location: Deep River - Carbonton
- Record set by Robert W. Lytton in 1998
Redfin Pickerel

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27 / 39

Redfin Pickerel

- Weight: 2 lbs 4 oz
- Location: Gallberry Swamp
- Record set by Edward C. Davis in 1997
Sauger

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28 / 39

Sauger

- Weight: 5 lbs 15 oz
- Location: Norman Lake
- Record set by David Shook in 1971
Smallmouth Bass

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29 / 39

Smallmouth Bass

- Weight: 10 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Hiwassee Reservoir
- Record set by Archie Lampkin in 1951
Spotted Bass

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31 / 39

Spotted Bass

- Weight: 6 lbs 5 oz
- Location: Lake Norman
- Record set by Eric M. Weir in 2003
Striped Bass

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32 / 39

Striped Bass

- Weight: 66 lbs
- Location: Hiwassee Reservoir
- Record set by Tyler Shields in 2012
Tiger Muskellunge

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33 / 39

Tiger Muskellunge

- Weight: 33 lbs 8 oz
- Location: Lake James
- Record set by Gary D. Nanney in 1988
Walleye

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34 / 39

Walleye

- Weight: 13 lbs 8 oz
- Location: Lake Chatuge
- Record set by Lamar L. Cofer in 1986
White Bass

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36 / 39

White Bass

- Weight: 5 lbs 14 oz
- Location: Kerr Reservoir
- Record set by Jim King in 1986
White Catfish

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37 / 39

White Catfish

- Weight: 13 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Lake James
- Record set by Jerry W. Bentley in 1990
White Perch

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38 / 39

White Perch

- Weight: 2 lbs 15 oz
- Location: Falls of the Neuse Reservoir
- Record set by Bob G. Williams, Jr. in 2001
Yellow Perch

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39 / 39

Yellow Perch

- Weight: 2 lbs 9 oz
- Location: Indiantown Creek
- Record set by Evelyn G. Ethridge in 1990

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