Every so often, an angler will get the bite of a lifetime, a large sheepshead that could set records. Sheepshead fish are such a great species to target while inshore fishing. They offer the challenge many anglers are looking for when trying to hook them and delicious fillets as a reward after landing them. After doing extensive research on each state’s records, the most common type of bait used was live shrimp. The second and third best sheepshead baits used were blue crab and clams.
These record sheepsheads are genuinely fantastic fish, and the anglers lucky enough to land them know how lucky they were. Many of the sheepshead records have not been broken in many years. Knowing how big these fish get should get all anglers excited to fish for them inshore. Maybe you are used to catching 1 lb to 3 lb sheepshead, and you can not fathom a fish 17+ pounds. Well, get out there and start fishing more for your chance at a real monster. The only way to break a record is by fishing for the record. Let’s take a closer look at the sheepshead state records state by state.
Record-Setting Sheepshead From Every State
Alabama Sheepshead State Record
Alabama Sheepshead State Record (Photo Credit: https://uglyfishing.com/)
On March 29, 2019, Captain Patric Garmeson broke the Alabama sheepshead state record that was previously held by Brandon Colliers. Captain Garmeson landed an absolute stud that weighed in at 13 pounds 14 ounces and broke the Alabama state record by 5 ounces. This was a fish of a lifetime and one that will not be broken anytime soon.
Connecticut Sheepshead State Record
Back in 1998, Clyde Turner hooked up on a sheepshead on the Branford Reef that would set the Connecticut state record. His sheepshead weighed in at 10 pounds 11 ounces.
Delaware Sheepshead State Record
Delaware Sheepshead State Record (Photo Credit: NOLA.com)
On September 29th, 2014, David Walker of Boothwyn, Pa., caught a sheepshead that would change the record books. He was fishing a local tournament when he landed this Delaware state-record sheepshead. This sheepshead weighed in at 17.1 pounds and measured an incredible 28 inches in length and had a girth of 24 inches.
Florida Sheepshead State Record
The Florida sheepshead state record has stood the test of time. No one has been able to beat it. This is shocking with the amount of sheepshead caught every year in Florida. Back in 1981, angler, E. Lechler, managed to catch a behemoth sheepshead. This fish weighed in at 15 pounds 2 ounces.
Georgia Sheepshead State Record
The Georgia sheepshead record happened back in 2002. Angler Ralph White landed the state record with a sheepshead that weighed in at 14 pounds 14 ounces. One of the smallest record fish for sheepshead records.
Louisiana Sheepshead State Record
World Record Sheepshead (Photo Credit: http://wrec.igfa.org)
Louisiana loves its sheepshead. The state record fish is also the world record sheepshead. This is a record that may never be broken. On April 16, 1982, Wayne Desselle of New Orleans, LA, landed the largest sheepshead ever caught. This massive fish weighed in at 21 pounds 4 ounces. It was caught on live shrimp.
Maryland Sheepshead State Record
Maryland Sheepshead State Record (Photo Credit: Maryland DNR image)
On September 23rd, 2017, Robert Martin landed a huge sheepshead that would land him in the record books. This massive sheepshead weighed a whopping 18 pounds. It was landed in the Atlantic, placing it in the Atlantic division. Robert and his father were fishing Ocean City when this beast bit the line.
Mississippi Sheepshead State Record
One of the oldest records for sheepshead is help by Mississippi. They record sheepshead has not been broken since 1966. This is because Roy Groue Jr. landed a monster fish. His sheepshead weighed in at 19 pounds 10 ounces.
New Jersey Sheepshead State Record
New Jersey Sheepshead State Record (Photo Credit: Onthewater.com)
On October 14th, 2014, William Catino of Ventnor, New Jersey, smashed the new jersey state sheepshead record by 2 pounds. He managed to land a real monster. This sheepshead weighed a record-setting 19 pounds, 3 ounces.
North Carolina Sheepshead State Record
The North Carolina sheepshead record is no little fish. This massive sheepshead weighed in at 19 pounds 4 ounces. It was caught by Chris Robbins back in 1999 off the Oregon inlet.
South Carolina Sheepshead State Record
South Carolina Sheepshead State Record (Photo Credit: SCDNR.org)
In 2008 Jimmy Widener of Hanahan, South Carolina, was fishing off mt pleasant near charleston when he hooked into a stud sheepshead. Little did he know that this sheepshead would set the South Carolina state record. This fish weighed in at 16 pounds 6 ounces.
Texas Sheepshead State Record
The record sheepshead for Texas was caught on October 17, 2002. Wayne Gilstrap was fishing the lower Laguna Madre with live shrimp. He managed to land a 26.5-inch sheepshead that weighed an outstanding 15.25 pounds. This monster sheepshead was a once in a lifetime fish.
Virginia Sheepshead State Record
Virginia Sheepshead State Record (Photo Credit:mrc.virginia.gov/)
On October 6th, 2005, Arun Nehek of Newport News landed a sheepshead he would never forget. He caught this sheepshead using clam from the Seagull Fishing Pier at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. This fish measured 30.5 inches in length and had a girth of 27 inches. It weighed in at 20 pounds 12 ounces. This indeed was a monster sheepshead.
** States We Could Not Find Sheepshead Records: Massachusettes, New York, New Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode Island
** If you have a picture of any of the fish listed above that may be better than what we have, please email them to us info@hfdepot.com
Landing a sheepshead over 10lbs is a dream of many anglers. Only a few will have the chance to get them big enough to set a state record. To break the record, you have to get out there and fish! Fish your jetties, sea walls, piers, and bridge pylons to find that monster sheepshead lurking in the inshore waters. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to leave us a comment below or email us at info@HFDepot.com. We would love to hear your near-record monster sheepshead experiences. We would also like to see all of your sheepsheads catches, so make sure you send us all your great catches to be featured on our social media pages. Make sure to check out our sheepshead Species page for other great sheepshead blogs. Find informative information on fishing for sheepshead, chumming for sheepshead, finding fiddlers for bait, filleting sheepshead, or amazing sheepshead recipes. If you love sheepshead as much as we do, do not forget to join our fantastic sheepshead nation community today. Don’t forget to get stocked with our sheepshead jigs for your next fishing trip. Now get out there and smash your sheepshead state records today!
(Updated August 2020)
