The World's Largest Reds

World record red drum catches that sit atop the IGFA record books

Whether you’ve heard them called red drum, redfish, channel bass, or spottail bass, you’ll be hard-pressed to find an angler who doesn’t call it a premier game fish. These magnificent fish can be targeted in several inches of water with fly or lure, or caught in deep inlets with heavy tackle and natural bait. Their hard fights, willingness to take a variety of natural and artificial baits, and beautiful coloration make the red drum one of the most highly sought-after game fish species in the world.

A scroll through the IGFA World Records reaffirms the redfish’s popularity amongst the angling elite, with prominent names like Ballantyne, Hogan, and Werking listed alongside their respective records. But much like the largemouth bass, part of what makes the redfish popular is its availability to the masses. Million-dollar boats and high-tech tackle are not required, as evidenced by the fact that the largest redfish ever recorded by the IGFA were caught from shore or piers, using basic tackle and a chunk of bait.

This compilation of red drum world records highlights a handful of records set for this species and clearly illustrates just how diverse fishing for redfish can be.

All-Tackle World Record — 94 Pounds, 2 Ounces

It’s only appropriate, and no surprise, that the All-Tackle world record red drum was caught in the waters off Hatteras, North Carolina. After all, every redfish to hold the All-Tackle title has come from this area, not to mention the countless other monsters that these waters have produced over the years. David Deuel’s massive 42.69 kg (94 lb 2 oz) red drum was caught from shore, just as every other All-Tackle submittal for redfish. Deuel was rigged up the same way as many other surf-casters were on the morning of November 7, 1984, as he hit the beaches of Avon, North Carolina. However, it was his chunk of mullet that was picked up by the heaviest redfish ever recorded. Nearly an hour after hooking up, Deuel pulled the huge drum ashore and immediately knew it was a special fish. The fish measured 57 inches in length (from the tip of the snout to the fork) and boasted an impressive girth of 38 inches. Deuel’s monster redfish replaced the previous record by more than 10 pounds.

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Men’s 3 kg (6 lb) Tippet Class — 41 Pounds

Arguably one of the more impressive redfish world records was caught by angler Jim Seegraves on April 2, 2004 while fly fishing out of Houma, Louisiana, USA. Seegraves battled this beautiful bronzed red drum for nearly two hours after the fish crushed the crab pattern fly he was casting from Captain Dawny Ayo’s custom skiff. Why such a long fight? Seegraves was fishing with only 3 kg (6 lb) class tippet, and his record redfish tipped the scales at an impressive 18.59 kg (41 lb).

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Women’s 3 kg (6 lb) Line Class — 44 Pounds

Angler Maureen Klause, a recipient of IGFA’s Bob Herder Light Tackle Award, set the women’s 3 kg (6 lb) Line Class World Record for red drum on November 11, 2008, with this gorgeous 19.96 kg (44 lb) specimen. Klause was fishing out of Ocracoke, North Carolina, aboard the Drum Runner with local Captain Ernest Doshier when the fish ate the dead menhaden she was fishing on the bottom, right outside of the surf. Klause skillfully played the fish for approximately 45 minutes before it could be landed. Once secured, the fish was quickly run to shore, where it was properly documented and released alive.

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Female Smallfry World Record — 50 Pounds, 4 Ounces

Ten-year-old Kristen Dize of Onancock, Virginia, holds IGFA’s Female Smallfry World Record for red drum after landing a 50-pound, 4-ounce fish in Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay on September 15, 2001. Using a Penn 320GTI and bait-fishing a live croaker, she hooked the massive redfish and brought it boat-side after a 20-minute fight. Now more than two decades old, Dize’s Chesapeake Bay catch remains one of the most impressive smallfry red drum records in the IGFA books and is frequently highlighted among the greatest youth world-record catches.

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Men’s 15 kg (30 lb) Line Class — 90 Pounds

At approximately 3 am on November 7, 1973, angler Elvin Hooper hooked into an enormous red drum while fishing with a chunk of mullet from the Hatteras Island Pier in Rodanthe, North Carolina. After battling the stubborn fish for over an hour, Hooper had the fish alongside the pier, where it was eventually landed with a pier net. Tipping the scales at a whopping 40.8 kg (90 lb), Hooper’s fish became the biggest redfish specimen ever recorded by the IGFA at that time. Although the All-Tackle title has since been eclipsed, Hooper’s incredible catch still holds the men’s 15 kg (30 lb) line class record, and is the second largest red drum on record with the IGFA.

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Women’s 6 kg (12 lb) Line Class — 51 Pounds, 8 Ounces

One of the longest-standing world records for redfish is also one of the most impressive. Angler Joan S. Dull of Wayne, Ohio, USA set the women’s 6 kg (12 lb) line class world record with this 23.4 kg (51 lb, 8 oz) drum she caught on November 19, 1958 while soaking a chunk of cut mullet in the surf off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, USA. Despite the large size of the fish and her light surf casting gear, Dull bested her record redfish in just 20 minutes, all done without the assistance of a boat and with only 15 inches of leader!

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Men’s 2 kg (4 lb) Line Class — 52 Pounds, 5 Ounces

Light tackle expert George Hogan, Jr. has spent years pursuing IGFA world records for prestigious saltwater and freshwater game fish. However, as Hogan describes in the testimony for his 2 kg (4 lb) line class record, “the day was planned to be a fun trip fishing with my sons.” But Hogan goes on to explain that “when the chance is there for another record catch, I’m always willing and prepared.” That was certainly the case on February 24, 1996, when he caught and released this 23.74 kg (52 lb 5 oz) redfish while fishing Florida’s Indian River Lagoon. Hogan needed only 21 minutes to land the record fish after it ate the crab he was using for bait.

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Women’s 10 kg (20 lb) Line Class — 65 Pounds

On November 11, 1983, Lyn Gottert made fishing history off the shores of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Fishing the surf with a chunk of mullet, she battled and landed a spectacular red drum weighing 29.48 kg (65 lb). That fish set the IGFA Women’s 10 kg (20 lb) Line Class World Record for the species, and remains the benchmark for that category. The catch exemplifies what’s possible in the famed Hatteras red drum grounds and stands as a timeless testament to surf-fishing prowess.

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Men’s 3 kg (6 lb) Line Class — 51 Pounds, 8 Ounces

Light tackle extraordinaire and past recipient of the IGFA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Raleigh Werking has set more than 50 world records over his incredible angling career, but few are as impressive as the 23.36 kg (51 lb 8 oz) redfish he caught on just 3 kg (6 lb) line. Werking was fishing with local guide George H. Beckwith, Jr., out of Oriental, North Carolina, USA, on Aug. 24, 1999, when he caught this record redfish. Werking skillfully played the fish for just 20 minutes on his light tackle set-up, before the fish was landed, documented, and then released alive.

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Women’s 6 kg (12 lb) Tippet Class — 40 Pounds

On November 19, 2014, Dotty Ballantyne and guide David Mangum were fishing the rich red-drum flats near Venice, Louisiana when Ballantyne hooked into a monster while fishing a 6 kg (12 lb) tippet fly rig. After a determined 30-minute battle, she brought a magnificent red drum to the boat, officially weighed at 18.14 kg (40 lb). The catch set the IGFA Women’s 6 kg (12 lb) Tippet Class World Record and is also among the largest fly-caught red drum ever recorded by the IGFA.

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All-Tackle Length Junior World Record — 116 cm

In March of 2023, the IGFA launched a new world record program for youth anglers. The IGFA All-Tackle Length Junior category is open to all anglers ages 16 and under, providing them with an opportunity to experience the thrill of setting World Records while promoting conservation through catch-and-release fishing. On July 8, 2024, Shawn Shapiro took full advantage of this! He was fishing the Chesapeake Bay out of Norfolk, Virginia, when he landed this massive 116 cm red drum. Shawn was fishing with a live croaker aboard his father’s boat Sea Mes when this record red drum struck. With this fish, Shawn set the IGFA All-Tackle Length Junior World Record for the species. After recording the length on his official IGFA Measuring Device and snapping a few photos, he was able to release the fish safely. 

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Women’s 2-kg (4 lb) — 31 lb, 8 oz

On 24 January 2020, fly-angler Meredith McCord achieved a remarkable feat in the Louisiana bayou: using a 2 kg (4 lb) tippet fly-fishing setup, she hooked and landed a red drum weighing 14.29 kg (31 lb 8 oz). That fish officially set the IGFA Women’s 2 kg (4 lb) Tippet Class World Record for red drum. The catch underscores both the skill required for light-tippet fly-fishing and the rich red-drum potential of Louisiana’s marshes.

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Women’s 10-kg (20 lb) — 39 lb

On September 17, 2014, fly-angler Candace Kern of San Antonio landed a remarkable red drum off Port Aransas, Texas. Using a purple-and-black streamer, she brought the fish to the boat in about 15 minutes. The weight was officially recorded at 17.69 kg (39 lb). The catch was submitted to the IGFA as a Women’s 10 kg (20 lb) Tippet Class World Record candidate, a stunning achievement in fly fishing for red drum and a standout moment on the Texas Gulf Coast.

These 12 records illustrate not just how big red drum can get, but how diverse the methods, locations, and gear can be. From the wind-blown Outer Banks surf to the shallow marshes of Louisiana and the estuaries of Virginia, trophy-class redfish arrive through the many doors of fishing.