DNR News
** Archived Article - please check for current information. **
July 1, 2014
White catfish record broken on Lake Murray
Charles Earp of West Columbia, SC can take pride in his record breaking white catfish caught June 23, 2014 on Lake Murray. Using Sonny’s Bait Dip and a treble hook, Earp’s white catfish weighed in at 12-pounds 2.9-ounces. The white catfish was certified officially as the new state record on a certified scale at Ole Timey Meat Market by Ron Ahle, regional fisheries biologist for the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Columbia.
All freshwater fish records for South Carolina can be found online.
To report your record breaking catch, an Affidavit for Record Freshwater Game Fish must be completed and 
submitted to the DNR no more than 45 days after the catch. Anglers who think they have caught a state or world record fish should take the fish as soon as possible to a set of state certified scales-such as a local grocery store scale. Two witnesses must be present and available to sign the state affidavit form. Photos should be taken for additional documentation and steps taken to immediately preserve the fish. This can be done by wrapping the fish in a dark plastic bag and placing the fish on ice or freezing it.
Freshwater all-tackle sportfishing records are kept for 32 species: Striped Bass, White Bass, Hybrid Bass, White Perch, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Redeye Bass, Bluegill (Bream), Shellcracker, Redbreast, Warmouth, Flier, Pumpkinseed, White Crappie, Black Crappie, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Sauger, Yellow Perch, Walleye, Chain Pickerel (Jackfish), Redfin Pike, Muskellunge (Muskie), Blue Catfish, Bullhead Catfish, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, White Catfish, Mudfish (Bowfin) and American Shad.
To purchase your South Carolina freshwater fishing license and start your quest for the next record breaking fish visit online.
More News
- S.C. Senate confirms new DNR board chairman, board member
- White catfish record broken on Lake Murray
- Bat disease white-nose syndrome jumps from mountains to Midlands in South Carolina
- DNR courtesy boating inspections for July 4 holiday
- Apply online for deer lottery hunts beginning July 1
- South Carolina Prescribed Fire Council meets Sept. 24-25 in Upstate, to feature Jocassee Gorges tour
- Commercial license needed to sell pen-reared quail
- Now is the time to plant fields for fall mourning dove hunts
- Volunteers needed to participate in the summer turkey survey
- Anglers can help contribute to the collection of Red Snapper data
- Horseshoe Crab spawning season a boon for shorebirds
- Feeding, watering manatees is illegal
- DNR hosts series of youth fishing rodeos/family fishing clinics around the state
- Freshwater fishing trends
- Saltwater fishing trends
- S.C. weekly tidetable
- DNR video
- Archived news releases
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