Keith Lusher 07.15.26
A quiet farm pond in northwestern Ohio set the state’s newest fishing record when an angler landed an unusually large green sunfish, officially replacing the mark that had stood for eight years.
Ohio State Record Fish Committee Outdoor Writers The catch was recently certified, confirming that Jarrett Stevens of Pioneer, Ohio, is the new state record holder for green sunfish.
Stevens caught the fish from a farm pond in Williams County using a spinning rod rigged with 6-pound-test monofilament. He was fishing with just a red worm when a sizable panfish took the bait.
Once officially weighed, the green sunfish weighed 1.35 pounds, while measuring 11.45 inches in length and 10.82 inches thick.
This catch surpassed Ohio’s previous state record green sunfish, a 1.2-pound fish caught by Suanne Newswanger at a Richland County farm pond on May 13, 2018. The length of that fish was measured 11 inches.
This species was verified by fisheries biologist Brad Agler. Ohio Division of Wildlife District TwoSt. Joseph River Fish Unit.
Later, the Ohio State Record Fish Committee’s Outdoor Writers officially certified the record.
Although they are often overshadowed by bluegill and other popular sunfish species, green sunfish are known for their aggressive nature and willingness to strike a variety of bait. They are commonly found in ponds, small lakes, slow-flowing rivers, and other warm water habitats throughout the Midwest.
Most green sunfish caught by fishermen are relatively small, which makes Stevens’ catch particularly impressive. Fish over a pound are considered exceptional for the species, and specimens approaching the size of Ohio’s new record are rarely encountered.
Unlike some state record programs, which use a combination of length and weight, Ohio sets its state fishing records based on weight only. Outdoor writers from the Ohio State Record Fish Committee certify records with the assistance of fisheries biologists from the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
keith lusher
Keith Lusher is an award-winning outdoor journalist who lives in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthShoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly outdoors column for the Slidell Independent Newspaper. He also writes for the St. Tammany Parish Tourism Commission’s VisitTheNorthshree.com. He is the former host of The Northshore Fishing Report radio show and is on the board of the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association. Keith contributes to numerous publications both online and in print and is proud to promote the unique fisheries of South Louisiana. To contact Keith email: keithlusherjr@gmail.com
