Angler Breaks State Fish Record with Massive Black Crappie Capture
Jerry Porter sets West Virginia record with 17.7-inch, 3.6-pound black crappie at East Lynn Lake in 2025.
A West Virginia angler has set a new fishing record in the Mountain State. Jerry Porter, a resident of Harts, caught an impressive black crappie while fishing at East Lynn Lake in Wayne County. According to the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (WVDNR), Porter’s catch measured 17.7 inches in length and weighed 3.6 pounds, earning him a place in the state’s record books.
The noteworthy fish was landed using a minnow-tipped jig on a 6-pound test line—tactics commonly employed by anglers targeting crappie in clear freshwater lakes. The previous state record for black crappie stood at 3.15 pounds and 17.76 inches, a milestone achieved earlier this year in 2024.
*Black crappies*, as reported by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), typically reach lengths of about 10.8 inches, with the heaviest on record weighing six pounds. These sunfish are commonly found in freshwater environments, often seen traveling in schools through clear waters.
Porter’s achievement is notable as it marks the third state fishing record shattered in West Virginia so far in 2025. Earlier this year, two other anglers made headlines for breaking separate state records on the very same day in April:
- Jason Floyd landed a 24.57-inch, 5.75-pound redhorse sucker.
- John Plott reeled in a 12.44-inch, 1.60-pound redear sunfish, marking his second record for the species.
Those wishing to fish in West Virginia should note that a valid state fishing license is required for all anglers aged 15 and older.
These recent achievements highlight both the abundance of diverse fish species in West Virginia’s lakes and rivers and the skill and dedication of the state’s fishing community.
