Record-Shattering Pumpkinseed Sunfish Caught in West Virginia
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on August 25, 2026
CHARLESTON — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources today announced the state record for pumpkinseed sunfish was set on Aug. 6, by Robert Glover of Morgantown, W.Va.
“The pumpkinseed state record category was established in 2024 along with redbreast, redear, black crappie and redhorse,” said Paul Johansen, Chief of Wildlife Resources. “Until this year, a record pumpkinseed hadn’t been caught. However, amazingly this is the third record set in the last month for this beautiful sunfish.”
Glover caught a 9.76 inch, 0.75 pound pumpkinseed sunfish on August 6 from Cheat Lake in Monongalia County. He used a night crawler on a 6 pound test line for the record. District 1 fisheries biologist Dustin Smith certified the record.
To learn more about state fish record categories, go to page 24 of the West Virginia Fishing Regulations Summary, available to download at //WVdnr.gov/fishing.
Regulations Information pertaining to the Trophy Fish Citation and Master Angler programs are on page 27.
All anglers 15 and older must have a West Virginia fishing license, which can be purchased online at WVfish.com. Anglers are reminded that a trout stamp is required when fishing for trout.
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