CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources announced that the state record for pumpkinseed sunfish was set on June 25 by Ken Neer of Morgantown, West Virginia, and then broken by Sierra Adamson of Beverly, West Virginia, on July 14.
“The pumpkinseed state record category was established in 2024 along with redbreast sunfish, redear sunfish, black crappie and redhorse sucker,” said Paul Johansen, chief of Wildlife Resources. “Until this year, a record pumpkinseed sunfish hadn’t been caught. Now we’ve had two in the last few weeks. Fishing in West Virginia is the place to be in the East.”
Neer caught a 9.09-inch, 0.60-pound pumpkinseed sunfish on June 25 from Fairfax Pond at Rehe Wildlife Management Area in Preston County. He used red worms on a 4-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 is 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.
