CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Consider replacing “today” with the specific announcement date or removing it. 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 No mandatory change; confirm house style accepts this format. 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.
Adamson landed a record-breaking pumpkinseed sunfish July 14 that measured 9.13 inches and weighed 0.62 pounds from the Tygart Valley River in Randolph County. She used a nightcrawler and 10-pound test line to catch the new state record. WVDNR fisheries biologist Stephen Floyd certified the new pumpkinseed record at the Elkins Operation Center.
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.
