Two Local West Virginia Anglers Catch State Record Pumpkinseed Sunfish in June, July, Respectively
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on August 05, 2026
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources announced recently 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.
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.
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.
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.
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