The largest documented largemouth bass caught in Delaware weighed 11 pounds, 1.6 ounces. Andrew “A.J.” Klein caught the fish on February 20, 2016, at Wagamons Pond near Milton. The bass measured 27 inches long with a 20.5-inch girth, was certified after measurement at Bill’s Sport Shop in Lewes, and was released alive back into the pond. The current Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) record list still identifies Klein’s fish as the state record.
The current Delaware largemouth bass record
Delaware’s documented state-record largemouth bass is Andrew Klein’s 11-pound, 1.6-ounce fish from 2016. “Documented” matters: DNREC’s state-record program describes its entries as the largest fish recorded as caught by rod and reel. The listing is not a census of every bass living in Delaware waters, nor does it establish a world record.
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Klein caught the bass at Wagamons Pond near Milton on February 20, 2016. DNREC reported a length of 27 inches and a girth of 20.5 inches. Those measurements, the weight and the angler’s name appear in the agency’s current records information, which was checked on October 13, 2026.
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| Record detail | Documented information |
|---|---|
| Weight | 11 pounds, 1.6 ounces |
| Angler | Andrew “A.J.” Klein |
| Catch date | February 20, 2016 |
| Water | Wagamons Pond near Milton, Delaware |
| Length | 27 inches |
| Girth | 20.5 inches |
| Status after certification | Released alive into Wagamons Pond |
How Klein caught the record fish
A final cast after a quiet morning
DNREC’s February 26, 2016 account says Klein and fishing companion Joe Lattis launched Lattis’ boat at Wagamons Pond on a mild Saturday in February. About four hours had produced only a couple of smaller fish. Klein made one last cast, setting up the sequence that produced Delaware’s record.
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The strike first felt like a snag
The report says the treble hook on Klein’s spinnerbait caught on something he initially thought was bottom or structure. He then realized that the resistance was a large fish. Klein described the hit as subtle: “I set the hook and thought I was snagged,” he said, and then the fish took off. The account does not identify the spinnerbait’s brand, model, color or size, so those details cannot be used to reproduce the exact lure.
Why the tackle detail is useful—but limited
A spinnerbait is the only lure specifically connected to this catch. DNREC’s largemouth bass information also lists spinnerbaits among common lures, along with plastic worms, jigs and topwater lures. Large minnows or golden shiners fished under bobbers are listed as favored live-bait choices. These are general Delaware fishing references, not a claim that Klein used any bait other than the reported spinnerbait.
Where the bass was measured and certified
After the catch, the bass was taken to Bill’s Sport Shop in Lewes for measurement. DNREC says Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Sgt. Troy Trimmer certified the record. The fish was transported in a container filled with water, allowing the anglers to keep it alive while the documentation was completed.
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How this record compares with Delaware’s previous mark
Klein’s fish replaced another Wagamons Pond record from 2012. James D. Hitchens had caught a 10-pound, 10-ounce largemouth bass measuring 26 inches long with an 18.75-inch girth. Hitchens also released his fish. The two catches are the relevant historical comparison in the official account.
| Angler | Year | Location | Weight | Length | Girth | Release |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew “A.J.” Klein | 2016 | Wagamons Pond near Milton | 11 lb, 1.6 oz | 27 in | 20.5 in | Yes |
| James D. Hitchens | 2012 | Wagamons Pond | 10 lb, 10 oz | 26 in | 18.75 in | Yes |
The difference between the two listed weights is 7.6 ounces, and Klein’s fish was an inch longer with a 1.75-inch greater girth. Both records came from the same pond, but only Klein’s entry is the current state record.
How unusual is an 11-pound bass in Delaware?
DNREC says largemouth bass occur statewide in ponds, streams, rivers and other freshwater habitats. The agency describes a typical Delaware catch as 12 to 16 inches long and approximately 1 to 3 pounds. Against that baseline, a 27-inch, 11-pound, 1.6-ounce bass is an exceptional state-sized fish rather than an ordinary example of the species.
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What “largest ever caught” means here
A documented rod-and-reel record
The most precise wording is current documented Delaware state record for largemouth bass. DNREC’s record system depends on a reported catch that can be weighed, measured and certified. An undocumented fish, an unverified anecdote or a bass that may still be present in a pond would not change the published record list unless it went through the applicable documentation process.
Not a world-record claim
Nothing in the Delaware records establishes Klein’s bass as the largest largemouth bass in the world. The evidence supports a state record only. Keeping the geography attached to the claim prevents the common mistake of turning a state entry into a global superlative.
Delaware largemouth bass fishing context
Where the species occurs
DNREC’s fish-facts page says largemouth bass are found throughout Delaware. The listed habitats include ponds, streams, rivers and other freshwater areas. Wagamons Pond is therefore one location within a statewide fishery, not the only Delaware water capable of producing a large bass.
Common lure and bait categories
- Spinnerbaits: The lure named in Klein’s record account and one of DNREC’s common lure choices.
- Plastic worms: A standard lure category included in the agency’s species guidance.
- Jigs: Another lure listed for Delaware largemouth bass.
- Topwater lures: Included among the agency’s common options.
- Live bait: DNREC identifies large minnows or golden shiners fished under bobbers as favored choices.
These categories describe what DNREC lists for the species. They do not show which lure will produce a record fish on a particular day, and the official report gives no manufacturer or model for Klein’s spinnerbait.
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Current size and creel information
DNREC’s largemouth bass species page currently lists a 12-inch minimum total length and a daily limit of six fish. It lists a separate rule for Becks Pond: a 15-inch minimum total length and a daily limit of two. These figures are the rules displayed on the agency’s fish-facts page checked October 13, 2026.
Fishing regulations can change by season, water body or later agency update. Before fishing, confirm the current Delaware regulations and any water-specific notices rather than relying on an old summary. A rule that applies statewide may have an exception for a named pond, as the Becks Pond entry demonstrates.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the catch shows about responsible record fishing
Klein’s catch illustrates that record documentation and conservation can occur together. The bass was kept in a water-filled container during transport to the measuring location, certified by a natural-resources police officer and then returned to the pond alive. DNREC Fisheries Administrator John Clark used the occasion to encourage catch-and-release fishing, especially for larger fish.
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- Unique Trembly Sinking – Trembles All the Way Down. After each jigging hop, the Shadtale doesn't just drop – it trembles. This high‑frequency vibration during the fall mimics a stunned or injured baitfish, drawing reaction bites even from pressured bass, trout, crappie, and walleye
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A concise timeline of Delaware’s record bass
- February 20, 2016: Andrew Klein fishes Wagamons Pond near Milton with Joe Lattis.
- After about four hours: Following a few smaller fish, Klein makes a final cast with a spinnerbait.
- The strike: The treble hook initially feels snagged on bottom or structure; the fish then runs.
- Verification: The bass is taken to Bill’s Sport Shop in Lewes, where it is measured and certified by Sgt. Troy Trimmer.
- Release: The anglers return the fish alive to Wagamons Pond.
- February 26, 2016: DNREC publishes the account announcing the more-than-11-pound state-record largemouth bass.
- Current listing: DNREC’s state-record page continues to list Klein’s 11-pound, 1.6-ounce fish as Delaware’s record.
Answering the key questions
Who caught Delaware’s biggest documented largemouth bass?
Andrew “A.J.” Klein caught the current documented state-record fish in 2016.
Where was it caught?
The bass came from Wagamons Pond near Milton, Delaware.
How heavy and long was it?
It weighed 11 pounds, 1.6 ounces, measured 27 inches long and had a 20.5-inch girth.
Was the record fish kept?
No. After measurement and certification, Klein released it alive back into Wagamons Pond.
What lure caught it?
DNREC’s account identifies a spinnerbait. It does not identify the maker, model, color or size.
Sources and verification
The current record listing is maintained by DNREC’s Delaware Fishing Records page. The catch narrative, measurements, certification and live release are described in the State of Delaware News report, “New Castle angler catches – then releases – new state-record largemouth bass weighing more than 11 pounds”, published February 26, 2016. Species distribution, typical size, lure categories and the listed regulations appear on DNREC’s Largemouth Bass Fish Facts page.
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