Women Anglers Make History in Ohio Fishing Records
🏆 Women Reel in Big Wins in Ohio’s Fishing Scene
The tides are shifting in Ohio’s fishing world as female anglers make history, setting new records and challenging long-held traditions. Two of the last three official state fishing records have been claimed by a woman and a teenage girl, proving that success in the sport knows no gender.
🎣 Jaylynn Parker’s 101-Pound Blue Catfish
Fifteen-year-old Jaylynn Parker made waves in April 2023 when she landed a massive 101-pound blue catfish from an Ohio River inlet in Clermont County. The catch, officially recognized as the largest ever caught on fishing tackle in the state, surpassed the previous 96-pound record set in 2009.
Parker used a jugline, a legal fishing method, to lure in the record-breaking fish. However, her achievement initially sparked controversy among some anglers, who debated whether a jugline catch should qualify for record status. Despite some hesitation, the Ohio Record Fish Committee, affiliated with the Outdoor Writers of Ohio, ultimately ruled in Parker’s favor, cementing her place in the state’s fishing history.
📜 A Growing Presence in the Record Books
Before Parker’s achievement, Ohio’s fishing records were overwhelmingly dominated by men. Of the 42 record-holding fish species, only two had been caught by women before 2023:
✅ Flora Irvin of Cincinnati (longnose gar, 1966)
✅ SueAnn Newswanger of Shiloh (green sunfish, 2018)
That meant only 5% of the records belonged to women—until Parker’s catfish changed the game.
🐟 Teresa Croy’s Record-Breaking White Crappie
Just months after Parker’s historic catch, Teresa Croy of Ottawa, Ohio, made her own mark. While fishing in a private pond at a local rod and gun club on November 2, 2024, Croy reeled in an enormous white crappie measuring 18.5 inches and weighing 3.91 pounds.
Croy and her husband immediately recognized the fish’s unusual size, prompting them to seek official verification. When weighed on a certified scale, the crappie edged out the previous state record—a 3.90-pound white crappie caught in 1995 by Kyle Rock of Zanesville—by a mere 0.01 pounds.
Since the Ohio Division of Wildlife confirmed the record on January 10, 2025, Croy’s achievement has ignited a passionate response online. More than 1,600 comments flooded the Division’s Facebook page, with a mix of congratulatory messages and skeptics questioning the significance of the record-breaking margin.
🌊 Breaking Stereotypes in Fishing
Despite some dissenting voices, these victories highlight a growing trend: women are making a significant impact in the world of sport fishing. While the pastime has historically been male-dominated, Parker and Croy’s accomplishments showcase the evolving nature of the sport and inspire a new generation of female anglers.
With their names now etched in Ohio’s fishing history, one thing is clear: the waters are open for everyone, and record-breaking catches don’t discriminate.
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