Largest Redear Sunfish (All-Tackle)
Record Holder
Metric
Date Achieved
Location
Atlas Record ID
Thomas M. Farchione
2.83 kilograms (6 lb 4 oz)
4 May 2021
Lake Havasu, Arizona [USA]
20425001
Record Narrative
Beneath the mirrored calm of the Arizona desert, an ancient shape moved through the green depths of Lake Havasu — a redear sunfish swollen to myth, armored in copper light, and born from silence.
On 4 May 2021, Thomas M. Farchione of Waterford, Wisconsin, cast into those waters and retrieved a specimen that reset biological expectation: a redear sunfish weighing 2.83 kilograms (6 pounds, 4 ounces), measuring approximately 17 inches in length with a girth of roughly 20 inches.
The redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus), commonly called the “shellcracker,” is a widespread freshwater species. Yet exceptional size in this species is rare. What emerged that day was not merely large — it was statistically anomalous.
The moment bridged myth and measurement. Sport became documentation. Nature, briefly, revealed an extreme.
Transparent Adjudicator's Statement
Summary of Claim
The claim submitted for review asserted that the redear sunfish caught by Thomas M. Farchione on 4 May 2021 weighed 2.83 kilograms, thereby exceeding all previously recognized all-tackle records for the species.
Evidence Submitted
The submission included photographic documentation of the fish, certified scale verification, weight confirmation documentation, catch location details, and supporting witness confirmation. The scale used for measurement was verified for calibration accuracy prior to weighing.
Comparative and Cross-Archive Benchmark Review
A review of historical angling records and recognized all-tackle benchmarks for redear sunfish indicated that the previously established maximum documented weight was lower than 2.83 kilograms. Cross-archive examination of sport fishing databases, competitive angling associations, and historical catch logs confirmed that no prior verified record exceeded the submitted weight at the time of review.
Verification Methodology
Atlas reviewed the submitted documentation for internal consistency, confirmed weight measurement procedures, evaluated scale certification, and assessed photographic evidence to ensure species identification accuracy. The measurement unit conversion between kilograms and pounds was independently verified. Comparative record searches were conducted across major angling registries to confirm the absence of a higher validated benchmark.
Adjudication Findings
The evidence demonstrated that the fish was properly identified as a redear sunfish and that the recorded weight of 2.83 kilograms was measured using a verified and calibrated scale. Supporting documentation met Atlas evidentiary standards for transparency and record authentication. No contradictory benchmarks were identified during cross-archive review.
Conclusion
Atlas recognizes Thomas M. Farchione as the record holder for the Heaviest Redear Sunfish (All-Tackle) with a verified weight of 2.83 kilograms achieved on 4 May 2021. The record is certified under Atlas adjudication standards.