New state records for six fish species as caught from fresh and saltwater were established during the 2022 Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament, DNREC officials announced recently. Anglers landed their record catches from a freshwater pond, the Nanticoke River and the Atlantic Ocean, where there were three saltwater state records set, including a tautog weighing almost 21.5 pounds caught from a Delaware artificial reef site established by DNREC’s fish and wildlife division.
The six record catches, as certified, were:
• A 7-pound 10-ounce, 30-inch chain pickerel caught March 5, 2022, at McGinnis Pond near Frederica by William Mack of Frederica while fishing from his kayak;
• A 21-pound 7.7-ounce, 32-inch tautog landed May 5, 2022, at Artificial Reef Site 11 in the Atlantic Ocean by Brent Wiest of Milton, fishing from and as captain of the Katydid;
• A 26-pound 11.2-ounce, 35.5-inch false albacore reeled in July 8, 2022, from the Atlantic Ocean by Mike Spayd of Wyomissing, Pa., while fishing on the No Limit captained by Jon Azato;
• An 89-pound 3.2-ounce, 63-inch cobia caught July 15, 2022, in the Atlantic Ocean by Scott Brooks of Hockessin while fishing on the Coughin’, captained by Jesse Coulbourn;
• A 25-pound 8-ounce, 38-inch blueline tilefish landed Aug. 27, 2022, from the Atlantic Ocean by Dain Hursh of York, Pa., while fishing on the Outnumbered, captained by Chris Graham; and
• A 48-pound 3.2 ounce, 40.5-inch blue catfish reeled in Oct. 8, 2022, from the Nanticoke River by James Lord of Bridgeville.
For more information about Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament state records, visit de.gov/recfishing. Information about the tournament and state record fish also can be found in the 2023 Delaware Fishing Guide, which is available in printed form from license agents throughout the state.
