A few lucky anglers earned bragging rights last year with record catches in Delaware waters.
State records were set for six different fish species during the 2022 Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced on Monday. 2022 saw the most records set for a single year in the history of Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament, including the largest freshwater fish ever recorded in the state.
The six record catches as certified by the Division of Fish and Wildlife were:
- A 7-pound, 10-ounce chain pickerel, measuring 30 inches, caught March 5 at McGinnis Pond near Frederica by William Mack of Frederica while fishing from his kayak
- A 21-pound, 7.7-ounce tautog, measuring 32 inches, landed May 5 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 false albacore, measuring 35.5 inches, reeled in July 8 from the Atlantic Ocean by Mike Spayd of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, while fishing on the No Limit captained by Jon Azato
- An 89-pound 3.2-ounce cobia, measuring 63 inches, caught July 15 in the Atlantic Ocean by Scott Brooks of Hockessin while fishing on the Coughin’ captained by Jesse Coulbourn
- A 25-pound 8-ounce blueline tilefish, measuring 38 inches, landed Aug. 27 from the Atlantic Ocean by Dain Hursh of York, Pennsylvania, while fishing on the Outnumbered captained by Chris Graham
- A 48-pound 3.2-ounce blue catfish, measuring 40.5 inches, reeled in Oct. 8 from the Nanticoke River by James Lord of Bridgeville
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James Lord’s 48-pound blue catfish is the largest freshwater fish caught in Delaware’s Sport Fishing Tournament history.
In addition to the new state records, another individual was recognized as a “Delaware Elite Angler” in 2022. Daniel Myers of Middletown caught five different species of fish whose individual sizes exceeded certain tournament expectations.
Delaware’s sport fishing tournament has been a tradition since the late 1930s when the Board of Game and Fish Commissioners held a fishing contest with a cash prize to increase interest in hook-and-line fishing in Delaware’s waters. Although cash prizes are no longer offered, the tournament has grown to include at least 47 categories (not including an “unusual species” category), a live release award and a youth division.
The tournament is free and open to the public. It runs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 each year.
For information about the 2023 Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament, visit DNREC’s website.
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Contact Molly McVety at mmcvety@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety.
