UPDATED STORY: 21.8 pounder breaks blueline tilefish record
LEWES, DELAWARE (6/26/2015) A 19.7 pound blueline tilefish caught offshore last week has been certified as a record for the species in the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament, state officials announced today.
William Fintel of Lewes caught the 33-inch-long fish June 19 aboard the charter boat Snow Goose in the Baltimore Canyon, about 65 miles out in the Atlantic Ocean. The fish qualified for the state record since it was caught from a boat that sailed out of a Delaware port.
The blueline tilefish, first recorded at Lewes Harbour Marina, was later verified by Officer Adam Roark of the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police.
The species is relatively new to the tournament and while others had been submitted this is the first one officially verified by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, officials said.
“So now anglers have something to aim for,” said Garry Glanden, Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament director.
Blueline tilefish are slow-growing, deep-water dwellers that are targeted by both recreational and commercial fisheries as a foodfish, according to DNREC. The species may grow up to 35 inches long and live up to 43 years, feeding on bottom creatures such as crabs, shrimp, snails, worms, sea urchins and small fish and sharing habitat with groupers and snappers. Spawning occurs from May to October, with females laying more than 4 million free-floating eggs.
Capt. Ed Sigda was at the helm of the Snow Goose.