LEWES, DELAWARE (7/28/2015) Just over a month after a Delaware record blueline tilefish was caught, a bigger catch has claimed the title.
The state Division of Fish & Wildlife confirmed the new record in the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament today, a 21.8 pounder caught Saturday in the Norfolk Canyon, about 70 miles offshore in the Atlantic.
The champion angler was Jesse Kegley of Townsend, who landed the 36.5-inch-long fish on the charter boat Patient Lady out of Lewes Harbour Marina.
The catch was verified by Officer Brooke Africa of the Natural Resources Police.
The catch is recognized as a state record since it was caught aboard a boat that left and returned to a Delaware port.
Capt. John Schneider was at the helm when Kegley landed his record.
The species is relatively new to the tournament and with fish known to reach 40 inches long, may be broken again.
Blueline tilefish catch sets Delaware fishing record