LEWES – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife has confirmed a new state record in the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament: a 46-pound, 8-ounce golden tilefish, caught in the Atlantic Ocean Aug. 25 by Tom Schanno of Halethorpe, Md. – with the catch establishing a record for the golden tilefish, a deep-water offshore species that has been recognized by the tournament only since 2010. The tilefish was 47 inches long and had a girth of 29 inches.

Schanno caught the fish in the Baltimore Canyon 62 nautical miles from the Indian River Inlet while aboard a charter boat captained by Frank Perna. The golden tilefish took a 5-oz. chartreuse and silver butterfly jig in 530 feet of water. Leveraging the fish off the ocean floor took 10 minutes, at which time another 10-minute fight ensued before Schanno was able to bring the fish alongside the boat.

The record catch was weighed at Hook’em & Cook’em, an official Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament weigh station in Rehoboth Beach, and initially confirmed by DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Officer AFC Adam Roark.

For all state fishing records, please visit the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Delaware Fishing Records page.

More information on the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament can be found in the 2017 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and from license agents throughout the state.

CONTACT: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

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