New Delaware record catch for blueline tilefish

65 miles off the coast of Lewes a new Delaware fishing record was set for the Blueline tilefish.

 The 19.7 pound catch is a new Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament record.  William Fintel of Lewes caught the 33 inch long fish aboard the charter boat “Snow Goose”. It qualifies as a Delaware record since the boat took from and returned to a Delaware launch point.

DNREC announced the catch, and did so with a little background about the fish.  They describe it as a slow growing fish. This fish was close to the maximum growth of 35 inches. Some of them can live up to 43 years. 

They are known as bottom feeders and are targeted by commercial fisheries as a foodfish. Their spawning season usually goes from May to October.  Females can lay more than 4 million eggs.

DNREC officials took the announcement to point out that just last week they joined with the National Marine Fisheries Service to put limits on what commercial recreational fisherman can harvest of the Blueline tilefish. 

Commercial fisherman are now limited to 300 pounds of fish.  Recreational fisherman can’t catch more than 7 fish per trip.  The limitations are in effect for the next 6 months and cover an area from the Delmarva Peninsula to the North Carolina border.

But DNREC did add that now that there is a new state record, other fishermen are encouraged to see if they can break it.