State record tautog caught off Indian River Inlet

Marks second milestone fish caught in ’23

By Mike Finney
Posted 5/17/23

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has confirmed a state record tautog — caught off the Indian River Inlet — as the second state record catch in the 2023 Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament.

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State record tautog caught off Indian River Inlet

Marks second milestone fish caught in ’23

Posted

BETHANY BEACH — The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has confirmed a state record tautog — caught off the Indian River Inlet — as the second state record catch in the 2023 Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament.

The 34-inch, 22-pound-14.4-ounce tautog was caught May 6 off a wreck east of the inlet. It was obtained by James Milano of North Babylon, New York, while he was fishing on the No Limit, a charter boat captained by Jon Azato.

The record tautog catch was certified by the Division of Fish and Wildlife at Hook ‘Em & Cook ‘Em Bait, Tackle and Seafood, near the inlet.

The fish weighed 1 pound, 6.7 ounces more than the previous record, caught in May 2022 by Brent Wiest.

It comes after a record muskie caught Jan. 11 in the Brandywine River raised the bar for freshwater anglers. That 43.25-inch, 22-pound-3.2-ounce specimen was caught in the Brandywine River by Stephen Rutkowski of Wilmington.

The muskie was certified by the Division of Fish and Wildlife at Master Baiter’s Bait & Tackle in New Castle. It was 1 pound, 11.2 ounces heavier than the previous largest, caught in 2013 by Thomas Sutton.

A list of the tournament’s state records can be found at de.gov/recfishing.

More information can be found on the department's website and in the 2023 Delaware Fishing Guide, available in printed form from license agents or by calling the Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914.

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