A Florida angler is the new Maryland state record holder for a blue marlin, which he caught in an Aug. 20 tournament at Ocean City.

Billy Gerlach, 41, of Jupiter, Florida. broke the state’s 12-year-old standing record for the Atlantic Division, with a 1,135-pound blue marlin — Makaira nigricans — caught during the 30th MidAtlantic fishing tournament.

After a few hours of trolling 70 miles offshore near Washington Canyon, Gerlach said he “was praying for a bite,” when he felt a hit. The battle to reel in the “grander” blue marlin took more than three hours, using a Joe Yee Super Plunger for a lure.

The blue marlin was officially certified by tournament weighmaster Francis Ingram at Sunset Marina. A Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologist confirmed the catch.

“I’ve been waiting for that bite my whole life,” Gerlach said. The blue marlin was donated to area food banks and parts of the fish were collected for scientific research.

The department maintains state records for sport fish in four divisions – Atlantic, Chesapeake, Nontidal, and Invasive – and awards plaques to anglers who achieve record catches. Fish caught from privately-owned, fee-fishing waters are ineligible for consideration.

Anglers who think they have a potential record catch should download and fill out the state record application and call 443-569-1381 or 410-260-8325. The department recommends the fish be immersed in ice water to preserve its weight until it can be checked, confirmed and certified.