A Maryland man has set a new state record for longfin tuna (albacore). Marc Spagnola, who lives in the town of Berlin just outside Ocean City, caught a 78-pound fish in Maryland waters.
Spagnola beat out the previous record, set in 2004, by 4 pounds. It was back in September when he went out for a two-day fishing trip aboard the privately owned (former charter) 82-foot boat Instigator, which can troll up to 15 lines at one time.
Spagnola and a group of other experienced anglers left Ocean City and had run up to the Hudson Canyon to troll off the coasts of northern New Jersey and New York. Over the two-day trip, they landed a total of 29 tuna, including bigeye, yellowfin, and albacore. They also caught several mahi-mahi.
But the seas in Hudson Canyon turned rough and they headed back south. At dawn on Sept. 21, Spagnola tells the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), he got a bite. The fish took a lure on a rod and line that were set from the boat’s flying bridge. The line was set far beyond the other lures and baits. By its size, the crew thought the fish was a yellowfin tuna, but when Spagnola reeled it in they discovered it was a surprisingly large longfin albacore instead.
Albacore have torpedo-shaped bodies and a high metabolism, allowing them to swim at up 50 miles per hour. Their notably long pectoral fin earns them the name “longfin”. They are prized for their mild flavor and delicate white meat.
Spagnola, who has been fishing offshore for most of his life, told DNR he enjoys the adventure of making a catch, and also the reward of tuna steaks and poke bowls.
DNR says the fish was weighed on a certified scale at the famed Sunset Marina in Ocean City, and has been officially recognized as a state record.
Anyone who believes they have caught a potential record-setting fish should complete the state record application and call 410-991-0748. The department recommends keeping the fish immersed in ice water to preserve its weight until it can be verified and certified.
