Blueline tilefish caught off Nags Head certified as new state record

Published 11:27 am Thursday, July 13, 2023

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified a new state record blueline tilefish, also called gray tilefish (Caulolatilus microps).

Thomas Adkins, of Sutherland, Va., caught the 17-pound, 1.9-ounce fish near Tower B, offshore of Nags Head on June 11, 2023.

The previous state record blueline tilefish weighed 16-pounds, 8-ounces and was caught off Oregon Inlet in 2004.

Get the latest headlines sent to you

Adkins was fishing with his father when he landed the fish using cut bait and a Shimano 700 reel on a Trevala rod. The fish measured 36-inches total length (from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail) and had a 20.5-inch girth.

For more information on state record fish, go to the division’s State Saltwater Records webpage or contact the North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Tournament staff at saltwater.citations@ncdenr.gov.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS HERE.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE COASTLAND TIMES TODAY!