Updated: February 2024
The following tables list the state records for fish that Delaware tracks, including both freshwater and saltwater species.
If you’d like to claim a fishing record, see the link below to reach the rules and application.
Freshwater Fishing Records
| Bass, Hybrid Striped 13 lbs, 13 oz | Lums Pond | Earl Blevins Mar 12, 1990 |
| Bass, Largemouth 11 lbs, 1.6 oz | Wagamons Pond | Andre Klein Feb 20, 2016 |
| Bass, Smallmouth 4 lbs, 15 oz | Brandywine River | Jerry Proffitt May 29, 1989 |
| Carp 45 lbs | Delaware River | Ronald Burnett Jun 6, 1976 |
| Catfish, Blue 53 lbs, 0 oz | Nanticoke River | Sydney McBroom Sep 22, 2023 |
| Catfish, Channel 23 lbs, 6 oz | William Ridgley 1992 | |
| Crappie 4 lbs, 9 oz | Noxtontown Pond | Marvin Billips May 30, 1976 |
| Muskellunge (Musky) 22 lbs, 4.8 oz | Brandywine Creek | Stephen Rutkowski Jan 11, 2023 |
| Perch, White 2 lbs, 9 oz | Indian River | Wayne Hastings Feb 28, 1997 |
| Perch, Yellow 2 lbs, 11 oz | Red Clay Creek | Marvin Kessinger May 2, 1976 |
| Pickerel, Chain 7 lbs, 13 oz | McGinnis Pond | William Mack Mar 5, 2022 |
| Shad, American 6 lbs, 12 oz | Brandywine Creek | Bayard Conaway May 2, 1972 |
| Snakehead 12 lbs, 12 oz | Nanticoke River | Bobby Smith Apr 27, 2017 |
| Sunfish, Bluegill (tie) 2 lbs, 10 oz | Diamond Pond | Arnold Harmon Jun 10, 1998 |
| Sunfish, Bluegill (tie) 2 lbs, 10 oz | Diamond Pond | Clifford Snyder Apr 29, 2001 |
| Sunfish, Redear 3 lbs, 1 oz | Diamond Pond | Marty Messick Jun 14, 1998 |
| Trout 11 lbs, 10 oz | White Clay Creek | Edwin Wallace Feb 16, 1997 |
| Walleye 6 lbs, 14 oz | Brandywine River | Nesbit Copenhaver Jul 23, 1995 |
Saltwater Fishing Records
| False Albacore 26 lbs, 11.2 oz | Atlantic Ocean | Mike Spayd Jul 8, 2022 |
| True Albacore 80 lbs | Atlantic Ocean | David Francella Sep 15, 1987 |
| Bass, Striped 52 lbs | Atlantic Ocean | Ben Smith Dec 8, 2012 |
| Black Sea Bass 7 lbs, 6 oz | Fenwick Shoal | Steve Samluk Sep 9, 1988 |
| Cod, Atlantic 44 lbs | Five Fathoms Bank | John Osborne Jan 25, 1975 |
| Bluefish 24 lbs, 13 oz | Del-Jersey Artificial Reef | Luis Mispireta Nov 16, 2015 |
| Cobia 89 lbs. 3.2 oz. | Atlantic Ocean | Scott Brooks Jul 15, 2022 |
| Croaker, Atlantic 5 lbs, 3 oz | Indian River | Catherine Simpson Sep 12, 1980 |
| Dolphinfish 56 lbs, 14 oz | Baltimore Canyon William Emmert | William Emmert Jul 16, 2014 |
| Drum, Black 115 lbs | Delaware Bay | Kenneth H. Smith May 20, 1978 |
| Drum, Red (Redfish) 75 lbs | Not recorded | James Vandetti Jun 15, 1976 |
| Flounder 17 lbs, 15 oz | Indian River Inlet | William Kendall Oct 7, 1974 |
| Kingfish 4 lbs | Bethany Beach | Billy Hastings Oct 13, 1973 |
| Mackerel, Atlantic 3 lbs, 5 oz | Delaware Bay | Ricky Yakimowicz Apr 2, 1985 |
| Mackerel, King 52 lbs. 11.2 oz. | Fenwick Shoal | Jeff McCoy July 2023 |
| Mackerel, Spanish 6 lbs, 4 oz | Light Ship | Eric Ludwig Aug 6, 2000 |
| Marlin, Blue 820 lbs | Poorman’s Canyon | Bruce King Jul 8, 1986 |
| Marlin, White 120 lbs | Baltimore Canyon | William Garner Sep 25, 1972 |
| Scup (Porgy) 5 lbs, 5 oz | Not recorded | Herman Schmidt May 31, 1979 |
| Shark, Mako 975 lbs | Poorman’s Canyon | Thomas Barnes Jul 22, 2000 |
| Shark (excluding Mako) 825 lbs | Atlantic Ocean | Brent Thomas Jul 11, 1981 |
| Sheepshead 17 lbs, 2 oz | Delaware Bay | Dave Walker Sep 30, 2014 |
| Swordfish 358 lbs | Poorman’s Canyon | Kurt Lorenz Sep 17, 2013 |
| Tautog 22 lbs, 14.4 oz | Off Indian River Inlet | James Milano May 6, 2023 |
| Tilefish, Blueline 25 lbs. 8 oz. | Atlantic Ocean | Daine Hursh Aug 27, 2022 |
| Tilefish, Golden 52 lbs, 12.8 oz | Atlantic Ocean | Dylan Baker Jun 20, 2020 |
| Triggerfish, Gray 6 lbs, 5 oz | Delaware Bay | Buddy J. Masten Sep 30, 2012 |
| Tuna 873 lbs | Atlantic Ocean | Dan Dillon Jul 2, 2005 |
| Wahoo 106 lbs | Atlantic Ocean | Will Stahlgren Sep 22, 2007 |
| Weakfish (Sea Trout) 19 lbs, 2 oz | Delaware Bay | William E. Thomas May 20, 1989 |
Claiming a Delaware State Record Fish
If you think you have just set a state fishing record (or might yet and want to be prepared), check out the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament Rules page.
Officials specifically ask potential record-breaking anglers to pay attention to No. 8 on their rules listing, which reads in part: “A fish will not be recognized as a state record unless qualified personnel from the Division of Fish and Wildlife approve the catch. In case no Division personnel are available at the time of the weigh-in, the angler must save the entire fish for examination and approval at the earliest convenient time for the Division.”
That page also includes additional rules and contact information you’ll need if you hook that trophy.