New York’s marine waters offer abundant and world-class fishing opportunities! DEC’s Marine Recreational Angler Records Program recognizes the exceptional saltwater fish and blue crab you catch. If you’ve caught a big fish or crab lately, DEC wants to hear from you!
Before Going Saltwater Fishing
Before fishing in New York’s marine waters, make sure to enroll in the no-fee Recreational Marine Fishing Registry and check the Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations. Anglers are encouraged to visit DEC’s Best Practices for Saltwater Fishing for guidance on proper fish handling and catch and release fishing.
How to Participate
- Review the Entry Rules and Requirements (PDF) for each program.
- Submit your catch information on the Marine Recreational Angler Records Programs Entry Form.
- The Marine Records Entry Form (PDF) may also be downloaded and submitted by mail or email. Submit entry forms by email to marinerecords@dec.ny.gov.
Award Programs
Annual Marine Angler Award
The Annual Marine Angler Award recognizes anglers who catch the largest fish by length for 23 eligible species each year. The winning anglers for each of the longest fish species are awarded a Certificate that will be sent to the angler at the end of the yearly contest.
- Each fish entered must meet or exceed the Minimum Qualifying Length.
- Fish do not have to be harvested to enter them into the program.
New York State Record Marine Fish
The New York State Record Marine Fish Award recognizes anglers who catch the heaviest fish and set or break the current State Record for any of the 33 eligible species. Certificates for new State Records will be sent to the angler within 30 days after verification and acceptance of the new record.
- Current New York State Marine Recreational Records
New York State Record Blue Crab
The New York State Record Blue Crab Award recognizes a recreational crabber for the largest blue crab by carapace width. Carapace width is the length from the tip of one lateral spine to the other. Certificates for new State Records will be sent to the crabber within 30 days after verification and acceptance of the new record.
Blue Crab Record Species Length (in.) Crabber Date Blue crab 7.1875″ Hunter Tracy, Westhampton, NY 7/23/2024
Visit Crabbing in New York for more ways to share important recreational blue crab harvest data with us!
New York State Marine Recreational Records
Current New York State Marine Recreational Records Species Weight (lbs.) Angler Date Atlantic Bonito 13.45 Matthew P. Kessinger, Oceanside, NY 11/8/2020 Atlantic Cod 85.00 Fred Shay, Jr., Montauk, NY 2/25/1984 Blackfish (Tautog) 22.53 Bill Taylor, Amityville, NY 11/14/2014 Black Sea Bass 9.00 Sal Vicari, Bronx, NY 10/10/1993 Bluefish 25.00 Peter Weber, Jr., Montauk, NY 10/30/1998 Dolphinfish (Mahi-Mahi) 56.50 Joe Mole, Massapequa Park, NY 7/26/2015 False Albacore 18.05 Jason Fassino, Lindenhurst, NY 6/15/2021 Golden Tilefish 68.25 Robert Foley, Cortlandt Manor, NY 7/11/2021 Northern Puffer 1.34 Matt Warshaw, New York, NY 10/3/2020 Marlin (Blue) * 1,174.00 Bill Sweedler, Westport, CT 7/20/1986 Marlin (White) * 130.00 Mrs. P. Dater, East Hampton, NY 8/13/1951 Pollock 45.94 Bruce Morabito, West Islip, NY 8/26/1988 Porgy (Scup) 6.25 Samuel Warren, District Hgts, MD 10/1/1978 Shark (Blue) ** 528.00 Joe Seidel, Bayside, NY 8/9/2001 Shark (Mako) * 1,080.00 James Melanson, Haverhill, MD 8/26/1979 Shark (Porbeagle) 393.00 Robert Bruno, Staten Island, NY 8/23/2014 Shark (Thresher) 707.00 William Dittenhoefer Jr. Baldwin, NY 6/16/2024 Shark (Tiger) 1,087.00 Ken Rafferty, Massapequa, NY 7/23/1986 Shark (White) * 3,450.00 Don Braddick, Montauk, NY 8/6/1986 Sheepshead 13.90 James Torborg, Atlantic Beach, NY 9/22/2020 Striped Bass * 76.00 Bob Rocchetta, East Setauket, NY 7/17/1981 Striped Sea Robin 3.17 Shawn Viniotis, Lindenhurst, NY 8/12/2024 Summer Flounder (Fluke)** 22.44 Charles Nappi, Hicksville, NY 9/15/1975 Swordfish 540.00 Dean Delle Donne, Moriches, NY 9/8/2006 Triggerfish 7.63 Steven Newman, Montauk, NY 10/3/1999 Tuna (Albacore) 81.15 Billy Turnbull, Key Colony Beach, FL 10/08/2011 Tuna (Bigeye) 355.00 Richard Buechmann, Oakdale, NY 9/27/1981 Tuna (Bluefin) * 1,071.00 Larry Thompson, Montauk, NY 8/21/1977 Tuna (Yellowfin) 248.50 Bruce Weisinger, East Hills, NY 9/9/2002 Wahoo 117.00 Jonathan Stabe, Brewster, NY 8/17/2013 Weakfish 19.13 Dennis Rooney, Seaford, NY 10/11/1984 White Perch 3.06 Jeffrey Butta, Ronkonkoma, NY 02/11/23 Winter Flounder 7.22 Jack Cohen, Staten Island, NY 6/29/1997
*Due to regulations, and/or the conservation or population status of these species, new records will not be accepted. Additionally, white sharks are a prohibited species and they may not be targeted or retained (6 CRR-NY 40.7 (C) (1)).
**All Tackle World Record
New Record Categories to Establish Species Minimum Weigh to Establish the Record Recreational Size Limit Black Drum 50 lbs None Cobia 50 lbs 37″ Cunner (Bergal) 2 lbs 8 oz None Northern Kingfish 2 lbs None Red Hake (Ling) 5 lbs None Spanish Mackerel 5 lbs 14″ Retired Marine Records Species Weight (lbs) Angler Date Marlin (Blue) 1,174.00 Bill Sweedler, Westport, CT 7/20/1986 Marlin (White) 130.00 Mrs. P. Dater, East Hampton, NY 8/13/1951 Shark (Mako) 1,080.00 James Melanson, Haverhill, MD 8/26/1979 Shark (White) 3,450.00 Don Braddick, Montauk, NY 8/6/1986 Striped Bass 76.00 Bob Rocchetta, East Setauket, NY 7/17/1981 Tuna (Bluefin) 1,071.00 Larry Thompson, Montauk, NY 8/21/1977
Minimum Length Requirement for Annual Marine Angler Award
Annual Marine Angler Award for Longest Fish Species Minimum Length to Qualify Albacore (False) 25″ Atlantic Bonito 20″ Black Drum 45″ Black Sea Bass 20″ Blackfish (Tautog) 24″ Bluefish 30″ Cobia 45″ Cod 28″ Cunner (Bergal) 13″ Northern Kingfish 15″ Northern Puffer 8.5″ Pollock 28″ Red Hake (Ling) 22″ Scup (Porgy) 17″ Sheepshead 18″ Spanish Mackerel 24″ Striped Bass* 40″ Striped Sea Robin 18″ Summer Flounder (Fluke) 27″ Triggerfish 14″ Weakfish 20″ White Perch 15″ Winter Flounder 16″
*All striped bass entered into this Award Program, must be released.
