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Marine Recreational Angler Records Program

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.


Matthew Kessinger with 13.45-pound
State Record Atlantic bonito

How to Participate

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

Blue crab in a hand net

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.

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.

There is currently no State Record for blue crab. If you catch a blue crab that has at least a 7 inch carapace width, please submit your catch on an official entry form.

Blue Crab Record to Establish
Specie Minimum Length
to Establish Record
Recreational
Size Limit
Blue crab 7" (carapace width) 4.5" (carapace width)

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) 614.00 Joe Calandra, NY 10/12/1994
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
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"
Striped Sea Robin 3 lbs None
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 Recreational
Size Limit
Minimum Length
to Qualify
Albacore (False) None 25"
Atlantic Bonito None 20"
Black Drum None 45"
Black Sea Bass 15" 20"
Blackfish (Tautog) 16" 24"
Bluefish None 30"
Cobia 37" 45"
Cod 21" 28"
Cunner (Bergal) None 13"
Northern Kingfish None 15"
Northern Puffer None 8.5"
Pollock 19" 28"
Red Hake (Ling) None 22"
Scup (Porgy) 9" 17"
Sheepshead None 18"
Spanish Mackerel 14" 24"
Striped Bass* 28-35" 40"
Striped Sea Robin None 18"
Summer Flounder (Fluke) 19" 27"
Triggerfish None 14"
Weakfish 16" 20"
White Perch None 15"
Winter Flounder 12" 16"

*Current striped bass regulations do not allow harvest of fish over 35". All striped bass entered into this Award Program, must be released.


  • Contact for this Page
  • Division of Marine Resources
    123 Kings Park Blvd.
    (Nissequogue River State Park)
    Kings Park, New York 11754
    631-444-0430
    Send us an email
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  • Page applies to NYS Marine Costal District