Angler sets new Maryland state record for false albacore

Annapolis, Md. — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has officially recognized Jack Dorman of Mount Airy as the new state record holder for false albacore. His 26.0-pound catch surpasses the previous record of 23.5 pounds that was just set earlier this month.

Dorman, 22, was fishing offshore near the Jackspot and the 20-Fathom Line on July 20 aboard the charter boat Game On, captained by Scott Stapleford of Ocean City. It was Dorman’s first offshore fishing trip, and he was hoping to catch a yellowfin tuna. The record-setting false albacore was the first fish caught that day. They were trolling a skirted ballyhoo when the false albacore hit.

“At first I thought it was a small yellowfin, but it turned out to be the biggest false albacore I’ve ever seen,” said Captain Stapleford. The fishing party did land three yellowfin later.

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The false albacore was weighed on a certified scale at Sunset Marina in Ocean City.

Dorman, who recently graduated from Salisbury University, has spent recent summers fishing the back bays behind Ocean City and surf fishing at Assateague Island with his father. After this experience, Dorman said he’s now hooked on offshore fishing and can’t wait for their next trip this month.

Word of the catch spread quickly in Ocean City’s fishing community. Kurt Howell, the captain who guided angler Timothy Saarda to the state record false albacore on July 12, called and congratulated all involved. Howell noted that the world record for false albacore is 36 pounds, caught in the same general area by an angler fishing out of a New Jersey port in 2006.

False albacore have many nicknames – including Albie, Little Tunny, turkeys, and Fat Alberts – and are one of the most common tuna species in the western Atlantic Ocean. Their range extends from Massachusetts to Brazil. In recent years, false albacore have become light tackle favorites for catch-and-release fishing along the East Coast. Many anglers strive to catch them along the inshore waters of the East Coast during the fall months. They are a very hard-fighting fish and a challenge on light tackle.

The Department of Natural Resources maintains state records for sport fish in four divisions: Atlantic, Chesapeake, Nontidal, and Invasive. Anglers who believe 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.