Updated June, 2006

Maine State Saltwater Angler Records
From the Department of Marine Resources

What do the biggest fish ever caught in the state look like? Find out more about the saltwater game fish records for the state and take a look at the photos of the record fish. Think you might have a record catch? Get the rules and an application form.

 

 
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During the winter of 1996, several recreational industry members requested that the DMR assume the responsibility of maintaining the saltwater game fish records from the Maine Sportsman. The Maine Sportsman had considerately been trying to keep the records for a number of years but really did not have the time and staff to do this project justice. A committee (Maine State Records Committee) was formed, consisting of myself, Captains Pat Keliher, Dave Linney, Cal Robinson, and Tim Tower, to review, verify or disqualify any existing records. After the time-consuming task of putting all the pieces together, this group compiled the list. Next the group devised an application, including the rules and regulations for qualifying a record fish. This application closely mirrors the International Game Fish Association form with the exception of line class categories. It was agreed that the Maine State Records Committee would meet annually to review any new potential records.

Maine State Records are all-tackle. There are four categories in which an angler may qualify a fish:

  • Harpoon (only bluefin tuna and swordfish are eligible)
  • Handline
  • Rod and Reel
  • Fly Rod

Records are listed by species (scientific name), method, weight, port landed, angler's name and date:

Bass, striped (Morone saxatilis)
Rod and reel
67lbs
Sheepscot River
Douglas Dodge 09/20/78
Click for photo

Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix)
Rod and reel
19.68lbs.
Boothbay Harbor
Denis Moran 08/08/94
Click for photo

Cod, Atlantic (Gadus morhua)
Rod and reel
80lbs.7oz.
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Neil Downey 09/08/92
Click for photo

Cod, Atlantic (Gadus morhua)
Junior female
26.5 lbs.*
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Rebecca Ranta 07/09/00
Click for photo

Cod, Atlantic (Gadus morhua)
Junior male
46.12 lbs.*
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Willy Goldsmith 06/05/03
Click for photo

Cusk (Brosme brosme)
Rod and reel
33.42 lbs.
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Kenton Geer 10/11/02
Click for photo

Flounder, winter (Pleuronectes americanus)
Rod and reel
4lbs. 3oz.
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Lisa Boughner 06/28/89
Click for photo

Goosefish (Lophius americanus)
Rod and reel
49lbs.12oz.*
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Nancy Lee Regimbald 07/09/91
Click for photo

Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)
Rod and reel
15 lbs. 9.8 oz.
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Jared Keniston 05/11/04
Click for photo

Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)
Junior female Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Allyson Fuehrer 06/03/04
Click for photo

Hake, silver (Merluccius bilinearis)
Rod and reel
4.51lbs.*
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Erik M. Callahan 08/08/95
Click for photo

Hake, white (Urophycis tenuis)
Rod and reel
46lbs. 4oz.*
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
John Audet 10/26/86
Click for photo

Hake, white (Urophycis tenuis)
Junior female
30 lbs. 10.2 oz.
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Allyson Fuehrer 08/31/04
Click for photo

Hake, white (Urophycis tenuis)
Junior male
26 lbs. 13.7 oz.
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Ryan Keniston 08/19/04
Click for photo

Halibut, Atlantic (Hippoglossus hippoglossus)
Rod and reel
215lbs.
Bailey's Island
Richard F. Hincman 08/14/65
Click for photo

Herring, Atlantic
Rod and reel
0.1 lbs.
Perry
James Stanley 09/05/04

Mackerel, Atlantic (Scomber scombrus)
Rod and reel
2.44 lbs.
Bailey Island
Ian T. Bexton 7/25/95

Pollock (Pollachius virens)
Rod and reel
46lbs., 10.9oz.
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Linda Paul 10/24/90
Click for photo

Pollock (Pollachius virens)
Junior female
38 lbs.*
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Dawn Hersom 08/14/86
Click for photo

Pollock (Pollachius virens)
Junior male
34 lbs.*
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Andrew Tuttle 08/11/97
Click for photo

Ray, torpedo (Torpedo nobiliana)
Rod and reel
35lbs.5oz.*
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Don Carignan 08/24/95
Click for photo

Sculpin, shorthorn
Rod and reel
2.84 lbs.
Perry
James Stanley 09/05/04

Sea bass, black (Centropristis striata)
Rod and reel
1.75 lbs.
Ogunquit
Dave Hutchins 06/08/02
Click for photo

Shark, blue (Prionace glauca)
Fly rod
101 lbs.
Bath
Fred C. Danforth 08/30/96
Click for photo

Shark, blue (Prionace glauca)
Rod and reel
391lbs.
Portland
Ken Putnam 08/09/89

Shark, mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)
Handline
724lbs.
Portland
Mark Chase 08/15/92

Shark, mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)
Rod and reel
680 lbs.
Jim Hinkley, Jr. 8/15/90

Shark, porbeagle (Lamna nasus)
Rod and reel
548lbs.
Baileys Island
Wesley Hurst, Jr. 07/22/95
Click for photo

Shark, thresher
Handline
530.5 lbs.
South Portland
Al Lappin Jr. 08/06/05
Click for photo

Tuna, bluefin (Thunnus thynnus)
Handline
810 lbs.
Portland
Ian T. Bexon 09/07/98
Click for photo

Tuna, bluefin (Thunnus thynnus)
Harpoon
1155lbs.
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Tim Tower/Percy Stevens Jr. 08/20/81
Click for photo

Tuna, bluefin (Thunnus thynnus)
Rod and reel
819lbs.
Bath
Jerry Jamison 08/10/77

Wolffish, Atlantic (Anarhichas lupus)
Rod and reel
30lbs0oz.
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Gunther Schulz 08/21/90
Click for photo

* Means also current International Game Fish Association (IGFA) World All-Tackle Record

The rules and regulations along with an application for qualifying a game fish can be obtained by calling Bruce Joule at 633-9505 or e-mailing him at Bruce.Joule@state.me.us. You can also download the rules and application form here:

The Rules and Regulations are three pages long and give details on categories, species, witnesses, photos and other requirements:
Page One
Page Two
Page Three
Application form
Note: these are PDF files which will open in Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can download Reader for free at: www.abode.com/products


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