Maryland Department of Natural Resources (Maryland Department of Natural Resources)
A Florida resident set a new fishing record in Maryland after reeling in a massive fish.
Billy Gerlach, from Jupiter, caught a blue marlin that weighed in at 1,135 pounds, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Gerlach had been participating in the 30th Mid-Atlantic fishing tournament in Ocean City.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources (Maryland Department of Natural Resources)
Gerlach apparently spent several hours waiting for a fish to bite about 70 miles offshore near Washington Canyon when the large fish took the bait.
FISHERMAN CATCHES ‘ULTRA-RARE’ CRAB THAT LOOKS LIKE A PASTRY
It took over three hours to reel in the fish, which has been referred to as a "grander" blue marlin.
The fish was weighed and certified by Francis Ingram, one of the tournament weighmasters. A biologist for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources confirmed the catch. The previous state record had been set 12 years ago.
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Some parts of the fish were collected for scientific research, while most of the animal was donated to local food banks. Gerlach said that he had been waiting his whole life to catch a fish like this.
This is just the latest record-breaking fish to be caught this year.
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In July, FOX News reported that Rocky Baker from North Carolina reeled in a massive, 127-pound catfish during a trip on the Roanoke River. While catching the fish was hard, having the fish weighed on a certified scale by an official was almost as difficult.