Angler snags record-breaking dolphinfish in NC. Is it enough to topple world’s biggest?
When 18-year-old Charles Noonan reeled in a hefty catch off the North Carolina coast, he was looking at the state’s first record-sized pompano dolphinfish — and possibly the world’s biggest.
Noonan was fishing on June 8 off Ocean Isle Beach when he snagged the over 11-pound pompano dolphinfish, which was about 30.5 inches long, according to the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries.
Noonan was aboard the boat Glory Daze with Salt Fever Guide Service, according to WMBF. Captain Tyler Hailey and first mate Bailey Auten were with Noonan when he caught the dolphinfish.
The expedition was a graduation gift from Noonan’s family, who live in Sumter, South Carolina, according to the Carolina Sportsman.
The anglers were eyeing an abandoned refugee raft offshore that was home to an abundance of sea life, the Carolina Sportsman reported.
They returned the second day in the hopes of snagging a memorable catch — and the seas delivered.
“At first I thought maybe it was just a dolphin with bad genes. But I made a mental note to take a closer look once back at the dock,” Hailey told the Carolina Sportsman. “Charlie landed the fish and was grinning ear to ear.”
Pompano dolphinfish aren’t often caught off the North Carolina coast. The NCDMF told McClatchy News that Noonan’s catch was the first state-record pompano dolphinfish. Record-setting fish must be exceptionally large for North Carolina waters and within range of a world record, the NCDMF said.
When the anglers returned to shore, they weighed the pompano dolphinfish on the Intracoastal Angler’s certified state record scale in Wilmington, WWAY reported.
The current certified world record pompano dolphin fish was caught off the coast of Maryland and weighed 8 pounds, 8 ounces, according to the NCDMF.
If Noonan’s fish is certified by the International Game Fish Association, it will shatter the world record.
Noonan’s catch is pending world record certification, according to WWAY.
Ocean Isle Beach is about 45 miles southeast of Wilmington.
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