Bluefish Records

Gator bluefish are one of the most exciting fights in the Northeast. Here is a look at the world and state record bluefish catches.

by John Andre

World Record

Bluefish World Record

James Hussey holding his world record bluefish.

The world record bluefish was caught on Jan. 1, 1972, by James Hussey. Hussey was fishing at Hatteras Inlet in North Carolina, trolling plastic eels when a gigantic bluefish slammed his line. He fought the to-be world record for 15 minutes before hoisting it into the boat. Back at shore, the monster bluefish tipped the scales at 31 pounds and 2 ounces. 

Connecticut

Charles Toth caught the Connecticut record bluefish in 1979. Toth was fishing in the waters of Long Island Sound off of Norwalk when he reeled in a 24 pound and 13-ounce bluefish.

Maine

Denis Moran caught the Maine record on Aug. 8, 1994. Moran was fishing out of Boothbay Harbor when he hooked up with his blue. It weighed 19 pounds and 6 ounces. 

Massachusetts

Louis Gordon caught the Massachusetts state record on Sept. 11, 1982. Gordon was fishing at Graves Light, the outermost island in Boston Harbor. Gordon’s blue officially weighed 27 pounds and 4 ounces.

New Hampshire

Henry Krook from Durham caught the New Hampshire record on Aug. 23, 1975. Krook was fishing in Great Bay when he landed his 21 pound, 39-inch bluefish.

New Jersey

The New Jersey state record bluefish was caught in 1997 by Roger Katorsky. He was fishing at Five Fathom Bank, which is about 15 miles from Cape May. The shoal there is known for being a go-to bluefish haunt. Katorsky’s blue weighed in at 27 pounds and 1 ounce.

New York

Chris Voorhies caught the New York record bluefish on Nov. 6, 2015. Voorhies was fishing on the south side of Long Island, where a School of large blues were blitzing on bunker. He was throwing a Sebile Magic swimmer from shore when a 25-pound 4-ounce blue hammered his lure. After weighing and releasing the fish, he later learned that it had bested the New York state record by 4 ounces. The previous record had stood since 1998 and was held by Peter Weber.

Chris Voorhies with New York’s biggest bluefish
Chris Voorhies with his New York state record bluefish.

Rhode Island

The Rhode Island record was caught in August of 1981 by D. Deziel from Woonsocket. Deziel’s bluefish weighed in at 26 pounds and was 39 inches long.

21 on “Bluefish Records”

  1. Andy

    I met this guy down in NJ a few years ago. He said he and his friend Marty used to catch 35 pounders all the time while chunkin’ for bass.

    1. Joey the Jeweler

      Marty and Artie got buckets of blues on 20 hr soak… Me & this Greek kid Irish Andy used to slam em…

    2. Jeff the Janitor

      I know that guy, I think his name was Bob. He was a garbage man. He would chunk 20 hour shifts.

      1. Rock

        I got a 39 and a 40″ Bluefish one day Chattam beach area. One went after the dog cause she went in the water. I never weighed them. Skinny ones… swimming up to the river in a pack… stick fins on the surface with bass chunks filling their bellys. They were hunting stripers alright…15 or so years ago.

    3. Always Hopeful

      Nonsense! They may have caught big bluefish but, over 30 lb. is a story. Over 20 lb. is believable ; not over 30 lb.

  2. LOU

    TELL ME HOW YOU CAN REGISTER A LARGE STRIPER AS A NEW STATE RECORD IF YOU CANT KEEP IT IF ITS OVER 36 0R 38 INCHES ? DEPENDS ON THE STATE WHERE CAUGHT ? LIKE TO SEE SOME FEED BACK .

    1. Robert

      It’s really very simple. You send your handheld weighing scale to IGFA and pay them to certify your scale. You weigh the fish and then release it. However, pictures and witnesses of the scale are highly recommended.

    2. Always Hopeful

      Are you more concerned with a record or the health of the fishery? Are you more into awards than achievement? Do you have a camera and tape? You do realize the same quandary, if you feel that way, is in effect for red drum. With the slot limits, the WR will not be broken unless they change the regs. Again, fishery or awards? Self-gratification or public recognition?

  3. Blake Gunderwood

    It’s true
    There were some huge fish in the Atlantic City area –
    Living off the sewage and chemicals in the water from all the casinos.
    I distinctly remember bluefish back then having a distinct orange glow coming from the acid waters…

  4. Mike D

    I miss catching blues, haven’t seen a good run of blues up here on the south shore of MA in years.

  5. bingo

    keep the fish. weigh it at a weight station and, if it really is a world record who cares? just pay the fine for an illegal fish

      1. Tom K

        Measure length and girth. Take a picture of each measurement and release.

    2. Always Hopeful

      BINGO! A poached fish is not legal and therefore is not eligible, duh! You do understand that WR needs to be verified and legal, right?

  6. Robert Cataldo

    While fishing in Boston Harbor back in 1985, I caught a 42 inch 26 pound Blue. Wow, only 1 pound off the State record

  7. Leif

    The IGFA will not recognize a record size fish of any size if laws were broken in catching it. So if you catch a Striped Bass that you believe is a world record, state record or even a “line test” record and it’s illegal to possess then it will not count and you just killed a fish for no good reason.

  8. Chris

    I shiver to think about just how terrifying it would be if these things grew to 100 lbs? I mean, I don’t think mankind would’ve ever left land. Boats would be just poppers to them….

  9. jack

    I am sixty five years old and remember my days blue fishing out of Atlantic Highlands in the 70’s. Bluefish were taken for granted and as discussed here, are maybe pound for pound the best fighting fish anywhere. I am pleased to see this positive discussion about respect for this great game fish. Besides we know they are not the best table fare.

  10. Tom K

    Measure length and girth. Take a picture of each measurement and release.

  11. Bunker

    Just gonna go on record here, this past year was the WORST I have seen in 12 years fishing boston harbor DAILY, usually on multiple shifts. Morning and evening and often times over night (2-6am). The fishery for striped bass has DRAMATICALLY changed for the worse over the past 2 years. Both number of fish seen, as well as the size of the fish have decreased. We are at a breaking point here with managing this striped bass population, if we don’t take drastic action now, this will be a repeat of previous decades of mistakes. Pls, everyone, do what you can to maintain what we all love to do so much and for future generations to do the same.

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