OCEAN CITY, MD—A Pennsylvania angler has broken the state record for blueline tilefish, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Dominic Vuotto of Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania, caught a 21.3-pound blueline tilefish on July 26 while fishing offshore near Washington Canyon. It was Vuotto’s first time fishing, according to a press release from the DNR.
Vuotto was fishing aboard the charter boat Foolish Pleasures with Captain Dale Lisi out of Ocean City. After an unsuccessful attempt to troll for tuna, the group moved to a spot where the captain had previously found success targeting blueline tilefish. Vuotto used a hand-crank reel to catch the fish, as electric reels are not permitted for state or world records.
After feeling a strike and setting the hook, Vuotto reeled in the fish, which he said put up a tough fight.
“My friends were kidding that it was taking too long,” Vuotto said in the press release. “But when the fish reached the surface, everyone cheered at the size of it.”
The catch was weighed on a certified scale at Bahia Marina in Ocean City. Vuotto’s fish surpassed the previous record of 20.6 pounds, set by London J. Anthony on Aug. 24, 2024.
Vuotto said he plans to do more fishing and boating in Ocean City and has already scheduled another offshore fishing trip.
Photo: Dominic Vuotto of Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania, is the new state record holder for blueline tilefish (Caulolatilus microps) in the Atlantic Division. Photo courtesy Dominic Vuotto/MDDNR.
