New State Fishing Record Tautog Caught Near Indian River Inlet Confirmed by DNREC

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Celebrates Second State Record in 2023 Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament

Dover, [May 17, 2023] – The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is delighted to announce the confirmation of a remarkable achievement in the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament. A new state record tautog was recently caught off the Indian River Inlet, marking the second record-breaking catch of 2023, following the record musky caught in January in the Brandywine River.

On May 6, James Milano of North Babylon, N.Y., fishing aboard the No Limit, a charter boat captained by Jon Azato, reeled in a stunning 34-inch, 22-pound 14.4-ounce tautog from a wreck east of the Inlet. This impressive catch, certified by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife at Hook ’em and Cook ’em Bait & Tackle at Indian River Inlet, exceeded the previous state record by an impressive 1 pound, 6.7 ounces. The previous record was set in May 2022 by Brent Wiest.

Earlier this year, on January 11, Stephen Rutkowski of Wilmington accomplished a remarkable feat by landing a record-breaking musky in the Brandywine River. Rutkowski’s catch, an astonishing 43.25-inch, 22-pound, 3.2-ounce musky, was achieved from the bank of the river and certified by the Division of Fish and Wildlife at Master Baiter’s Bait & Tackle in New Castle. This record-breaking musky weighed 1 pound, 11.2 ounces more than the previous state record, set in 2013 by Thomas Sutton.

Delaware anglers have demonstrated their exceptional fishing skills and dedication to the sport, pushing the boundaries of the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament. Fishing enthusiasts can explore a complete list of Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament state records at de.gov/recfishing. Additional information about the tournament and state record fish can be found on the DNREC website and in the 2023 Delaware Fishing Guide.