For Immediate Release April 11, 2007 Blueline Tilefish Record Broken A 19-pound, 14-ounce blueline tilefish caught on March 31st by Rick Wineman of Yorktown has been certified as the new Virginia state record for the species by the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. An application also has been made to the International Game Fish Association for recognition as the world all-tackle record. Wineman was fishing with Kim Rideout on his private boat, Bluewater Dream, in 325 feet of water off the Virginia coast. This was their first attempt at "deep-drop" fishing for tilefish. The record tilefish, which measured 36.5 inches in length and had a girth of 23.25 inches, was taken on a cigar minnow bait. Wineman was using a hand-tied bottom rig made with 60 pound test monofilament with a single 4/0 hook. The record catch comes less than a month after the initial state record had been established by Doug Deese of Seaford on March 10th with an 18-pound-10-ounce fish. Deese caught his fish off the Virginia coast in waters near the Norfolk Canyon. For more information, contact Claude Bain, Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 968 S. Oriole Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, (757) 491-5160, mrcswt@visi.net. |