On September 4, 2024, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced a new state record for the yellowedge grouper, a deep-water species known for its exceptional taste. Jian Feng Li of Silver Spring earned this distinction after reeling in a 38.0-pound, 43-inch yellowedge grouper while fishing in the Atlantic Ocean near Ocean City. This impressive catch was only 10 pounds short of the world record for the species.
Li’s record-breaking catch occurred on August 27 during a fishing expedition aboard Captain Chase Eberle’s charter boat, Tiderunner. The group of anglers initially focused on pelagic species like dolphinfish but decided to switch tactics later in the day. Using false albacore strips as bait and dropping them 420 feet deep into Poorman’s Canyon, Li managed to hook and land the grouper, despite three other anglers losing their fish.
The fish was weighed at Sunset Marina in Ocean City on a certified scale, and the species was confirmed by Maryland DNR biologist Gary Tyler. Yellowedge groupers are typically found from North Carolina to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. They inhabit rocky areas and deep waters ranging from 290 to 1200 feet, making them a prized catch for deep-drop anglers.
Li’s grouper is the first yellowedge grouper to be recognized as a state record in Maryland. The previous world record for the species was a 48.6-pound grouper caught off Dauphin Island, Alabama, in June 2012.
The Maryland DNR maintains records for sport fish across four divisions: Atlantic, Chesapeake, Nontidal, and Invasive. Anglers aiming for a record catch are encouraged to download and complete the state record application and call the department for verification. It’s recommended that potential record fish be immersed in ice water to preserve their weight until they can be officially weighed and certified.
Image/Source: news.maryland.gov
