Historic Catch on the Lower Susquehanna River Sets New State Record
A new Maryland state record for yellow perch has been set in the Chesapeake division. Thomas Dembeck Jr. of Hydes achieved the milestone on February 7 while fishing the tidal waters of the lower Susquehanna River.
Dembeck’s catch, a 2.3-pound, 16-inch yellow perch, surpassed the previous record of 2.2 pounds held since 1979 by Niles Pethel. The record-breaking fish was caught while deep jigging in 50 feet of water using a double-jig rig with 1-inch plastic paddletails on ⅛-ounce leadheads, rigged above a 1-ounce sinker. His setup included a light spinning rod with ten-pound test braided line.
The fish was officially weighed on a certified scale at Gibby’s Seafood in Lutherville, and its species was confirmed by Maryland DNR recreational fisheries coordinator Erik Zlokovitz.
Dembeck, an experienced angler who has pursued yellow perch since the 1960s, had been catching mostly small fish when he felt a slightly heavier weight on his line. Initially assuming it was a double-header of smaller perch, he continued reeling until spotting what he described as a “yellow submarine” beneath the surface. His fishing partner, Lee Haile, quickly netted the fish, recognizing its potential to break the state record.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources tracks state records for sport fish across four divisions: Atlantic, Chesapeake, Nontidal, and Invasive. Anglers with a potential record catch are encouraged to complete a state record application and call 443-569-1398. To preserve a fish’s weight before official certification, the department recommends immersing it in ice water.
Image/Source: news.maryland.gov
