Long Island, New York enjoys a well earned reputation as a world-class fishing destination. The availability of outstanding freshwater and saltwater angling draws anglers from far and near. The saltwater oppportunities are as plentiful and diverse as any other destination and offer superb inshore, offshore and flats fishing.
An Impressive Array of Records...
The waters surrounding Long Island have relinquished a remarkable number of fish to the record book, from diminutive perch and catfish to offshore giants. As one might imagine, the majority of records attributed to Long Island are saltwater milestones but there are a couple of freshwater line class records in the big book and some fly fishing records as well. As one peruses the book some extraordinary accomplishments jump off the page and are most worthy of special note.
Some Long Island records are truly astounding accomplishments and are hall of fame-type catches. Most of these are line-class records where large fish were taken on small lines. Others are truly extraordinary specimens of a game fish species. While all of the Long Island records represent significant achievements the following are a few that catch the eye:
- Stephen Sloan took three blue sharks weighing 119 pounds, 184 pounds and 251 pounds on 2, 4 and 6-pound test line respectively! Stephen also landed a 91-pound blue shark on a fly rod with a 4-pound class tippet, and another blue of 114 pounds, 12 ounces on a 6-pound fly rod tippet!
- Tred Barta landed a 63-pound, 12-ounce yellow fin on 6 pound test line!
- Emme Golinski landed two large striped bass of 46 pounds, 12 ounces and 57 pounds, 15 ounces on 6 and 8-pound test line respectively!
- Dr. Einar Grell dredged a massive 18 pound, 3 ounce fluke up from the
depths on 6 pounds test line!
- Diane Mellish bested a 26 pound, 12 ounce pollock on 4-pound test line!
- Bob Rochetta’s 76-pound striped bass!
- Chester Berry’s 70-pound striped bass!
- Ann Houseknecht’s 63 pound, 2 ounce Atlantic cod!
- Joe Seidel’s 528-pound blue shark!
- Jame’s Melanson’s 1,080 pound mako shark!
- Charles Nappi’s 22 pound, 7 ounce fluke!
- Dennis Rooney’s 19 pound, 2 ounce weakfish!
- Mark Kaminski’s 56 pound, 5 ounce tilefish!
- Mason Horn’s Junior/Smallfry striped bass of 57 pounds!
- Joseph Marino’s Junior/Smallfry bluefish of 22 pounds, 8 ounces!
- Kevin Dunckley’s oversized Junior/Smallfry Spanish mackerel of
11 pounds, 13 ounces!
(Source of records: IGFA Record Book)
Some Long Island records are truly astounding accomplishments and are hall of fame-type catches. Most of these are line-class records where large fish were taken on small lines. Others are truly extraordinary specimens of a game fish species. While all of the Long Island records represent significant achievements the following are a few that catch the eye:
- Stephen Sloan took three blue sharks weighing 119 pounds, 184 pounds and 251 pounds on 2, 4 and 6-pound test line respectively! Stephen also landed a 91-pound blue shark on a fly rod with a 4-pound class tippet, and another blue of 114 pounds, 12 ounces on a 6-pound fly rod tippet!
- Tred Barta landed a 63-pound, 12-ounce yellow fin on 6 pound test line!
- Emme Golinski landed two large striped bass of 46 pounds, 12 ounces and 57 pounds, 15 ounces on 6 and 8-pound test line respectively!
- Dr. Einar Grell dredged a massive 18 pound, 3 ounce fluke up from the
depths on 6 pounds test line!
- Diane Mellish bested a 26 pound, 12 ounce pollock on 4-pound test line!
- Bob Rochetta’s 76-pound striped bass!
- Chester Berry’s 70-pound striped bass!
- Ann Houseknecht’s 63 pound, 2 ounce Atlantic cod!
- Joe Seidel’s 528-pound blue shark!
- Jame’s Melanson’s 1,080 pound mako shark!
- Charles Nappi’s 22 pound, 7 ounce fluke!
- Dennis Rooney’s 19 pound, 2 ounce weakfish!
- Mark Kaminski’s 56 pound, 5 ounce tilefish!
- Mason Horn’s Junior/Smallfry striped bass of 57 pounds!
- Joseph Marino’s Junior/Smallfry bluefish of 22 pounds, 8 ounces!
- Kevin Dunckley’s oversized Junior/Smallfry Spanish mackerel of
11 pounds, 13 ounces!
(Source of records: IGFA Record Book)
A few key findings might prove helpful if you are interested in fishing Long Island and taking a shot at landing a record of your own, or just gaining some insight from the current records to aid in your own fishing.
- Of the total Long Island records 34% were caught during the dogs days of summer, July and August. There are a total of 94 Long island records in the book.
- When adding in the records for the month of October to those of July and
- August, the total represents a full 51% of all record fish taken. Each of the three months carries a 17% share of the total.
- No record fish were taken in the months of March and April.
- Six of the total records were taken during the winter months.
- 45% of the record fish were taken in the months of May (7%), June (12%), September (15%) and November (11%).
- Of the total Long Island records 34% were caught during the dogs days of summer, July and August. There are a total of 94 Long island records in the book.
- When adding in the records for the month of October to those of July and
- August, the total represents a full 51% of all record fish taken. Each of the three months carries a 17% share of the total.
- No record fish were taken in the months of March and April.
- Six of the total records were taken during the winter months.
- 45% of the record fish were taken in the months of May (7%), June (12%), September (15%) and November (11%).
