New State Record Cobia - Spearfishing Category

August 10, 2015

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The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife has officially certified, and is pleased to announce, the first entry of a Cobia in the Spearfishing Category of the State Record Saltwater Fish Program.

William Maier of Medford, New Jersey, was off Cape May on July 17, 2015 when he speared the record fish. The fish weighed in at 60 pounds, measuring 56" in length with a girth of 27".

William was out with his father on his 20' Boston Whaler the Go Away. He was freediving in 40 ft. of water and saw 3 cobia swimming towards him. He shot the largest with a Riffe Euro 100cm. The fish ran hard and took about 50 yds. of line off the reel. Surfacing, William locked down the line and was towed around for about 15 minutes without the fish tiring. A follow-up shot slowed the fish and allowed William to swim down, get his arms around the fish and swim it to the surface and into the boat.

For more information on the Record Fish Program, visit www.njfishandwildlife.com/recfish.htm.