New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife

Oct. 6, 2003

Robert Belsky, Jr. of Little Egg Harbor caught the 13-ounce spot on Sept. 21. It weighed 5 ounces more than the previous record taken from the Mullica River in 1991.

Belsky was fishing off a bridge when he caught the record spot on 10-pound test line and a shrimp rig. The fish measured 10¾ inches in length with an 8 7/8-inch girth.

A member of the drum family (including weakfish, black drum and kingfish), the spot has a blunt nose and forked tail. The body is about one-third as high as it is long and is marked on either side with a black spot close behind the upper corner of each gill. The color is bluish gray with gold reflections above and silver below. Usually found over sandy or muddy bottoms, they range from the inshore waters of Texas to southern New England in depths of up to 60 meters. Feeding mainly on worms and small crustaceans, spots typically live 2 to 3 years and grow to an average of 7 to 8 inches in length.

The Record Fish Program honors the largest species of fish caught in the state. It revolves around a specific list of eligible freshwater and saltwater species, and is based on weight alone; there are no line classes. Scale certification documentation, specifically the Certificate of Inspection/Test Report and Registration Certificate issued by the New Jersey Office of Weights and Measures as well as a weighmaster’s signature are necessary. Other rules apply.

For more information or to request an application, call 609-633-7768. Visit the Division’s website at www.njfishandwildlife.com for a complete list of state record fish.