It is the second time this year the Delaware state record catfish has been broken.

A new state record for catfish has been has been confirmed by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s fish and wildlife division, according to a news release.

The agency said the 36-pound, 3.2-ounce blue catfish caught by Jordan Chelton of Harrington measured 38½ inches long and had a girth of 27½ inches.

state record catfish

Jordan Chelton of Harrington with his state-record 36 lb., 3.2 oz blue catfish. (Photo courtesy of DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife)

The fish was caught in the upper Nanticoke River near Seaford in June in the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament. The catch was confirmed as a state record in August.

Chelton’s record stands for any catfish; Delaware only recognizes one catfish category in its state fishing records.

According to the news release, Chelton’s catfish bit a hook baited with a chunk of Atlantic menhaden around 9:30 p.m. on June 20. It took him nearly 30 minutes to land the fish.

The record eclipsed the previous record — also caught in 2017 — by nearly 11 pounds.

The previous record was set in April by angler Gavin Spicer, who caught a 25-pound, 5.6-ounce blue cat, also out of the Nanticoke.

The record catch was initially confirmed by Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police-officer AFC Adam Roark, and verified at Taylored Tackle Shop in Seaford.

For all state freshwater fishing records, visit the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Delaware Fishing Records page.

For more information on the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament, visit the 2017 Delaware Fishing Guide.

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