Harrington man nets Del. state-record catfish
CORRECTION: This report has been updated to correct the name of the angler who caught the state-record catfish on June 20 to Jordan Chelton of Harrington.
A Harrington, Delaware, man caught a state-record catfish on June 20 in the Nanticoke River near Seaford.
The 36-pound, 3.2-ounce blue catfish was caught by Jordan Chelton of Harrington in the upper Nanticoke River on 12-pound test line with a chunk of Atlantic menhaden (bunker).
DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife said in a news release it has confirmed the new state record in the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament.
The fish was 38½ inches long and had a girth of 27½ inches, it said.
The catfish took the bait about 9:30 p.m., and he landed it almost a half hour later.
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The record catch was initially confirmed by Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officer Adam Roark, and verified at Taylored Tackle Shop in Seaford.
The previous catfish record holder was Gavin Spicer, who caught a 25-pound, 5.6-ounce catfish, also a blue catfish, from the Nanticoke just two months earlier, on April 21.
For more information on the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament, click on 2017 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and from license agents throughout the state.