Brandon McGirl’s 1,116-pound bluefin tuna is being reported as a new New Hampshire state record. Caught during an overnight charter in New Hampshire waters and brought to Rye Harbor, it exceeded the previous mark by 154 pounds, WMUR reported.
A 13-year-old record falls
The previous state record was a 962-pound bluefin landed in 2013 by Captains Rick Green, Garth Morin and Bruce DelleChiaie aboard the Salt Shaker, which operated out of New Castle in the Gulf of Maine, according to On The Water’s record listing. The comparison establishes the scale of McGirl’s catch against New Hampshire’s former mark; it does not identify the exact offshore location of the new catch.
Permits and catch reporting
For recreational anglers, NOAA Fisheries says an HMS angling permit is required to fish for Atlantic highly migratory species in federal waters and in most state waters for Atlantic tunas. NOAA also requires anglers to report all bluefin tuna landings, including dead discards, online or by phone. Those general rules do not establish the specific retention or sale conditions for McGirl’s fish. NOAA Fisheries’ Atlantic highly migratory species guidance explains the permit and reporting requirements.
