Somerset County angler sets new Maryland state record with sheepshead catch
There is a new Maryland fishing state record holder for sheepshead catches, as an angler in Somerset County etched their name in the state's record books just a few days ago.
Brian Summerlin, from Princess Anne, Maryland, caught a 16.6-pound sheepshead on Sept. 17 to become the new state-record holder in the Chesapeake Bay Division, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Summerlin caught the fish in Tangier Sound off of Crisfield in approximately 15 feet of water.
"I thought it was a black drum at first, due to the way the fish was fighting with some big head shakes," Summerlin said in a statement, "but then I saw it was a very large sheepshead as it surfaced near the boat."
Summerlin's catch surpassed the previous record that was set in 2020 by Daniel Mastronardi Jr., who reeled in a 14.10-pound sheepshead.
The Department of Natural Resources maintains state records for sport fish in four divisions - Atlantic, Chesapeake, Nontidal and Invasive. Anglers who think they have a potential record catch should download and complete a state record application, and call 443-569-1398 to report a potential state-record catch. It is recommended that the fish be immersed in ice water to preserve its weight until it can be checked, confirmed and certified.
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This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: State-record sheepshead caught in Maryland
