'Strong Tug' Results in State Record Sheepshead

Maryland teen was "amazed" when he landed a state record sheepshead off the Maryland coast.

When Maryland teen Robert Martin and his father Brad heard the sheepshead bite was on off the coast of Ocean City, they took a few days off to chase them.

Robert Martin's Maryland-record sheepshead weighed 18 pounds. (Maryland DNR image)

It ended up being a good decision.

The duo caught 11 on the first day of playing "hooky," then on the morning of the second day, Robert, 17, "felt an unusually strong tug on the line," according to a Maryland Department of Natural Resources news release.

"It was heavier than the rest; I knew this one was different," the Sykesville resident said.

The tug came from a trophy sheepshead that broke a 13-year-old state record.

He said he was "amazed" when the big fish was pulled into the boat.

The teen's Sept. 23 catch weighed 18 pounds, and was confirmed by the Maryland DNR as a record in the Atlantic Division for sheepshead.

The catch was officially weighed and certified by the Ocean City Fishing Center and beat the previous record of 17.5 pounds; caught by Raymond Daniels at the Ocean City Inlet.

The catch was the second state-record sheepshead caught this year in Maryland. Dave Alveberg, of Deal Island, set a record in the Chesapeake Division with a 13.73-pounder caught Aug. 17 in four feet of water near Tangier Sound.

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Anglers who think they have a potential record catch should download and fill out the state record application and call 443-569-1381 or 410-260-8325. The department suggests fish be immersed in ice water to preserve weight until it can be checked, confirmed and certified.

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