Smith's record-breaking Golden Tilefish was 42.5 inches long and weighed 56 pounds.

Dover angler lands record-breaking Golden Tilefish off Delaware coast

Jarek Rutz July 18, 2025Headlines, Sports

Smith's record-breaking Golden Tilefish was 42.5 inches long and weighed 56 pounds.

Smith’s record-breaking Golden Tilefish was 42.5 inches long and weighed 56 pounds.

A fishing trip to offshore waters turned historic for Logan Smith of Dover, who landed a massive 56-pound, 3.2-ounce Golden Tilefish—setting a new Delaware state record.

“When it bit, I had no idea what it was, because it was pulling drag like crazy,” Smith said. “When me and my buddies finally saw some color from the fish and brought it into the boat, we thought it could be a state record.” Smith, who was surprised at pulling the massive fish aboard, said that as an angler, the state record has been his biggest fishing accomplishment so far.

Smith called the catch the biggest accomplishment of his fishing career to date.

The catch, verified by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), surpasses the previous state record set in 2020 by then-13-year-old Dylan Baker by nearly 3.5 pounds.

Smith made the catch while fishing roughly 60 miles off the coast at Poormans Canyon, aboard the Blue Betty II captained by Austin Decker.

Fishing in 650 feet of water, Smith used whole squid as bait when he hooked the record-setting fish.

The fish, which measured 42.5 inches in length, was later certified by Delaware Natural Resources Police at Hook ‘em & Cook ‘em bait and tackle shop in South Bethany.

The new record is now listed on DNREC’s Fishing Records page, which tracks both freshwater and saltwater state records.

So far in 2025, four new state fishing records have been set as part of the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament, managed by DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.

Jarek can be reached by email at jarek@dimgrey-peafowl-504880.hostingersite.com or by phone at (215) 450-9982. Follow him on Twitter @jarekrutz and on LinkedIn.

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