It was another big year in 2025 for the Florida Saltwater State Records program, with 18 records approved as participation continued to grow across the state.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission program has seen a sharp increase in involvement since launching Adult Length and Youth Length and Youth All-Tackle categories in 2024. The expansion opened the door for anglers of all ages to compete for official recognition.
Adult anglers accounted for six approved records in 2025, including a new yellow jack All-Tackle record weighing 27.6 pounds. The fish was taken by spearfishing angler Nathanial Campbell.
Watson Eugene Wilson and Renee Knight both set Adult Length records during the year with a 38.75-inch red drum and a 36-inch snook, respectively. Late in the year, Carl Caradonna submitted a 40-inch snook to claim the Adult Length snook record. Additional All-Tackle records were set by Billy Ray Pierce with a 6.74-pound red porgy and Joel Hierholzer with a 9.56-pound Atlantic bonito.
Youth anglers once again took center stage, earning 12 records in 2025. Veteran record holder Julia Bernstein led the group with five records. She claimed the Youth Length record for permit and Youth All-Tackle records for vermilion snapper, crevalle jack, blackfin tuna and mutton snapper.
Bernstein’s mutton snapper record was broken a few months later by Jeremiah Pelequin II, who landed a 15.7-pound fish.
The Youth All-Tackle spotted seatrout record was set early in the year by Cash Ward with a 3.49-pound fish before being surpassed in December by Chase Curry with a 3.7-pound catch.
Other youth anglers earning Youth All-Tackle records included Theo Zellers with a 3.98-pound sheepshead, Harrison Farshid with a 5.4-pound black sea bass, Carson Atcheson with an 18.4-pound tripletail and Brandon Canedy with a 3.31-pound Spanish mackerel.
“It has been so exciting to see anglers of all ages taking advantage of these opportunities in the Fishing Capital of the World,” said Jessica McCawley, director of the Division of Marine Fisheries Management. “The participation we have seen from both adults and youth setting these records and engaging in our angler recognition programs really emphasize the passion Florida has for fishing.”
Despite the strong year, opportunities remain for anglers with two Adult Length record vacancies and several Youth All-Tackle categories still open.
Information on open categories, current records and program rules is available at CatchaFloridaMemory.com/Records. To qualify for a record, anglers must submit a completed application with a signature and notary stamp, along with digital or printed photographs showing the gear used, the angler with the catch, identifying views of the fish and required weight or length verification. Videos are accepted for Youth and Adult Length categories. Youth applications must be submitted within three months of the catch date.
FWC officials continue to encourage best fish handling practices, particularly for Length category submissions. Recommended techniques include using wet hands, keeping fingers away from eyes and gills, and keeping fish in the water during measurement or wetting the measuring device.
Additional fish handling guidelines are available at MyFWC.com/FishHandling and BonefishTarponTrust.org/Bonefish-Handling.
