The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries has recognized a new state record for the Mutton Snapper, scientifically known as Lutjanus analis. This development follows the catch made by Mark Boles from Dublin, Georgia.
Boles successfully caught the 17-pound, 12.8-ounce fish on June 3, 2025, while fishing offshore near Ocean Isle. The catch marks the first recorded state saltwater record for this species in North Carolina.
The fishing expedition took place approximately 60 miles offshore with Captain Austin’s Fishing Adventures. Boles used live menhaden as bait and employed a Shimano Trevalla rod paired with a Shimano Torium reel to secure his catch on a 60-pound test line. The Mutton Snapper measured an impressive total length of 33 inches and had a girth of 24.5 inches. The official weighing occurred at the Ocean Isle Fishing Center.
For further details about state record fish, interested parties are encouraged to visit the division’s State Saltwater Records webpage or reach out to the North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Tournament staff via email at saltwater.citations@deq.nc.gov.
