SACRAMENTO— In 2024, four saltwater anglers and one spear fisherman became new state record holders after hauling in some exceptional fish.
The California scorpionfish (Scorpaena guttata) state angling record was captured by Captain Michael McDaniels on May 3, 2024. The 3-pound 10-ounce fish, caught off San Diego, edged out the previous state record fish by 8 ounces. McDaniels later donated the record catch to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for research.
On Oct. 20, Luc Ofield was at the right place at the right time – Nine Mile Bank, off San Diego in Southern California – to hook a 663-pound. 12-ounce. swordfish (Xiphias gladius). After an epic five-hour saltwater battle, Luc landed this giant and a new state record. The new record beat the previous state record by a solid 143-pound, 12 ounces.
LUC OFIELD with his state record swordfish
CDFW file photo
On Nov. 11, near Usal in Mendocino County, Cally Coombs reeled in a 9 lb. canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) that beat the state angling record for this species by 1 lb. 2 oz.
On the very last day of 2024 – New Year’s Eve – Thomas Hilgert landed a 3-pound, 5-ounce. greenspotted rockfish (Sebastes chlorostictus) off San Diego at Nine Mile Bank to capture that species’ state record, beating the previous record by 11 ounces.
And finally, not to be outdone, a member of the spearfishing community also established a new state diving record in 2024. While spearfishing off Monterey on Jun. 8, 2024, Max Rovinsky speared a 4-pound, 12-ounce rubberlip seaperch (Rhacochilus toxotes) that beat the previous state diving record by two ounces.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife saltwater angling and diving record programs recognize exceptional saltwater finfish and shellfish taken in California by sport anglers and divers. The program has given biologists the opportunity to examine trophy-sized catches since the 1950s.
For more information about state recreational fishing and diving records, see the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Fishing and Diving Records web page.
