Community Corner
Eastern Shore Fisherman Catches Record Longnose Gar
A fisherman from the Eastern Shore has claimed Maryland's record for a longnose gar, the Department of Natural Resources says.
CAMBRIDGE, MD — A Maryland fisherman has claimed the state record for catching a 17.9-pound longnose gar as he was looking to hook sizable catfish. Secretary resident David Confair, 44, of Dorchester County, caught the fish Jan. 23 a few miles above the Brookview Bridge along Marshyhope Creek, according to a Department of Natural Resources news release, and released it once the record was confirmed.
An experienced angler, Confair and a friend went fishing there after hearing reports of massive blue catfish. After just a few hours into their trip, Confair felt something unusual tug his line. “Get the net,” Confair yelled to his friend. “This is a big fish.”
Instead of a catfish, it was a longnose gar, a fish that dates to prehistoric times and can grow up to 6 feet long. Maryland DNR staff verified the species, and Kool Ice and Seafood Company in Cambridge certified the fish’s official weight. Confair’s catch beat the state’s previous record holder, Justin Kelly, who caught a 17-pound longnose gar in the Potomac River in 2011, officials said.
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Confair kept his catch alive for more than two days and released it in the creek after the record was certified. “It deserves to live,” Confair told the DNR. “I’m hoping to set a bigger record. I know there are bigger ones, I’ve seen them.”
Maryland maintains state records in four divisions – Atlantic, Chesapeake, Nontidal and Invasive – and awards plaques to anglers who achieve record catches. Fish caught from privately-owned, fee-fishing waters are ineligible.
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Anyone who thinks they have a potential record catch should fill out the state record application and call 443-569-1381 or 410-260-8325. The department suggests the fish be immersed in ice water to preserve its weight until it can be checked, confirmed and certified.
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Photo of David Confair with his Maryland record longnose gar, which weighed 17.9 pounds. Coutesy of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
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