State officials say they have certified the catch of a new state record gray triggerfish that was boated recently by a man fishing the Sea Girt Reef, located several miles off Manasquan Inlet.
The state Division of Fish and Wildlife announced Wednesday that James Massimino, of Neptune, made his way onto the state record fish list recently by landing a new state record gray triggerfish. Massimino was fishing off a boat when he reeled in the 6-pound, 11-ounce fish, eclipsing the old record caught by Ronald Pires in 2008 in High Bar Harbor (Long Beach Island) by 15 ounces.
Massimino was fishing off the boat Striper Snyper, captained by Stauros Dallaportas, on Sept. 8 when he caught the record fish. The boat was fishing off the Sea Girt Reef when the fish hit his line while bottom fishing. Massimino was using an Abu Beast reel spooled with 50-pound test braided line and a Lamiglas rod. He used crab for bait.
The new record gray triggerfish measured 19.25-inches in length and had a girth of 20.75-inches.