Pasadena Angler's Mahi Mahi Dethrones Record-Holder After 3 Weeks

PASADENA, MD — It took anglers 34 years to break Maryland's record for common dolphinfish, also known as mahi mahi. And only three weeks later, a Pasadena woman toppled the man who set the record by landing a 74.8-pound mahi mahi off the coast of Ocean City.

Kristy Frashure was participating in the Poor Girls Fishing Tournament in Ocean City on Aug. 16 when she caught the 74.5-pound fish. Frashure and five other friends were fishing off Poor Man’s Canyon when the record fish struck the line. “It took nearly 20-30 minutes to reel in … it felt like an eternity,” Frashure said in a Maryland Department of Natural Resources press release. She knew it was a big fish but didn’t know it was a record-breaker.

“We were taking bets on how much it weighed,” Frashure said.

A Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologist identified the species as common dolphinfish — Coryphaena hippurus — and its official weight was certified by Bahia Marina.

Jeff Wright of Cambridge caught a 72.8-pound mahi mahi July 28 off the coast of Ocean City. He was fishing on a boat above Poor Man's Canyon, practicing for the White Marlin Open when he beat the existing dolphinfish record held by Kim Lawson, who reeled in a 67.8-pound common dolphinfish in July 1985.

The department maintains state records for sport fish 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 for consideration.

Anglers who think they have a potential record catch should download and fill out a state record application and call 443-569-1381 or 410-260-8325. The department suggests fish be immersed in ice water to preserve weight until it can be checked, confirmed, and certified.