On Friday, January 2 2015, angler Kenneth Westerfeld caught what could become the new all-tackle IGFA record tautog (blackfish).
The fish was caught on Captain Kane Bounds’ Fish Bound out of Ocean City, Maryland and officially weighed at Sunset Marina in Ocean City at 28.8 pounds, according to multiple reports on Facebook. If confirmed, it would top the current world record of 25 pounds, set in 1998 by Anthony Monica fishing out of Ocean City, New Jersey.
On his Facebook page, which lists his Bayside, New York as his residence, Kenneth Westerfeld posted: “Well I can only thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ for bringing me this bite, and Capt. Kane Bounds for putting me on this wreck. And ALL of the people who gave me the experience, all the gear that held up in the fight, and my wife for letting me go fish in MD and chase my dream and putting up with my fishing over the years.”
We’ve reached out to Kenneth Westerfeld and look forward to reporting more details of the catch.
Wow!
This is awesome! Congratulations!
Awesome catch Ken… congrats from Fishzoo… you really went Tautog Wild on this one!
OMG !
Omg !!
Wow! Congrats!
Congrats! Awesome job! anyone fishing this late in the season has really paid their dues! What an inspiration.
Congrats!
Beautiful white chin!
Good job Very nice catch. Guess I will put it on my bucket list to come there to do the one thing I love to do fish for the big one.
Super,congrats.
That’s phenominal, what a monster, had to using extreme braided line, congrats!
Such a fish! Can your fine publication kindly correct the spelling of Kenneth’s last name to “Westerfeld”? There’s no “i”. Thanks!
I’m sure I sound crazy, but I bet that fish had a family. All living things have value to their family.
Yes. You sound crazy.
Yes his wife called, his kids are in school and need to be picked up your not crazy your a vegan, that makes you batshit crazy
Congratulations on one hell of a fish!
SWEET BEAST!
Happy for you!…..How long did it take to land that monster???
Congratulations that’s a horse with fins !!!!
Congratulations that’s a horse with fins !!!!
Thanks kindly to all for the warm congrats and good wishes! Still can’t believe it myself. It’s really amazing.
Awesome catch Ken… congrats from Fishzoo… you really went Tautog Wild on this one!
Awesome Fish of a lifetime Ken. Congrats!!
Now,that’s a beast of a Tog,congrats!
Oh my God a dream come true congratulations !!!!!!!!!!!!
I’d sure like to see the tackle Ken and Capt. Kane used to land that brute…
congratulations. great catch. it would have been really cool if you could have kept him alive, got his weight and measurement,applied for the record and then released him. they could have made you a mount from your info. that would have been really cool. maybe you could have even tagged him. anyhow great catch
Really?
Congrats on the biggest lips I have ever seen hey just think she is not alone down deep in the salt . That’s why we go fishing !!!
Truly TOGZILLA!!!! Congrats from a fellow tog lover…..
WOW…been chasing blackfish for 40 years off long island…caught my share of 10-13 pounders…NEVER saw anything like that. What bait? Well done sir!
Really? You REALLY think Jesus had something to do with this? Maybe he should pay a little more attention to the rest of the world. How arrogant do you have to be to think Jesus personally caught you a fish!?
Nice catch, though. I wish I caught it.
Hi Ken, Dom DeVito any opening to fish with u guys this year Dom DeVito. Howard Beach NY. Tel 917-693-5888. Congratulations on your Catch Again Awsome.