While blackfishing off Rhode Island on Sunday, November 9, Vlad Vaynshteyn, fishing aboard Tall Tailz Charters with Captain Connor MacLeod, caught a pending state record tautog.
The official weight, documented at Quaker Lane Bait and Tackle, was 23.94 pounds, with a length of 33 inches, 1.5 pounds larger than the previous record.
This is the second year in a row that the Rhode Island state record for tautog has been broken. In 2024, Vinny Simms, Jr., while fishing with Captain Rob Taylor of Newport Sportfishing Charters, caught a 22.33-pound tog.
That fish toppled the previous state record, caught by 17-year-old Paul Newman in 2021, a 21.57-pounder, also with Captain Macleod.
Read Captain Macleod’s account of the catch below:
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Macleod and Vaynshteyn worked to keep the fish alive for the official weigh-in, in hopes of releasing it, a practice that’s become commonplace among Rhode Island captains looking to preserve the state’s trophy tog fishing. Despite their best efforts, the fish did not survive, but as a record catch, it will be properly honored by the crew.
sad the fish didn’t make it out alive but appreciate the effort.
As I am happy for the gentleman that caught this amazing fish I.am equally disappointed and sad this animal had to lose its life because of a foolish rule it can’t be weighed at sea. This and many past record holders deserved better than that, this fish took decades to reach this size and fathered thousands of some of the fish we catch every season, We have to do better So sad…A total unnecessary waste