It was another big year in 2025 for the Florida Saltwater State Records program, with 18 records approved. The program has seen a drastic increase in participation since launching the Adult and Youth Length and Youth All Tackle categories last year.

This year, the adults had a big showing with six records approved including a new yellow jack All-Tackle record at 27.6 pounds, which was caught via spearfishing by Nathanial Campbell. Watson Eugene Wilson and Renee Knight both set new Adult Length records, for red drum (38.75 inches) and snook (36 inches) respectively, but in an end-of-the-year upset, Carl Caradonna submitted a 40-inch snook to close out the year as the snook Adult Length record holder. Billy Ray Pierce and Joel Hierholzer also received All-Tackle records with a red porgy (6.74 pounds) and Atlantic bonito (9.56 pounds), respectively.

While the adults had an impressive showing, the youth records again took center stage with 12 records earned, with veteran record hunter Julia Bernstein leading the pack with five records to her name this year alone. Julia claimed the Youth Length record for permit and Youth All-Tackle records for vermilion snapper, crevalle jack, blackfin tuna and mutton snapper. Her mutton snapper record was broken just a few months later by Jeremiah Pelequin II with a 15.7-pound mutton. Keeping the excitement going, Cash Ward snapped up the Youth All-Tackle spotted seatrout record early in the year with a 3.49-pound fish. This stood until December when it was broken by a 3.7-pound fish caught by Chase Curry. Other youth anglers claiming top honors in the Youth All-Tackle category are Theo Zellers with a sheepshead (3.98 pounds), Harrison Farshid with a black sea bass (5.4 pounds), Carson Atcheson with a tripletail (18.4 pounds) and Brandon Canedy with a Spanish mackerel (3.31 pounds).

“It has been so exciting to see anglers of all ages taking advantage of these opportunities in the Fishing Capital of the World. The participation we have seen from both adults and youth setting these records and engaging in our angler recognition programs really emphasize the passion Florida has for fishing,” said Jessica McCawley, Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries Management.

Despite another banner year for saltwater records, there is still plenty of opportunity for you to get in on the action with two Adult Length record vacancies and multiple Youth All-Tackle vacancies.

Visit CatchaFloridaMemory.com/Records to review open categories, information on current records and full applicable rules. To qualify for a record, a completed application form must be submitted with the angler’s signature and a notary stamp. Applications must be accompanied by digital or print photographs clearly showing the gear used to make the catch, the angler with their catch, various views of the fish for identification purposes and required weight or length verification photos. Videos will be accepted for Youth and Adult Length record categories. Youth applications must be submitted within three months of the catch date.

As always, we strongly encourage practicing best fish handling, especially for the Length category submissions, using wet hands and keeping fingers out of the eyes and gills. We also encourage Length category submissions to be kept in the water during measuring or to wet the length measuring device.

Visit MyFWC.com/FishHandling or BonefishTarponTrust.org/Bonefish-Handling for more best handling guidelines for bonefish.