The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has certified a new state record African pompano.
Toby Grantham, of Knightdale, N.C., reeled in the 46-pound fish on May 11 while fishing off Atlantic Beach.
The catch bests the previous state record of 40 pounds, 10 ounces, caught off Southport in 2003. The world record African Pompano weighed 50 pounds, 8 ounces and was caught off Daytona Beach, Fla. in 1990.
Grantham’s fish measured 47.5 inches total length (from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail) and 43.5 inches fork length (from the tip of the nose to the fork in the tail). Its girth measured 35 inches.
He caught the fish using a MC Works 536 HS rod and Shimano Stella 10000 SWB reel with a vertical jig lure on 60-pound test line.
Grantham will receive a certificate and be listed on the Division of Marine Fisheries website as the state African pompano record holder.
Grantham also holds the state record for scamp for a 27-pound, 1-ounce fish he caught off Atlantic Beach in 2012.
For more information, contact Carole Willis, the state Division of Marine Fisheries’ sportfishing specialist, at 252-808-8081 or carole.y.willis@ncdenr.gov.
