14-year-old Angler Catches State Record Muskie on the Potomac

     Mercersville, MD -- A 12 year-old West Virginia boy has caught a 31.75-pound muskellunge, setting a new state record on May 10. On April 14, Kenneth Files of Falling Waters, West Virginia and his father were fishing in the Potomac River, which was in a flood stage. Kenneth spotted an eddy and cast a large white plastic grub lure into the stained waters and a large fish took the bait. He eventually steered the fish, measuring 45-inches long with an astounding girth of 24 inches, into shallow waters.
     Kenneth and his father registered their catch at the Maryland Fishing Challenge Award Center at Wolf’s On the Square in Williamsport. After getting an approximate weight, it appeared that the fish could be a Maryland State record. The Files iced the fish until they could get it to a state-certified scale at a local feed and grain store.
     “The waters of the upper Potomac River support a vibrant, self-sustaining muskie fishery that has gained popularity with anglers,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Biologist John Mullican, who verified the species and weight of the fish. “With the success of the pure-strain muskie, tiger muskies have not been stocked since 2006, and few of the sterile hybrids remain. Muskies are sometimes referred to as ‘the fish of a thousand casts.’ Anglers typically fish for many hours to catch one. Kenneth's record muskie was a female estimated to be 11 years old.”
     The previous muskellunge record of 28.25 pounds was caught in 2004 by Matt Deal in the Upper Potomac.
Kenneth and other Maryland anglers who register a citation-award eligible fish will receive free admission to the grand finale of the 2011 Maryland Fishing Challenge during the Maryland Seafood Festival at Sandy Point State Park on September 10. Participants should bring their eligible fish to an authorized citation award center (certain tackle shops and charter boats) to receive an entry ticket and invitation to the event. For details, go to www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/challenge/index.asp
     To keep on top of the fishing action in Maryland, check in online with the DNR’s Angler’s Log and weekly fishing reports--www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/log.