VA State Record Sheepshead Landed

At right: Arun Nhek holding his record 2005 sheepshead.

A 20-lb., 12-oz. sheepshead caught on October 6th by Arun Nhek of Newport News has been certified as the new Virginia state record by the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament.

Nhek caught his fish while fishing on the Seagull Fishing Pier at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. The sheepshead, which measured 30.5 inches in length and had a girth of 27 inches, was fooled by a piece clam.

Nhek was fishing next to the rocks of the First Island with 12 pound test line when he hooked his recordsetting sheepshead. After staying away from the rocks initially, the fish made a couple of strong runs towards them. Nhek ran down the pier away from the rocks to get a better angle and leverage to keep the fish away from the rocks. Even so the line was badly frayed during the fight. After a battle that lasted 10 to 15 minutes a net was lowered to the water and the fish was safely hoisted onto the pier.

The prior state record of 19-lb., 3 oz. was caught at the Second Island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel by Jeff Hutton of Virginia Beach. Hutton caught his fish on July 25, 2004.

For more information, contact Claude Bain, Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 968 S. Oriole Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, (757) 491-5160, mrcswt@visi.net.