The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife has certified a new state record thresher shark.

Chris Chalmers of Narberth, Pennsylvania caught a 617-pound thresher shark on October 8, thereby claiming record status. The huge shark was taken off Cape May and weighed three pounds more than the previous record caught off Cape May in 2003.

Chalmers was out fishing with friends on the privately owned boat, Irish Mist, on the morning of October 8. Captain Ed Donovan and Mate Doug Fell started the group off chunking with butterfish in an area southeast of Cape May known as the “Cigar.” The 80-pound test line Chalmers was using was baited with mackerel and ready to be tossed overboard.

At 10:20 a.m., the thresher took the bait. Chalmers, who ironically is not an avid fisherman, fought the giant shark for two and a half hours before it could finally be landed.

The thresher measured 15 feet 10 inches in length with an 86-inch tail, and sported an impressive 63-inch girth. The shark was in fact so big, the team had to tow it back to the dock!

Congratulations Chris!

Thanks to New Jersey Dept of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife for the write-up...

Thanks to Chris for giving us a call and letting us use these photos!

What makes this even more impressive is that this is the first shark trip Chris was on, not bad for a first timer.