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HOUSTON - A Houston man has officially become a state record holder in fishing after a nearly 1,000-pound catch a year ago.
884-pound Blue Fin Tuna catch
Texas Parks and Wildlife state David L. Essingler set a new state record for his 2025 catch of an 884-pound Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna. Essingler caught the fish by rod and reel on April 10, 2025, on the Gulf coast.
According to Coastal Fisheries TPWD, bluefin tuna are native to western and eastern Atlantic Ocean. The average weight of an adult Atlantic bluefin tuna ranges from 496 to 551 pounds.
Photo Credit: Coastal Fisheries - Texas Parks and Wildlife
2025 record-setting fish by Texas anglers
Several records were set in Texas by anglers through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Angler Recognition Program in 2025.
TPWD says there were 600 entries from anglers in 2025 who submitted their catches.
One man from Universal City, Charles Dewey, set the record for most catch awards with 52 catches in 2025.
A state record was set for the lightest catch in 2025 by Killian Speers who caught a half-pound Warmouth.
Dig deeper:
See more from the record-setting fish here.
Learn more about how to submit your catch under the TPWD Angler Recognition Program here.
The Source: Information provided by Texas Parks and Wildlife.