By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer
A Southport fisherman has made North Carolina fishing history after landing the state’s first officially recognized Unicorn Filefish record, according to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries.
Mr. Jim Bickerstaff caught the 6-pound, 1.6-ounce fish on September 29 while fishing about 45 miles offshore of Southport. The catch measured 25.5 inches long with a 17-inch girth.
State fisheries officials said no previous North Carolina record had been established for the species, making Bickerstaff’s catch the inaugural state record for Unicorn Filefish.
The species is known for its unusual appearance, including an elongated, pointed snout and a prominent upright first dorsal spine, features that inspired its common name.
According to the Division of Marine Fisheries, the current world-record Unicorn Filefish weighed 9 pounds, 7 ounces and was caught in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, in 2023.
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