Angler Battles 4-Foot Beast Off NC Coast, Breaks State Record With 56-Pound Catch
NORTH CAROLINA — What started as a casual fishing trip off the Outer Banks turned into a record-breaking showdown for one Virginia angler — who reeled in a 56-pound Almaco Jack after a 45-minute battle that left him exhausted but victorious.
Record-breaking fish caught after one last cast
On June 7, Warren Poirier of Charles City, Virginia, joined a fishing group out of a Hatteras marina with Captain James Bowman at the helm. Poirier had one goal in mind: catch a big jack he could mount.
As the day came to an end, he asked the captain for one last spot to try his luck — and that’s when it happened. One drop of the line, one strike — and the fight was on.
Using light tackle and a spinning reel, Poirier fought the fish for 45 grueling minutes. Meanwhile, his friends onboard teased him while hauling in multiple smaller catches.
A dockside surprise: ‘That’s the biggest jack I’ve ever seen’
Once back at the Hatteras dock, the scale confirmed the fish’s massive size: 56 pounds and 46 inches long, crushing the previous state Almaco Jack record of 33 pounds set in 2024.
“We put the fish out on the dock and one of the other captains came up and said, ‘Oh my God, that’s the biggest Almaco Jack I’ve ever seen in my life,’” Poirier recalled.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries later certified the record on June 27, making Poirier’s catch official.
Right gear, right moment, right memory
Poirier caught the fish using a Shimano Trevala rod paired with a Saltist 5000 reel and 80-pound braid. He credited his success to Captain Bowman, who was equally excited about the record.
“He wanted me to get that record as much as I did,” Poirier said. In a Facebook post, he publicly thanked the captain for making it happen.
What’s the biggest fish you’ve ever caught?
Have you had your own unforgettable fishing moment on the Carolina or Georgia coast? Share your photos and stories with the community at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com — we might feature your catch next!
