The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has announced the establishment of a new state record for White Trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex). This record was set by Thomas Woo from Wilmington, who caught a 19-pound, 3.2-ounce specimen offshore from Wrightsville Beach on May 8, 2025.
Prior to this catch, there were no established state records for this species in the United States. The existing world record, recognized by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), was set in Japan in 1998.
Woo was fishing approximately 55 miles offshore south of Wrightsville Beach in waters 150 feet deep when he hooked the fish using a slow-pitch jig. The fish measured 32.2 inches in fork length and had a total length of 37.8 inches.
The catch was verified by fisheries staff at the Wilmington DMF office, where it was weighed. A genetic sample was also collected for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences due to the rarity of this species being encountered by recreational anglers off the North Carolina coast. Typically, when encountered, White Trevally average around 16 inches in size.
For further details on state record fish, individuals are encouraged to visit the division’s State Saltwater Records webpage or contact the North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Tournament staff via email at saltwater.citations@deq.nc.gov.
A photo of Woo with his catch can be downloaded at https://www.deq.nc.gov/media/48309.
