New Jersey angler lands giant albacore, breaks 38-year-old record

A New Jersey angler's October catch of a 78-pound albacore has replaced a state record that had stood since 1984.

The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife announced Wednesday that it has approved Matthew Florio's record application for his catch aboard the Luna Sea.

Florio was fishing at the east elbow of Hudson Canyon and using a butter fish as bait when the massive albacore struck. The albacore, which measured 48-3/8 inches and boasted a girth of 37 inches, beat the precious record by 3.4 ounces.

The world record for albacore stands at 88 pounds, 2 ounces. That catch occurred at Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, in November 1977.

Albacore, commonly referred to as longfin tuna, are a migratory species found globally in tropical and warm temperate waters.