A Northern California fisherman is awaiting confirmation of a potential state and world record after reeling in a colossal canary rockfish weighing a staggering 10.25 pounds.
A Remarkable Catch on a Rainy Day
Brendan Walsh, a 26-year-old angler from Mendocino County, made the extraordinary catch on Tuesday, 19 December 2025. He was fishing with his father, Will Walsh, off the coast of Albion, approximately 150 miles north of San Francisco. After a day targeting yellowtail in cold, wet conditions, Brendan decided on one final stop at a deeper location.
It was there he hooked and landed the enormous canary rockfish, a species he described as typically small and scrawny, averaging around 3 pounds. "It was a fluke," Walsh admitted. "I've never seen anything like it." The fish measured 2.25 feet in length.
The Path to Record Verification
Walsh has formally submitted his catch for verification to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which maintains the state's angling records. The current state record, also caught in Mendocino County, is a 9-pound canary rockfish landed in November 2024.
Following the required procedure, Walsh had the fish weighed at an authorised local fish market. A state fish and wildlife scientist then visited to verify the measurements and sign the necessary paperwork, which requires witness details.
He has also submitted an application to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) in Florida. The standing world record for the species is a 10-pound canary rockfish caught in 1986. Walsh speculated that larger specimens may have been caught historically but never formally documented for record consideration. The IGFA had not responded to a request for comment on the Friday following the catch.
From the Ocean to the Dinner Plate
After ensuring all documentation was complete on Tuesday, the record-breaking fish met a fitting and delicious end. Walsh's mother, Deirdre Lamb, prepared the rockfish on Wednesday, frying it with garlic and butter. Walsh confirmed the rockfish was delicious, providing a celebratory meal for the fortunate fishing family.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, canary rockfish can grow up to 2.5 feet long and reach 10 pounds, making Walsh's catch a true specimen at the upper limit of the species' known size.
