David Ashman catches new NC state record cubera snapper

Record fish weighed 85 pounds

David Ashman of Mohnton, PA caught North Carolina’s new state record cubera snapper, an 85-pound fish, while fishing out of Hatteras on July 31, 2026.

The new record fish crushed the previous state record, which weighed 58 pounds, 8 ounces, and was caught in 2022 by Thomas Madsen.

Ashman caught the fish while on the head boat Miss Hatteras. He was fishing with 50-pound mono leader attached to 40-pound braided line spooled onto an Avet MXL reel mounted to a Shimano Trevala rod, while using squid for bait.

The snapper was slightly longer than 56 inches, total length, and had a girth of 40 inches. It took about 15 minutes for Ashman to land the fish.

Although he lives in Pennsylvania, Ashman enjoys bottom fishing offshore, and said he frequently visits North Carolina’s coast to do so on various head boats.

If you’re interested in seeing more of North Carolina’s state record saltwater fish, click here.