Commission also swears in new Charter Boat representative
Mississippi’s Commission on Marine Resources certified two state record saltwater fish and swore in a new member at its regular monthly meeting Tuesday in Biloxi.
Both records were set using conventional tackled, and, one of them, a 1-pound, 11.2-ounce lionfish, is still awaiting possible certification or a new world record.
Jason Jones of Biloxi caught the large lionfish, an invasive non-native species beginning to spread across the northern Gulf of Mexico, fishing oilrigs on Feb. 7. This was the first lionfish caught on conventional tackle reported to MDMR.
The panel also certified Samuel Sandoz’s 18-pound, 4.17-ounce tilefish, which beat the previous record (14-8) by nearly four pounds. Sandoz, of Biloxi, caught the fish April 3.
In other news from the meeting, Capt. Ron Harmon of Gulfport was sworn in as the newest Commission member. Harmon was appointed by Gov. Phil Bryant to represent the charter boat industry. His appointment was confirmed by the Senate in March.
Harmon has operated Capt. Ron’s Charters LLC since 1989, and also supervises the marine unit for the Harrison County Sheriff’s office, a job he’s held since 2008.
Harmon replaces Jimmy Taylor, whose term expired June 30, 2014.
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