A Burien angler has earned a place in the state record books after recently reeling in a hefty blue rockfish off the coast of Clallam County.
Burien’s Russell Skurski caught the 5.16-pound, 19-inch-long fish on June 26, 2025 near Neah Bay, setting a new Washington state sport fishing record for the blue rockfish species, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) confirmed.
“That fish is quite the catch!” the department wrote in a social media post congratulating Skurski on his record-breaking catch.
WDFW said that this species was officially split from the closely related deacon rockfish in 2015. Though similar in appearance, the blue rockfish is distinguished by dark blotches, whereas deacon rockfish show more uniform speckling. Black rockfish, often mistaken for both species, tend to be grayer with saddle-like markings and more elongated bodies.
More than 30 species of rockfish are found in Washington waters. Learn more on the WDFW website, including a printable species identification guide, at wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/bottomfish/rockfish.
Photos shared by Skurski show the fish being weighed and measured at port in Sekiu:
Anglers interested in learning more about bottomfish species or how to submit a potential record catch can visit wdfw.wa.gov.
“Congratulations on your new state record, Russell!” WDFW said.
Photos by Russell Skurski of his state record blue rockfish being weighed and measured at port in Sekiu. #FishWashington
