Fluke Records

Doormat fluke fight as good as they taste. Have you ever caught a monster flatfish that rivals these world and state records?

by John Andre

World Record

World Record Fluke Charles Nappi
Bob Sansonetti from Freeport Bait and Tackle, a friend of Charlie Nappi’s, holds the mount of the Fluke Duke’s 22.44-pound world record doormat. Nappi caught the monster summer flattie at Montauk in 1975. Photo by Tom Schlichter. (outdoortom.com)

Captain Charles Nappi from Hicksville N.Y. holds the current fluke world record. Captain Nappi was fishing off of Montauk in 1975 when he landed his gigantic 22-pound, 4-ounce flatfish. Nappi’s record was almost dethroned in 2007 by Monica Oswald.

Monica landed a monster 24-pound fluke. However, the IGFA disqualified her catch after disclosing that she rested her rod on a railing during the fight. Oswald’s catch would have eclipsed the current record by just under 2 pounds. 

Connecticut

In 2013, Tobey Sweet reeled in a 14.85-pound fluke, measuring 31 inches in length. Sweet was fishing an incoming tide when he caught the record fluke while drifting a whole squid rigged with a white skirt.

Massachusetts

Joseph Czapiga caught the Massachusetts state Record in 1980. Czapiga was fishing off Nomans island when he hooked into his monster fluke. The flatfish weighed 21 pounds and 8 ounces, only a pound shy of the 1975 world record. 

New Jersey

Walter Lubin caught the New Jersey state record fluke in 1953. Lubin was fishing off Cape May when he pulled his 19-pound 12-ounce doormat off the bottom and into his boat. 

Rhode Island 

G. Farmer holds the Rhode Island state record. Farmer was fishing the Narrow River in 1962 when he landed his doormat. The fluke weighed in at 17 pounds and 8 ounces. 

6 on “Fluke Records”

  1. Donald Gaynor

    Who held the NY state fluke record prior tp Captain Nappi?

  2. Maryann Nappi

    Curious where is the flounder that Charlie Nappi caught?

    1. Frank B

      I fish Montauk regularly and was told by an old timer that Charlie Nappi actually caught his doormat fluke while diamond jigging the North Rips of Montauk for bluefish. Not sure how true it is but seeing pictures of Charlie holding the rod he caught the fluke with i believe it to be true.

      1. Frank Ortolano

        Last time I seen Charlie’s
        Fluke mount was hanging up at Salivars bar/restaurant.
        I heard Charlie was taking a party shark fishing and asked his customers if they would like to give fluke fishing a try and they agreed. History was made.

      2. Lester Gensey

        Not true. There is a video where he actually explains the stinger rig he used to catch the fish. He caught it using a piece of cut flounder.

      3. Lester Gensey

        I stand corrected Frank. He was fishing for bass for the markets. And a snapper blue hit his line and while reeling it in the flounder ate the blue and that’s how history was made!

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