Sherry Countryman lands a new state record false albacore

Sherry Countryman woke up on Thursday morning and headed to her boat, Surprise Catch, with her fiancé Steve Brink and friend Mel Ben David. The trio left with Derby dreams and returned home with the largest false albacore in Massachusetts history.  

Sherry, Mel, and Steve were casting into the waters off Nantucket. Steve was at the helm, and got the ladies on fish.

“They were on top,” said Sherry. “We were casting into them. Then they went deep. I cast once more and saw the fish come up out of the water and grab my lure.” 

“He took off for Ireland. I tightened my drag. I wanted him to know I was there. It was a battle of wills. He was holding. I was holding,” said Sherry. “I kept saying, ‘This is a huge fish. This is a huge fish!’” 

Sherry weighed her albie on the boat and watched the scale register 20.5 pounds. In that moment, she knew she had a Derby contender, but she had no idea she had a new state record. 

“I was talking to Chris Hall. I told him how much the fish weighed, and he said to call Steve Morris,” said Sherry, who hung up and called Steve. She then drove over to Dick’s Bait and Tackle to weigh her albie on a state record official scale.

At 4:30 pm Thursday, Sherry Countryman claimed the Massachusetts state record for false albacore with her 19.91-pound albie.

“The state was just here an hour before and certified my scale,” said Steve, owner of Dick’s Bait and Tackle Shop. “It was crazy!”

The previous record holder was Donald MacGillvray, an Island fishing icon. Don caught his fish on September 27, 1990. Don’s false albacore weighed 19 pounds and 5 ounces.

Don caught his fish during the 45th Derby. Thirty-six years later, Sherry walked up the ramp at Derby Headquarters and placed her fish on the table before Weighmaster Mike Cassidy. Mike put Sherry’s boat false albacore on the scale, and we all cheered when the scale registered 19.91 pounds.

Mike carried Sherry’s albie to the filet table for Cooper Fersen to cut open and inspect the contents of its stomach. Cooper cleared the fish while Committee Member Dave Balon completed the official Grand Leader form with Sherry.

When the official process was complete, Sherry posed for pictures with a group of friends present to cheer her on. “The only thing that makes fishing worthwhile is the friendships. The camaraderie and companionship are what’s important,” said Sherry.  

Sherry wasn’t the only new leader on Thursday. The Derby crew saw seven additional lead changes.  

Jason Kornalski carried in the first lead change at 8:15 am with his 4.22-pound junior shore bonito. Jay Brown arrived a few minutes before 9 am and weighed in a new Shore Bonito Grand Leader at 5.34 pounds. 

The evening shift saw an additional six lead changes. Sherry was the first with her giant albie. Then Ed Amaral took over the Shore Bluefish Grand Leader position with a 9.63-pound blue.  Abe Pieciak walked in two minutes later with a new leader (4.90 pounds) in the Flyrod Shore Bonito division. Janna O’Shaughnessy carried in a new Boat Bluefish Grand Leader (14.61 pounds) at 7:18 pm. Twenty minutes later, Zachary Horrocks took the lead in the Flyrod Boat Bonito division with an 8.81-pound bone. Shortly before evening weigh-in closed, Nils Leaf claimed Boat Bluefish Grand Leader (16.26 pounds) position from Janna O’Shaughessy. 

It was a fun night to be at weigh-in and hear the cheers and see the smiling faces. If you haven’t been to the weigh-in, this coming weekend could be exciting.