Gerlach apparently spent several hours waiting for a fish to bite about 70 miles offshore near Washington Canyon when the large fish took the bait. It took over three hours to reel in the fish, which has been referred to as a "grander" blue marlin. The fish was weighed and certified by Francis Ingram, one of the tournament weighmasters. A biologist for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources confirmed the catch. The previous state record had been set 12 years ago.