Georgia reference
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Georgia State Record Fish
Freshwater records from WRD and the men's and women's saltwater game fish records kept by CRD.
For weighing a catchPiscifun Lip gripper with digital scale27% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Chattahoochee River: John Phelan, CC BY 4.0
Freshwater
Georgia freshwater record fish
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catfish, Blue | 110 lb, 6 oz | Chattahoochee River | October 17, 2020 |
| Catfish, Flathead | 83 lb, 0 oz | Altamaha River | June 22, 2006 |
| Catfish, Flathead | 83 lb, 0 oz | Altamaha River | July 11, 2010 |
| Bass, Striped | 63 lb, 0 oz | Oconee River | May 30, 1967 |
| Bass, Striped | 63 lb, 0 oz | Lake Russell | April 3, 2009 |
| Catfish, Channel | 44 lb, 12 oz | Altamaha River | May 18, 1972 |
| Muskellunge | 38 lb, 0 oz | Lake Blue Ridge | 1957 |
| Carp, Common | 35 lb, 12 oz | Lake Jackson | 1972 |
| Gar, Longnose | 31 lb, 14 oz | Lake Blackshear | March 5, 2026 |
| Bass, Hybrid | 25 lb, 8 oz | Lake Chatuge | May 1, 1995 |
| Bass, Largemouth | 22 lb, 4 oz | Montgomery Lake | June 2, 1932 |
| Trout, Brown | 20 lb, 14 oz | Chattahoochee River | July 27, 2014 |
| Pike, Northern | 18 lb, 2 oz | Lake Rabun | June 27, 1982 |
| Trout, Rainbow | 17 lb, 8 oz | Soque River | May 7, 2004 |
| Bowfin | 16 lb, 3 oz | Suwannee River | June 21, 2014 |
| Walleye | 14 lb, 2 oz | Lake Rabun | February 19, 2016 |
| Pickerel, Chain | 9 lb, 6 oz | Homerville | 1961 |
| Catfish, White | 8 lb, 10 oz | Savannah River | June 10, 1996 |
| Bass, Shoal | 8 lb, 5 oz | Chattahoochee River | December 23, 2021 |
| Bass, Shoal | 8 lb, 5 oz | Flint River | April 16, 2022 |
| Shad, American | 8 lb, 3 oz | Savannah River | April 5, 1986 |
| Bass, Spotted | 8 lb, 2 oz | Lake Burton | February 23, 2005 |
| Bass, Smallmouth | 7 lb, 2 oz | Lake Chatuge | March 28, 1973 |
| Trout, Brook | 5 lb, 10 oz | Waters Creek | March 29, 1986 |
| Bullhead, Brown | 5 lb, 8 oz | O.F. Veal Pond | May 22, 1978 |
| Bass, White | 5 lb, 1 oz | Lake Lanier | June 16, 1971 |
| Crappie, White | 5 lb, 0 oz | Bibb County Pond | April 10, 1984 |
| Bullhead, Yellow | 4 lb, 15 oz | Ogeechee River | October 12, 2003 |
| Crappie, Black | 4 lb, 4 oz | Acrees Lake | June 1, 1971 |
| Crappie, Black | 4 lb, 4 oz | Lake Spivey | 1975 |
| Sauger | 4 lb, 3 oz | Clarks Hill Lake | April 5, 1986 |
| Sunfish, Redear | 4 lb, 2 oz | Richmond County Pond | June 6, 1995 |
| Bass, Suwannee | 3 lb, 9 oz | Ochlocknee River | October 6, 1984 |
| Bass, Redeye | 3 lb, 7 oz | Lake Hartwell | April 17, 2004 |
| Sunfish, Bluegill | 3 lb, 5 oz | Shamrock Lake | July 3, 1977 |
| Pickerel, Redfin | 2 lb, 10 oz | Lewis Pond | July 7, 1982 |
| Shad, Hickory | 2 lb, 10 oz | Ogeechee River | February 20, 2022 |
| Perch, Yellow | 2 lb, 9 oz | Savannah River | February 27, 2013 |
| Perch, Yellow | 2 lb, 9 oz | Lake Burton | February 18, 2024 |
| Sunfish, Warmouth | 2 lb, 0 oz | Private Pond | May 4, 1974 |
| Sunfish, Redbreast | 1 lb, 12 oz | Satilla River | May 7, 2022 |
| Sunfish, Green | 1 lb, 7 oz | Private Pond | February 25, 2006 |
| Sunfish, Flier | 1 lb, 4 oz | Lowndes County Pond | February 26, 1996 |
| Bass, Rock | 1 lb, 0 oz | South Chickamauga Creek | April 6, 2024 |
| Sunfish, Spotted | 0 lb, 13 oz | Suwannee River | May 5, 2025 |
| Bass, Shadow | 0 lb, 10 oz | Flint River | June 1, 2016 |
WRD freshwater state record list; angler names left out. Checked October 2026.
Men's saltwater
Georgia men's saltwater game fish records
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shark, Tiger | 794 lb. 0 oz. | St. Simons Sound near STS | August 10, 1975 |
| Shark, Hammerhead | 770 lb. 0 oz. | Little Cumberland Island, 80' hole | August 12, 1973 |
| Marlin, Blue | 491 lb. 8 oz. | Near Little Tybee Island, Ga. | June 20, 1985 |
| Shark, Bull | 455 lb. 0 oz. | Between buoys 1 & 2 St. Simons Channel | July 9, 1978 |
| Shark, Mako | 440 lb. 0 oz. | The Deli Offshore Savannah | April 26, 2017 |
| Shark, Lemon | 375 lb. 0 oz. | St. Andrews Sound, 80' hole | July 4, 1974 |
| Shark, Sand Tiger | 290 lb. 0 oz. | 1 mile off Bradley Point, South Channel, Ossabaw Sound | May 14, 1977 |
| Shark, Dusky | 272 lbs. | Between buoys STS sea buoy | October 22, 1978 |
| Grouper, Warsaw | 252 lb. 0 oz. | Gulf Stream off Savannah | February 22, 1981 |
| Tuna, Yellowfin | 249 lb. 2 oz. | 1980 | |
| Shark, Nurse | 244 lb. 0 oz. | Sapelo Buoy Channel | August 8, 1981 |
| Swordfish | 205 lb. 8 oz. | 15 miles east of Navy Tower R3 in 1,500 feet of water | May 31, 2014 |
| Tarpon | 161 lb. 0 oz. | Marker R218, Buttermilk Sound | July 30, 1995 |
| Shark, Sandbar (Brown) | 158 lb. 8 oz. | Jekyll Fishing Pier, south end | April 11, 1979 |
| Shark, Spinner | 145 lb. 5.92 oz. | 5 miles east of Sea Island | June 1, 2009 |
| Shark, Blacktip | 131 lb. 0 oz. | Wassaw Sound at No. 13 can. | May 20, 1978 |
| Grouper, Goliath | 124 lb. 0 oz. | Snapper Banks off Savannah, Ga. | August 15, 1976 |
| Wahoo | 123 lb. 3 oz. | Triple ledge off Sapelo | June 24, 2000 |
| Shark, Thresher | 116 lb. 0 oz. | WR2 | March 20, 1976 |
| Amberjack, Greater | 92 lb. 1 oz. | Reef J | June 25, 1975 |
| Drum, Black | 92 lb. 0 oz. | Cumberland Sound Jetties | April 3, 2010 |
| Cobia | 88 lb. 12 oz. | Artificial Reef A, 7 nautical miles east-southeast of Tybee Island, Ga. | May 12, 1985 |
| Mackerel, King | 75 lb. 12 oz. | Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary | June 13, 2004 |
| Dolphin | 68 lb. 9.28 oz. | South Ledge | May 5, 2025 |
| Dolphin | 68 lb. 1.6 oz. | Deli | April 26, 2022 |
| Sailfish | 65 lb. 0 oz. | NOAA buoy 45100/60707 | June 27, 1981 |
| Barracuda, Great | 54 lb. 8 oz | East of Navy Tower R2 | June 26, 1999 |
| Marlin, White | 49 lb. 12 oz. | Buoy W2 of Savannah | June 21, 1986 |
| Drum, Red (Channel Bass) | 46 lb. 7 oz. | Artificial Reef KC | November 23, 1986 |
| Jack, Almaco | 42 lb. 15 oz. | R4 | April 14, 2026 |
| Tuna, Blackfin | 40 lb. 8 oz. | Triple ledge offshore of Savannah | April 3, 2016 |
| Pompano (African) | 40 lb. 0.48 oz. | Navy Tower R4 | March 13, 2021 |
| Tripletail | 38 lb. 14 oz. | Hampton River | May 19, 2005 |
| Jack, Crevalle | 38 lb. 8 oz. | Near Little Tybee Island, Ga. | August 25, 2001 |
| Grouper, Gag | 38 lb. 0 oz. | East of Navy Tower R-2 | July 10, 2002 |
| Snapper, Red | 37 lb. 8 oz. | Savannah Snapper Banks | September 25, 1988 |
| Grouper, Scamp | 27 lb. 2.24 oz. | East of Navy Tower R-5 | June 28, 2014 |
| Grouper, Red | 26 lb. 6.4 oz. | East of R4 Tower in 175 feet of water | October 4, 2021 |
| Shark, Bonnethead | 22 lb. 7.68 oz. | Gould's Inlet, St. Simons Island (surf cast at mouth of inlet) | August 16, 2009 |
| Tunny, Little | 22 lb. 1 oz. | Gulf Stream, 70 nautical miles east of Ossabaw Island | April 27, 2017 |
| Snapper, Mutton | 18 lb. 6.56 oz. | 8 miles each of Navy Tower R4 | June 30, 2019 |
| Bluefish | 17 lb. 12 oz. | Artificial Reef G | April 24, 1980 |
| Runner, Rainbow | 17 lb. 12 oz. | Snapper Banks, 39 NM SE of Tybee Island. | October 6, 1984 |
| Porgy (Composite) | 15 lbs. 14 oz. | Savannah Snapper Banks | December 14, 1988 |
| Flounder (Composite) | 15 lbs. 2 oz. | Pelican Bank, north jetties, St. Marys. | May 2, 1982 |
| Sheepshead | 14 lb. 14.37 oz. | Sunbury, Dickenson Creek | January 27, 2023 |
| Sheepshead | 14 lb. 14 oz. | Delegal Creek | March 3, 2002 |
| Spadefish, Atlantic | 13 lb. 2.08 oz. | Artificial Reef KC | July 8, 2004 |
| Snapper, Gray | 12 lb. 6 oz. | Brunswick Snapper Banks | August 1, 2011 |
| Gray Triggerfish | 11 lb. 3 oz. | Savannah Snapper Banks | September 15, 1989 |
| Snapper, Cubera | 10 lb. 11.2 oz. | About two miles west southwest of Navy Tower M2R6 | July 19, 2019 |
| Snook | 10 lb. 2 oz. | Mouth of Kings Creek, St. Simons Island | March 18, 1990 |
| Seatrout, Spotted | 9 lbs. 7 oz. | Christmas Creek | July 6, 1976 |
| Triggerfish, Queen | 9 lb. 6.24 oz. | South Ledge | May 17, 2024 |
| Mullet (Striped) | 9 lb. 3 oz. | Darien River at Generals Cut | December 13, 1994 |
| Mackerel, Spanish | 8 lb. 4 oz. | 5 miles east of buoy Y5 | May 26, 1991 |
| Weakfish (Summer Trout) | 6 lb. 8 oz. | 1976 | |
| Black Sea Bass | 5 lb. 12 oz. | East of Navy Tower R2 | March 26, 1998 |
| Croaker, Atlantic | 5 lb. 12 oz. | Under Sidney Lanier Bridge, Brunswick River | March 27, 1977 |
| Black Sea Bass | 5 lb. 11.68 oz. | East of Navy Tower R2 | April 20, 1994 |
| Snapper, Vermilion | 5 lb. 11.68 oz. | Artificial Reef DW | April 11, 2022 |
| Porgy (Red) | 5 lb. 6 oz. | W2 at 180' depth | May 30, 1980 |
| Pompano (Florida) | 5 lb. 4 oz. | Approximately 2 miles out of Sapelo Sound | August 18, 2002 |
| Snapper, Yellowtail | 5lb. 0 oz. | Bearing 085 degrees approximately 70 miles from St. Marys jetties | October 10, 2014 |
| Ladyfish | 3 lbs. 12 oz. | Hampton River, St. Simons Island, Ga. | August 9, 1977 |
| Snapper, Lane | 2 lb. 15.8 oz. | 2024 | |
| Pinfish | 2 lb. 3.2 oz. | Kilkenny Creek, Bryan County | March 12, 2023 |
| Kingfish (Whiting) | 2 lb. 3 oz. | MacKay River, 1/4 mile north of bridge, St. Simons Island | February 18, 1975 |
| Grouper, Graysby | 2 lb. 2.24 oz. | Near Navy Tower R5 | May 12, 2024 |
| Spot | 1 lb. 0.32 oz. | Brunswick River | September 11, 2023 |
CRD saltwater game fish records; angler names and hometowns left out.
Women's saltwater
Georgia women's saltwater game fish records
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shark, Lemon | 322 lb. 0 oz. | South Channel of Savannah River at Cockspur Island | July 8, 2011 |
| Shark, Sand Tiger | 212 lb. 6 oz. | Buoy KC | September 30, 1984 |
| Shark, Tiger | 190 lb. 0 oz. | J-Reef (Near main Liberty Ship) | June 3, 2012 |
| Marlin, Blue | 178 lb. 0 oz. | South Ledge at 230-foot depth | June 22, 1985 |
| Tuna, Yellowfin | 165 lb. 4 oz. | 1973 | |
| Shark, Blacktip | 148 lb. 0 oz. | Wassaw Sound at No. 13 can. | June 7, 2008 |
| Tarpon | 139 lb. 0 oz. | Gould's Inlet | August 18, 1986 |
| Shark, Sandbar (Brown) | 124 lb. 0 oz. | Medway River at Dickinson Creek mouth | April 28, 1985 |
| Shark, Bull | 121 lb. 9.0 oz. | St. Simons Pier | July 23, 2011 |
| Drum, Black | 80 lb. 0 oz. | Artificial Reef CDH (formerly Reef C) | December 22, 2009 |
| Wahoo | 77 lb. 0 oz. | 53 miles SE R2W sea buoy | June 29, 1988 |
| Amberjack, Greater | 72 lb. 8 oz. | L Buoy | August 19, 1986 |
| Cobia | 68 lb. 5 oz. | Savannah Snapper Banks | May 29, 1999 |
| Dolphin | 54 lbs., 8 oz. | 66 miles at "W2" | July 24, 1976 |
| Barracuda, Great | 47 lb. 8 oz. | Beside Buoy J – Buoy off St. Catherines Sound | November 7, 1999 |
| Mackerel, King | 45 lb. 7 oz. | Navy Tower R6 | May 21, 2016 |
| Sailfish | 38 lb. 5 oz. | 3 miles east of R-2W | July 25, 1992 |
| Drum, Red (Channel Bass) | 38 lb. 13 1/2 oz. | Artificial Reef KC | November 23, 1986 |
| Jack, Crevalle | 33 lb. 10.72 oz. | Cumberland Island | May 24, 2024 |
| Tuna, Blackfin | 30 lb. 14.24 oz. | South Ledge | May 4, 2024 |
| Tuna, Blackfin | 30 lb. 8 oz. | Navy Tower R5 | May 5, 1999 |
| Snapper, Red | 29 lb. 8 oz. | Savannah Snapper Banks | May 12, 1989 |
| Tripletail | 29 lb. 5.8 oz. | St. Andrews Sound | May 3, 2017 |
| Pompano (African) | 25 lb. 13 oz. | Navy Tower M2R6 | July 17, 2016 |
| Grouper, Scamp | 23 lb. 6 oz. | Snapper Banks off Savannah, Ga. | March 27, 1987 |
| Shark, Bonnethead | 22 lb. 11.5 oz. | St. Simons Island (surf fishing) | July 26, 2012 |
| Grouper, Red | 19 lb. 20 oz. | South of "R4" tower | October 4, 2021 |
| Grouper, Gag | 20 lb. 0 oz. | Snapper Banks off Savannah, Ga. | April 7, 1984 |
| Tunny, Little | 20 lb. 0 oz. | 35 miles at 135° from W2 (Warsaw Sound) | July 1, 1973 |
| Snapper, Mutton | 18 lb. 9.92 oz. | 60 miles east of St. Marys | August 4, 2019 |
| Flounder (Composite) | 15 lbs. 10 oz. | Jekyll Island Pier | November 17, 1990 |
| Bluefish | 14 lb. 4 oz. | Artificial Reef G | April 21, 1986 |
| Sheepshead | 12 lb. 9 oz. | Reef A | April 13, 2003 |
| Spadefish, Atlantic | 11 lb. 5 oz. | Artificial Reef L | August 23, 2003 |
| Gray Triggerfish | 11 lb. 4.8 oz. | Savannah Snapper Banks | November 14, 1987 |
| Snapper, Gray | 10 lb. 11 oz. | 60 miles offshore east of St. Marys, Ga. | April 28, 2020 |
| Snook | 10 lb. 6 oz. | Wassaw Soung | October 21, 2008 |
| Shark, Hammerhead | 10 lb. 0 oz. | Wassaw Sound, Channel marker 16 | July 11, 1989 |
| Mackerel, Spanish | 7 lb. 14.4 oz. | 4.2 miles off buoy W2 | August 6, 1988 |
| Seatrout, Spotted | 7 lbs. 8 oz. | Christmas Creek | October 20, 1990 |
| Shark, Dusky | 6 lbs. 2 oz. | 1982 | |
| Snapper, Vermilion | 5 lb. 5.56 oz. | About 2,000 feet from Artificial Reef DW approximately 70 nautical miles east of Sapelo Island. | April 7, 2023 |
| Ladyfish | 5 lbs. 0 oz. | 3 miles north of Fernandina jetties, 150 yards off Cumberland Island, Ga. | August 10, 1978 |
| Black Sea Bass | 4 lb. 8 oz. | Savannah Snapper Banks | January 25, 1983 |
| Pompano (Florida) | 3 lb. 6 oz. | Christmas Creek, Camden County, Ga. | November 25, 2025 |
| Croaker, Atlantic | 2 lb. 11 oz. | MacKay River, Glynn County, Ga. | October 5, 2014 |
| Kingfish (Whiting) | 2 lb. 4 oz. | MacKay River, 1/4 mile north of bridge, St. Simons Island | February 18, 1975 |
| Pinfish | 1 lb. 14.39 oz. | Grand Banks, east of Townsend | July 11, 2020 |
| Grouper, Graysby | 1 lb. 5.8 oz. | Snapper Banks off Savannah, Ga. | September 7, 2025 |
Claiming one
How to enter a Georgia record fish
Freshwater: bring the fish to a WRD Fisheries Management Office; weigh on a Department of Agriculture certified scale (within the last year) before two adult non-family witnesses (not needed at a WRD office); submit the application with side-view photo. Saltwater: CRD application (coastalgadnr.org/saltwaterrecords); rules patterned on IGFA.
Freshwater: a new record must exceed the existing record by one ounce or more; a catch within less than an ounce is a tie (WRD rules). Saltwater vacant women's categories list a minimum weight in the guide/CRD table.
Hometowns in the CRD data are not copied. Saltwater fish now under immediate-release rules (marked * in the table) are not eligible for new records; red drum cannot be submitted due to the 23-inch maximum.
In pictures
Photos of Georgia water to go with Georgia State Record Fish
Photo: Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Thomson200, CC0 1.0
Photo: Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Thomson M, CC BY 3.0
Answers
Georgia record fish questions
What is the heaviest Georgia freshwater record?
Catfish, Blue at 110 lb, 6 oz, from Chattahoochee River in 2020.
How many Georgia record categories are listed?
46 freshwater, 70 men’s saltwater and 49 women’s saltwater entries.
What is the Georgia record largemouth bass?
22 lb, 4 oz from Montgomery Lake in 1932.
What is the heaviest Georgia saltwater record?
Shark, Tiger at 794 lb. 0 oz. (1975).
How much heavier must a new freshwater record be?
At least one ounce over the current record; less than that counts as a tie.
Can red drum set a new Georgia record?
No; the 23-inch maximum size means a record red drum cannot be submitted.
Where do I weigh a possible freshwater record?
At a WRD Fisheries Management Office or on a certified scale with two adult witnesses.
Who keeps the saltwater records?
The Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division.