Angler Thomas Lewis of Grovetown in Columbia County reeled in the new state-record yellow perch from the Savannah River, just below Clarks Hill Dam, on Feb. 27. This is the first new state record fish since 2010.
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division, this two-pound, nine-ounce, 16.5-inch catch beats the former state record by more than one ounce. This record was previously held as a tie with a two-pound, eight-ounce fish, one caught in 1980 on Lake Burton, and the other caught on the Savannah River in 2008.
“It is so exciting to hear about a state-record catch as it reminds us that Georgia is such a fantastic place for anglers with its numerous fishing opportunities and resources, from big rivers and reservoirs to small neighborhood lakes,” said John Biagi, chief of Fisheries for the Wildlife Resources Division.
Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) are members of the perch family, which includes darters, sauger and walleye. They have a golden yellow body, with six to eight dark vertical bands from back to belly. They prefer cool-water lake environments, but also are found in large rivers and ponds. Their typical diet includes small fish, aquatic insects, small crayfish, snails, midgefly larvae and mayflies. They are great to eat and can be prepared in a variety of ways.
Anglers must possess a current Georgia fishing license to fish in public waters. Fiahermen can buy it online, find a list of retail license vendors at www.georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes or buy it by phone at 800 366-2661.
Information about state-record fish, including an application and rules, can be found at ww.georgiawildlife.com/Fishing/RecordProgram or in the current Sport Fishing Regulations Guidebook.