Briefly Outdoor News: April 2021

Trout Stocking Begins

Thanks to the long-standing partnership between the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resource Division and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, anglers can look forward to another great year of trout fishing.

“The Georgia trout stocking program is typically supported by four trout hatcheries. With the Lake Burton Hatchery renovation wrapping up, we will be stocking primarily from the other three hatcheries,” explained WRD Trout Stocking Coordinator John Lee Thomson. “Good rainfall and a mild winter have allowed for great growth at these locations. Our regular distribution effort will begin the last full week of March, and all waterbodies scheduled to be stocked will have received trout by the end of the month.”

Some early trout stocking efforts have begun, with regular stockings scheduled to begin the last week of March. Popular waterbodies that receive regular trout stockings include Cooper Creek in Union County, Little Amicalola Creek at Amicalola State Park, Holly Creek in Murray County, and Johns Creek in Floyd County and the Tallulah River in Rabun County.

Where’s GON?

Who do we talk to about some new GON merchandise, like some shirts with the logo?

Jimmy Archer, of Dacula, made his own shirt with a GON decal. Here’s Jimmy fishing with grandsons Peyton and Ryder at Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens, Kaneohe, Hawaii on April 20, 2019.

When you see the GON logo in an interesting location, please email a photo and the details to [email protected], or mail to GON, 4331 Seven Islands Road, Madison, GA 30650.

African Pompano Sets Georgia Record

A 26-year-old Darien man landed a record-breaking African pompano off the Georgia coast Saturday, March 13, 2021, and Richard and his catch have been certified as the new state record for that species.

Richard Bjorneby, of Killdeer Road, caught the 47.8-inch (total length), 40-lb., 0.48-oz. fish near Navy Tower R4 aboard the vessel Anchored Up, captained by Johnny Wildes. The fish breaks the previous record of 37-lbs., 1.28-ozs. held since August 2019 by Alvin Dezern, of Brunswick.

“It feels strange. I never expected to hold a state record,” Bjorneby told the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) after he was notified of his catch’s record certification. “I’ve been fishing as long as I can remember, but I never thought I’d hold a record.”

Bjorneby landed the African pompano (Alectis ciliaris) using a 6-foot, 6-inch Shimano Talavera rod with Penn Slammer 7500 reel with 85-lb. braided Spiderwire line and a diamond jig as bait at the end of a 3-foot, 60-lb. monofilament leader on a swivel.

The catch was weighed at the Georgia DNR regional headquarters in Brunswick on Monday, March 15, 2021, on scales certified by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The Saltwater Gamefish Records Committee, comprised of DNR marine biologists and staffers, approved the new record Wednesday, March 17, 2021.

Bjorneby will receive a certificate signed by Gov. Brian Kemp acknowledging his record catch, and the record will be added to the list published at CoastalGaDNR.org/RecreationalFishing. It will also be included in the 2022 Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations guidebook.

SCI Annual Sportsman’s Banquet & Auction

Join the Georgia Chapter of SCI on Saturday, May 1 for its annual Sportsman’s Banquet and Auction at Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna. It’s a night of food, fun, fellowship and fundraising for a great organization and cause. The evening includes raffles and auctions with great outdoor gear, hunting and fishing trips, firearms, artwork, and other great items.

For info and more details, please visit gasci.org.