44 New Fish Added To GON’s Record List

Brad Gill | January 2, 2025

Mike Steele has been fishing West Point Lake since the 1980s, and last March he set the striped bass record with this 40-pounder.

For the third consecutive year, 44 new fish were added to GON’s Georgia Lake and River Records list. In the past, GON has published these exclusive fish records in the February issue, but we’ve moved them into the January issue to help kick-start off the new year as we start collecting new records for 2025.

GON’s exclusive list is always available at GON.com. You never need to wonder if you have a possible record fish or not. From the boat or bank, you can simply visit GON.com to see if your fish is in the ballpark. From there, you’ll need to follow the steps listed below.

The 2025 version of GON’s Georgia Lake and River Records is below. Listings in bold are new since last year.

Guy Covington, of Social Circle, set a new Lake Sinclair record for blue catfish with this 79.5-lb. beast caught on April 27, 2024. Guy’s wife and daughter were in the boat when he caught the fish.

Catch A Lake or River Record?

Requirements For Record Fish

• Fish must be caught legally by rod and reel in a manner consistent with WRD fish regulations.

• Catch must be weighed on accurate Georgia DOA certified scales with at least two witnesses present.

• Witnesses to the weighing must be at least 18 years old, and they must not be members of the angler’s immediate family nor have a close personal relationship with the angler.

• Catch must be positively identified by qualified DNR personnel. GON can correspond with DNR when high-quality, multiple photos are taken of the fish and emailed to GON. All record submissions and photos must be sent to [email protected].

GON’s records are compiled and maintained by GON, to be awarded at GON’s discretion. Additional steps may be required for record consideration.

Kelsey Helms is the latest angler to have a fish added to GON’s Lake & River Records program. She caught this 1-lb., 11.6-oz. black crappie in the Oconee River on Dec. 7. She had the fish weighed McLemore’s Abattoir in Vidalia, and it was certified as a black crappie by a WRD fisheries biologist.