Canoochee River Gains Another Record Bream Species

On May 16, Richard Driggers Jr. added a shellcracker to the growing list of river records for the Canoochee River. GON began keeping river records on the Canoochee one year ago after Glen Solomon turned in a 12.48-oz. warmouth.

Richard’s shellcracker weighed 12.96 ounces, which is slightly above the GON benchmark for that species, which is 12 ounces. “Benchmark records” are an effort to get ongoing records established. Once benchmark records have been publicized, it doesn’t take long for exceptional fish to overtake those records, and over time the records become credible.

“I was fishing out of a kayak above Rogers Bridge around Claxton,” said Richard. “The fish bit a Beetle Spin.”

Richard Driggers Jr. with his Canoochee River shellcracker record.

See all of GON’s official Georgia Lake & River Records here.

Requirements For Record Fish

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

• Catch must be weighed on accurate Georgia DOA certified scales with at least two witnesses present, who must be willing to provide their names and phone numbers so they can be contacted to verify the weighing of the fish.

• 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.