St. Marys River

The 126-mile-long St. Marys River emerges from the southeast corner of the Okefenokee Swamp and flows south, then east, then north, then east-southeast, finally emptying its waters into the Atlantic near St. Marys, Georgia and Fernandina Beach, Florida.

St. Marys River Articles

St. Marys River Float, Fish And Camp

The St. Marys River has long stood as the blackwater boundary line that separates southeast Georgia from northeast Florida. Flowing from its headwaters in the Okefenokee Swamp, it twists and turns as it makes its way toward the ocean, separating north and south, and keeping the Bulldogs and Gators on their respective sides of the…

Bowfin Benchmark Record Set On St. Marys River

On Feb. 22, Colt James, of Waycross, managed to wrangle in a 6-lb., 7.68-oz. bowfin while fishing with his dad. The fish measured in at an impressive 26 inches long and was good enough to set the benchmark record for the St Marys River. If Colt’s name sounds familiar, it may be because the 12-year-old…

Colt James Strikes Again With Another St. Marys River Record

Colt James has struck again, raising the bar on another GON Lake and River Record. If the 11-year-old’s name sounds familiar, it should. Colt currently possesses four record fish on three different south Georgia rivers. His latest catch is a 12.16-oz. redbreast that bested his previous river record he set on the river earlier this…

Southeast Georgia Fishing Reports With Capt. Bert Deener – May 23, 2025

It got hot in the afternoons this past week, but the water temperature most places in freshwater is in the upper 70s to around 80. That’s in the range where the fish usually put on…

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St. Marys River Record Fish

Largemouth Bass11-lbs., 4-ozs.Don Durr04/13/19
Bluegill1-lb., 10.56-ozs.Shirley D. Purser05/12/20
Warmouth1-lb., 1.44-ozs.Brentz McGhin04/05/24
Spotted Sunfish7.44-ozs.Brentz McGhin04/20/24
Redbreast12.16-ozs.Colt James11/09/24
White Catfish1-lb., 8.32-ozs.Brentz McGhin04/05/24
Shellcracker10.56-ozs.Brentz McGhin05/11/24
Bowfin6-lbs., 7.68-ozs.Colt James02/22/25