Georgia’s New African Pompano State Record

There’s a new Georgia saltwater state record. The Coastal Resources Division (CRD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources announced a new Georgia men’s saltwater gamefish record for African pompano (Alectis ciliaris). The fish was caught back on Aug. 11, 2018 by Mike McCullough Jr., who was fishing near Navy tower R7 off the coast of Savannah.

McCullough, of Savannah, caught the 23-lb., 14.4-oz. African pompano using a 4-oz. bucktail with a live pogie threaded on the hook. This is Georgia’s first record for an African pompano, and the minimum size to be considered had been established at 20 pounds. McCullough’s catch was weighed by Sisson Scale and Equipment Co. of Savannah using a certified scale.

McCullough will receive a certificate 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 2020 Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations guide.

For the current list of men’s and women’s saltwater fishing records, as well as information on how to submit a catch to the Georgia Saltwater Gamefish Record, please visit CoastalGaDNR.org/RecreationalFishing. Applications should include color photographs. There are minimum weights for several open records for some species.

Anglers wishing to enter a fish for a new state record must have the fish weighed on a Georgia Department of Agriculture certified scale in the presence of at least one witness. Certified scales can be found at local seafood markets, grocery stores and agricultural supply stores.  During business hours, anglers can have their catch weighed at the Coastal Regional Headquarters, One Conservation Way in Brunswick.

Mike McCullough Jr., of Savannah, with the newly recognized Georgia men’s state record for African pompano. Mike caught the 23-lb., 14.4-oz. fish near Navy tower R7 on Aug. 11, 2018.