Suwannee River Gets First Bluegill Record

Robert McCain, of Fargo, established a benchmark bluegill record for the Suwannee River on May 2 when he caught a bluegill bream that weighed 1-lb., 4.16-ozs.

“I’ve caught some in lakes that were 2 pounds, but this one was bigger than usual for the river,” said Robert.

Robert McCain with the Suwannee River’s first bluegill record, setting the benchmark at 1-lb., 4.16-ozs.

There’s a chance Robert’s fish would have been headed straight for the grease if his buddy Timmy Manac hadn’t encouraged him to get it weighed on a set of certified DOA scales.

“I fish for bass a lot, I go to Brunswick and fish for redfish, I go down to Keaton, Horseshoe, Darien,” said Robert.

Although Robert fishes three or four times a week in a lot of places, he likes bream fishing in the Suwannee River when the river gets “down and right.” He’s often fishing with his buddy Bunk Wheeler. In fact, he was with Bunk the day he caught the bluegill in an area not far below the Highway 441 bridge in Fargo.

“I was throwing a white Beetle Spin with what I call black racing stripes, it has two black stripes on it,” said Robert. “That’s all I throw, I don’t fish crickets and stuff.”

Robert’s fish was weighed at a local blueberry farm and confirmed by WRD Fisheries as a bluegill. When GON spoke to Robert on May 12, him and Bunk were backing the boat in the Suwannee River.

“We’re going to break the record (again) today,” said Bunk.

Suwannee River Records

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.

• Catch must be positively identified by qualified DNR personnel.

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