Georgia Establishes State Record For Lane Snapper

Marcus Hannon, of Savannah, is the first record-holder for a newly established species in CRD’s Saltwater Records Program. Marcus caught this 2-lb., 15.8-oz. lane snapper while bottom fishing at the Savannah Snapper Banks about 30 offshore from Wassaw Sound.

A Savannah man has been certified as the newest Georgia state-record holder with the establishment of a new record for a lane snapper.

Marcus M. Hannon, 24, landed a lane snapper weighing 2-lbs., 15.8-ozs. on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, while bottom fishing at the Savannah Snapper Banks, approximately 30 miles east of Wassaw Sound. The fish measured 18 3/8 inches in total length with a girth of 12 1/2 inches.

This  lane snapper (Lutjanus synagris) not only earns a place in Georgia’s record books, but also establishes a new species in the Georgia Saltwater Game Fish Records Program.

Using a 7-foot, 6-inch Ugly Stik rod paired with a Penn Fierce IV 5000 spinning reel spooled with 60-pound braided line, Hannon relied on a fiddler crab as bait and a chicken rig featuring two circle hooks and a sinker. He caught the fish aboard a recreational vessel captained by Zach Hollick, also of Savannah.

The catch was weighed by DNR staff using Georgia Department of Agriculture-certified scales at the Richmond Hill Hatchery on Monday, Nov. 18.

“Setting a state record is a milestone few anglers achieve, and establishing a new species for the record program makes this accomplishment even more remarkable,” said Tyler Jones, coordinator of the Coastal Resources Division’s Saltwater Game Fish Records Program. “Congratulations to Marcus on a truly outstanding catch.”

Hannon’s record-setting catch will be celebrated with a certificate signed by Governor Brian Kemp, Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Walter Rabon, and CRD Director Doug Haymans. Hannon’s name will be featured in the next Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations Guide and online at CoastalGaDNR.org/SaltwaterRecords as long as his record stands.

The Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division congratulates Hannon on his catch and emphasizes the importance of sustainable fishing practices and the role of anglers in conserving marine resources. In particular, offshore anglers are reminded that descending devices are federally required when fishing for snapper-group species in federal waters offshore. These devices, which must be rigged and ready to use in federal waters, have been shown to reduce mortality in fish experiencing barotrauma.

Anglers in Georgia must have a valid recreational fishing license, a free Saltwater Information Permit (SIP), and adhere to size and possession limits for various species.

The Georgia Saltwater Game Fish Records Program recognizes anglers who land exceptional catches in saltwater and encourages the conservation of marine resources. Detailed state saltwater record program rules and regulations are available at CoastalGaDNR.org/SaltwaterRecords.

The Georgia Saltwater Fishing Page
https://gon.com/fishing/georgia-saltwater-fishing