ATKINSON COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - A new record spotted sunfish was hooked right here in South Georgia on the Suwannee River.

Pearson resident, Wesley Daniels, was having a slow day on the water when an unexpected spotted sunfish bit down on a shrimp bait intended for a catfish. Daniels and his friend were shocked when the fish was pulled from the water, knowing it was much larger than they normally were.

“I was fishing for catfish, so the unusual thing was that he was caught on a piece of shrimp, and I thought it was a big catfish at first,” said Daniels. “When I pulled him into the boat, me and my friend just looked at each other because we had never seen a stumpknocker that big!”

The fish was made official by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division. At a length of 8 ¾ inches and weight of 12oz, the sunfish tied with a fish caught in 2024.

If an angler comes across a fish they believe is a record holder, they can visit the Georgia Department of Natural Resources website to fill out the necessary forms.

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