BRUNSWICK — Staff of the Georgia Saltwater Gamefish Records Program have announced that both the men’s and women’s records for heaviest black drum landed in Georgia have been broken.

On Dec. 22, 2009, angler Jennifer Maugrauer of Jesup landed an 80-pound black drum while bottom fishing at Artificial Reef CDH, which is located approximately 14 miles east of Cumberland Island. Maugrauer’s record catch bests that of Jackie Cooke’s 73-pound, 8-ounce black drum caught in 1983.

Eighteen-year old John Henry Thomas of St. Marys caught at 92-pound black drum on April 15, 2010 while fishing with his father just off the north jetty at the entrance to the St. Marys River. Thomas’ fish broke the previous men’s record of 86-pounds, 8 ounces held by Tim Belcher since 1998.

Both anglers received certificates acknowledging their record catch, which will be added the Georgia Saltwater Gamefish Records list published at www.coastalGaADNR.org and in the 2011 Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations.  

Anglers wishing to enter a fish for a new state record must be sure to 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 feed-and-seed stores. During business hours, anglers can have their catch weighed at the Coastal Regional Headquarters in Brunswick.   

The current list of men’s and women’s saltwater fish records is available at www.CoastalGaDNR.org along with information on how to submit a fish for addition to the Georgia Saltwater Gamefish Records. In addition to an accurate weight, it’s important to provide several photographs of the fish along with the application. There are also minimum weights for several species. For more information, contact the GA DNR/ Coastal Resources Division.