ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Chris A. Germano of St. Simons Island has set a new Georgia state saltwater game fish record after catching a 42-pound, 15.36-ounce almaco jack on April 4, 2026.The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Coastal Resources Division officially certified the record catch.
The catch surpassed the previous state record of 27 pounds, 8 ounces. Germano landed the fish while bottom fishing at R4, an offshore artificial reef.
Germano caught the record Jack using live bait paired with a Shimano Stradic 8000 reel, a Crowder D8000 rod and 60-pound braided line. The fish measured 1,151 millimeters, or about 45.3 inches, in total length with a fork length of 1,022 millimeters, or about 40.2 inches.Official weighing took place at the Department of Natural Resources’ Coastal Regional Headquarters in Brunswick on a Georgia Department of Agriculture-certified scale. The Coastal Resources Division’s Saltwater Game Fish Records Review Committee reviewed and approved the application after examining photos documenting the fish, its measurements and certified weight.
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