In April 2025, Wesley Daniels of Pearson, GA tied the current Georgia state record for spotted sunfish. Daniel’s sunfish, which was caught from the Suwannee River, weighed 12 oz. and measured 8.75 inches in length.
Daniel’s catch shares the record with another 12 oz sunfish caught in 2024, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
Spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus) are a member of the sunfish family and are nicknamed “stumpknocker” because they orient strongly to stumps where they find food.
They are dark olive or brown on top, with light green or olive sides, covered with small black spots and dusky orange fins. Most are less than half a pound by weight.
In Georgia, spotted sunfish are found in the Ocmulgee, Oconee, Altamaha, Ogeechee, Ochlockonee, Suwannee, St. Mary’s, Satilla and Savannah River basins.
They prefer heavily vegetated, slow-moving lowland streams and warm shallow ponds. When angling for them, WRD recommends using worms, crickets, small spinners, flies and popping bugs.
Information about fishing in Georgia can be found at GeorgiaWildlife.com
source: Georgia Department of Natural Resources
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