Stephen said the female lemon shark put up a good fight, and that it took him over 30 minutes to get it to the boat, leaving him exhausted. He used a 6.5′ Shakespeare Ugly Stik rod paired with a Shimano Tiagra reel, probably similar to the one pictured below, and had cut barracuda fillets for bait.

From the Shem Creek blog.

380lb. lemon shark sets new game fish record

The new record beats the previous state record by 10 ounces, set by Jason Edgerton of Mt. Pleasant back in March of 2008.

Congratulations Paul!

From the Shem Creek blog.

Angler breaks S.C. white grunt state record

Robby Maroudas of Hilton Head Island was fishing just offshore on the Betsy Ross artificial reef in 90 feet of water when he hooked into and caught the 92-pound, 10-ounce cobia to claim the new state record.

Congratulations Robby!

Photos courtesy of SCDNR.

From the Shem Creek blog.

Cobia state record claimed by Hilton Head angler

Congrats George!

You can check all the current South Carolina Freshwater Fish Records online.

The DNR in Columbia maintains all-tackle sportfishing records for freshwater fish and bowfishing records for a few species of nongame freshwater fish. No records are kept for individual line-test categories, for individual bodies of water, or for fish caught in nongame devices. Bowfishing records are kept for three species: common carp, bowfin and longnose gar.

Freshwater all-tackle sportfishing records are kept for 32 species: Striped Bass, White Bass, Hybrid Bass, White Perch, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Redeye Bass, Bluegill (Bream), Shellcracker, Redbreast, Warmouth, Flier, Pumpkinseed, White Crappie, Black Crappie, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Sauger, Yellow Perch, Walleye, Chain Pickerel (Jackfish), Redfin Pike, Muskellunge (Muskie), Blue Catfish, Bullhead Catfish, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, White Catfish, Mudfish (Bowfin) and American Shad.

From the Shem Creek blog.

Midlands angler breaks bullhead catfish record

SCDNR has added Terry’s striped bass from Lake Russell as the current fresh water record at 67 lbs. – beating the previous one by over 3lbs.

There are strict guidelines for setting new records in S.C.: they must be caught by sport means, using standard tackle or pole & line or, in the case of bowfishing, bow & arrow. Fish caught in nets & traps or on trotlines & set hooks will not be considered.

Obviously Mr. McConnell from Eastanolle, GA knows a thing or two about fishing – congratulations!

From the Shem Creek blog.

Georgia angler breaks his own SC striped bass record

She caught it aboard her & her husband’s 21′ Sea Chaser boat when they went out Saturday before last. They had trekked 55 miles offshore from Murrells Inlet to fish near the Winyah Scarp when she caught it.

This smart angler knew immediately that her Sharpnose was a keeper, so she contacted DNR and had it weighed in when they returned to shore. David Player, a fisheries biologist with the Marine Resources Division in Charleston, met Lori at Seven Sea Seafood in Murrells Inlet to verify and certify the catch, and now she’s in the gamefish record books.

Congratulations Lori!

From the Shem Creek blog.

Lori gets the new Atlantic Sharpnose shark record

The 40′ charter sports fishing vessel, “Fish Screamer III”, captained by Danny Juel, left from Little River and anchored in about 100′ of water 50 miles offshore.

The previous state record for a Red Grouper is from back in ’76; it took Michael about 10 minutes to beat it.

Congratulations Michael!

From the Shem Creek blog.

Record Red Grouper caught off SC coast

The 34-foot-Crusader, “Killin’ Time”, captained by Troy Strickland, left from Murrells Inlet headed northwest of the Georgetown Hole and anchored in 160′ of water.

The previous marine game fish state record for an amberjack was from back in ’98; it took Lee 15 minutes to beat it.

Congratulations Lee!

From the Shem Creek blog.

Record Amberjack caught off Murrells Inlet

Amy Dukes, the Saltwater Game Fish State Record Program Coordinator and SC Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series Tournament Coordinator, verified the new state record when the fish was weighed-in at the marina.

Congratulations Ryan!

From the Shem Creek blog.

New SC record for largest Dolphin

Since it’s been recorded with DNR that Steve now holds the record for the largest African Pompano caught off South Carolina, he’ll have a real fish story to tell when he gets back home to Vancouver, Washington. Congratulations Steve!

* UPDATE: Bryan Powell has already broke Steve Bagnall’s record 11 days later with a catch 5+lbs. bigger. Congratulations Bryan!

From the Shem Creek blog.

Largest African Pompano breaks SC state record