Massive mahi-mahi caught in Georgia shatters state record. ‘It wore me out’
After 30 thrilling minutes of reeling in a massive fish from the sea, James Roberts held Georgia’s new state record in his hands: a 68-pound, 1.6-ounce dolphinfish.
“It wore me out. I couldn’t hardly breathe…it was a blast,” Roberts, a 53-year-old from Midway, told the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division.
Roberts caught the fish on April 26 while on captain Michael Bell’s boat, Salty Intentions, according to a news release from the DNR. He was about 80 miles east of St. Catherines Island when he snagged the dolphinfish, the release said.
Dolphinfish, also known as mahi-mahi, can weigh up to 80 pounds but usually weigh in around 30 pounds, according to the DNR. The fish are found from Massachusetts to Florida and are known for their vibrant colors and taste. Despite its name, the dolphinfish is not a type of dolphin, according to the National Ocean Service.
Before Roberts reeled in his mahi-mahi, the record was a tie between two anglers. Savannah resident Michael Sheppard caught a 67-pound, 6-ounce mahi-mahi in 1997 and St. Simons Island resident Will Owens caught a 67-pound, 9.6-ounce mahi-mahi in 2019.
According to Georgia’s state record guidelines, a fish that weighs more than 20 pounds must weigh 8 ounces more than the previous record to break it.
After Roberts returned to shore with the mahi-mahi, officials weighed the fish on a state-certified scale and approved it as the new state record.
“(It was) the best time of my life,” Roberts said. “I haven’t hardly been able to sleep since.”
Roberts will receive a certificate endorsed by Gov. Brian Kemp and his record will be included in the annual list published in the Georgia Saltwater Regulations Guide, according to the DNR.
“This achievement recognizes not only the size of the catch, but Mr. Roberts’ skill as an angler and the sportsmanship he displayed in landing a record-setting game fish,” Doug Haymans, director of DNR’s Coastal Resources Division, said.
Roberts has been fishing offshore for about 20 years, he told the DNR.
This story was originally published May 10, 2022 at 2:08 PM with the headline "Massive mahi-mahi caught in Georgia shatters state record. ‘It wore me out’."
