DNR News
** Archived Article - please check for current information. **
Sept. 23, 2011
Angler breaks 23-year-old state record for hogfish
The South Carolina saltwater state record for hogfish has been broken by Wesley Covington of Summerville for a fish caught on Sunday Sept. 11. The new state record fish weighed in at 21 pounds, 15 ounces, breaking the 23-year historic record by 1 pound, 7 ounces.
Covington, 30, was fishing aboard "Tigress," a 21-foot Mako, which he also owns and captains, with anglers Joseph Smith of Moncks Corner, Pete Anderson of James Island, and Tim White of Mt. Pleasant. The boat and crew left Remley’s Point Boat Landing on Sunday morning to head offshore for a day of bottom fishing. After several hours, Covington hooked the record-breaking fish near the Georgetown Hole in 160 feet of water using a 6-foot Super Seeker Hercules Jigging rod paired with an Avet HXJ Raptor spinning reel. After an exhausting 10-minute fight, the hogfish reached the surface, and the crew knew they had a noteworthy catch.
They finished out the rest of the days fishing in high spirits, and headed toward shore later that evening. The fish was stored on ice overnight, then taken to Haddrell’s Point Bait and Tackle in West Ashley early Monday morning to be weighed. The official weight was recorded by weigh-master Scott Hammond, and Amy Dukes, State Record Marine Game Fish program coordinator, verified the new state record later Monday morning.
The previous hogfish record, held by Jim Cline of Pawleys Island, weighed 20 pounds, 8 ounces and was caught in June 1988.
For a current listing of the S.C. State Record Marine Game fish contact Amy Dukes with the Office of Fisheries Management at (843) 953-9365 or e-mail DukesA@dnr.sc.gov.
DNR encourages anglers to help protect our fisheries by retaining only those fish that will be consumed, and practicing good handling skills with those fish that will be released. Learn more about increasing survival of the fish you release.
More News
- 4,011 sea turtle nests observed during 2011 season
- DNR revises comprehensive deer management recommendations
- Deer hunting returns to Bonneau Ferry WMA
- State wildlife, fisheries group meets Oct. 11 in Columbia
- Family Fishing Clinic scheduled for Chesterfield County residents on Oct. 12
- Longleaf pine trees shedding needles is normal this time of year
- Share the spirit of discovery in October during S.C. Archaeology Month
- DNR honors 2011 Law Enforcement Officers of the Year
- Angler breaks 23-year-old state record for hogfish
- SC Drought Response Committee conference call, Sept. 29, 1:30 p.m.
- Volunteer instructors sought for new Family Fishing Clinics
- Results from 2011 Wood Stork surveys, nest monitoring
- Upstate National Hunting and Fishing Day Oct. 1 at Duke's World of Energy
- Proper disposal of deer remains is a rule of good hunter ethics
- Freshwater fishing trends
- Saltwater fishing trends
- S.C. weekly tidetable
- DNR video
Follow DNR on the Web:
