Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Big Bluegill in Goose Creek, S.C. - Am I remembering them correctly?

Hello folks. I'm new here, and thought I'd start with a question about bluegills in the Goose Creek, just outside of Charleston, S.C.

Long ago and far away, ('72-ish)I was stationed at the sub base at Charleston. Often I would hang around the boat launch on Goose Creek watching the old men come in off the creek in the waning hours of daylight. I saw some big stringers of BIG fish. I could have sworn they were dinner plate sized. I was a long way from home, and really wanted one of those old fellas to invite me to go fishing with them, but it was the Viet Nam era, and there wasn't much more reviled in a Navy town than a sailor. In fact, were it not for my persistence, they wouldn't have even acknowledged my existence.

Here's the deal: I was recently fishing in a friend's farm pond in north central Missouri, and caught some bluegill that I thought were "nice", but nothing to 'write home about'. They were just over 9" long and weighed just at a pound. Nice fish no doubt, but not exactly 'braggers'. However, my friend and his neighbors practically wanted to notify the newspapers! "Biggest fish caught around here since anyone can remember"...

And here are the questions: Are those truly "big" bluegills? Am I remembering the ones from Goose Creak with the "eye of a fisherman"? Were they really likely only a pound or so? I would have sworn that they were at least two pounds, and maybe three! However, when I look on line for state records, I don't see any 3 lb bluegills. 

I would appreciate a "reality check" from any of y'all that fish that creek, or are familiar with it and the fish (and gators!) that inhabit it.

Thanks,

Paul

Views: 1500

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

And these were caught in public, open waters?
I ask because I usually think of hybrids as BRED fish. Of course they can hybridize naturally, but it's my understanding that's as a result of pressure, i.e., crowding, habitat loss, etc.
I'm probably wrong; Tony gets me all the one with my foot in my mouth. But it seems a dream come true to find massive, overweight hybrids like this in a naturally competitive environment.

No, these were caught in a private farm pond. My original post referenced a faded memory, most likely of red-breasted, not bluegills.

I agree that these look like "pure-bred" bluegills to me, but looks can sometimes be deceiving.

You can take my word on the weights or not. I have nothing to prove. In fact,my initial comments were remarking how much these DIDN'T weigh.

Paul

Okay, I see my confusion.
I couldn't wrap my mind around these recently pictured fish and those one might see knocking around a boat ramp.
No offense intended.

None taken.

Paul

so I guess that's where the phrase;; perch jerker came from..  that's a jerk on one end of the line;; waiting on a jerk from the other end !!  LOL!!

Panfishing, in general, is not the main course in many parts of the 'back east' or Mid Atlantic. Crappie have a strong following, but few anglers routinely target bluegills in my Mason Dixon region. Many of the better venues are small, and vulnerable to overharvest. Maryland has a 15 fish per angler, per day regulation on bluegills. This works for great fisheries like Deep Creek Lake and smaller public lakes, but a 'one size fits all' harvest limit is seldom the answer for larger geographical regions.

I have been blessed to have found both public and private venues that have quality, and quantity bluegilling. Great fishing can be found in Delaware and Marylands Eastern Shore publicly managed millponds, to include trophy fish in some waters.

Like most fishing scenarios, the real 'fanatics' of a particular specie will search far and wide and put in lots of time for their prefered specie.

No different here, Jim. Most "serious" anglers go for brim when they're bedding; "We tore em up on the beds!" is a common phrase in May.
But the rest of the time they're too hard to catch and everybody goes for bass and crappie. Hardcore Southern types switch to night fishing for cats in summer. I'm slacking this year; I haven't hit the cat banks yet.

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"This s my backyard Bruce……I’ve posted from every river on the Albemarle…"
9 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
9 hours ago
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
10 hours ago
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"Hi Jeffrey! I've been watching the bass master tournament. It's so refreshing not to see…"
10 hours ago
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's status
"We 71 on Sunday and down to 63 from a cold front, another tomorrow that will hit Jersey too…."
Thursday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"Eastern time zone is 8am -1130 Saturday on FS1……Sunday is 8am -11 eastern on…"
Thursday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"What time is it on the Tube?"
Thursday
John Sheehan posted a status
"Water temp was only 46 degrees today. Anxious for 50 +"
Thursday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"Check it out Bruce….the cold front has stalled out surface temperatures but they’re…"
Thursday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

The Big Browns Are Always Sunning in April…..4/7/2025

"Yes…..this is a “brown water snake” Bruce…….non-venomous snakes…"
Thursday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

The Big Browns Are Always Sunning in April…..4/7/2025

"Whoa, that does look big. You say it's a brown snake? Poisonous? Around my part of PA we watch…"
Thursday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"Wow! Thanks. I'll have to make a note to to tune in on Saturday Sunday."
Thursday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"Thanks Bruce….looking forward to the Bassmasters Elite series tournament this…"
Wednesday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Caught Some Slabs Today….4/5/2025

"Although black crappie tend to run smaller than their cousins the white crappie , this is a great…"
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Last Fish of the Trip….4/6/2025

It was already 84 degrees headed to 90 today….
Apr 6
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Apr 6

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service