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

[Paul Skvorc]

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

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

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.

[Paul Skvorc]

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

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

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.

[Paul Skvorc]

None taken.

Paul

[carl hendrix]

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!!

[Jim Gronaw]

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.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

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.