By Tyler Jones
Public Information Officer
Coastal Resources Division

A St. Simons Island family may have hooked a record-breaking spotted seatrout during a Cub Scout fishing activity, much to the delight of their children and the surprise of their parents.

Andrew Kuhn, an active member of Cub Scout Pack 227, organized the event for the scouts at the pond behind the Tideland Nature Center on July 20.

The fishing trip started like any other, with the Scouts, including Kuhn’s 4-year-old daughter Sammie, reeling in small pinfish, whiting, and croakers. Sammie, beaming with pride, reeled in a rod with two croakers, perfect bait size for bigger fish.

Kuhn, well-prepared for the day, had brought two adult-sized rods along with the children’s fishing gear. He decided to use the croakers as bait, casting one out on a bottom rig with a circle hook and the other under a popping cork on his 8-foot surf rod. What happened next was entirely unexpected.

“I thought it was a small bull red at first,” Kuhn recounted. “But as we got it closer to the dock, we realized it was something much bigger.”

The fish turned out to be a massive spotted seatrout. As the group quickly reeled in the smaller lines to avoid tangles, Kuhn and the other adults worked together to bring the fish in. The excitement of the catch, however, led to a misreading of the regulations. Thinking the fish was oversized, Kuhn released it after a brief struggle to revive it.

Back home, the family realized they might have just caught a fish that could rival the current spotted seatrout record. Using AutoCAD, Kuhn, an engineer by trade, measured the fish at an estimated 32.5 inches long, possibly surpassing the existing record.

The family’s catch, while not officially weighed or measured on-site, was an unforgettable experience, especially for the young scouts who witnessed it. CRD issued a certificate of Outstanding Catch to the Kuhn Family and congratulated them on their acheivement.

“It was pretty neat to catch a monster trout from the new wheelchair-accessible dock,” Kuhn said, reflecting on the day. “Even if it doesn’t break the record, the memory of that catch and the look on my kids’ faces is something we’ll cherish forever.”