Associated Press Release

THOMSON, Ga. (AP) -- A Georgia fisherman has reeled in the state's first record-breaking catch in more than two years.

The state Department of Natural Resources says Thomas Lewis of Grovetown caught a yellow perch weighing 2 pounds, 9 ounces from the Savannah River on Wednesday. It's the first state record-breaking fish of any species recorded in Georgia since 2010.

Lewis' catch broke the previous state record for yellow perch by one ounce. The previous record fish was caught in 1980 on Lake Burton and was tied by a yellow perch of the same weight hooked in the Savannah River in 2008.

John Biagi, chief of fisheries for the DNR's Wildlife Resources Division, says the record is a reminder that Georgia is "a fantastic place" for fishing.