Georgia anglers challenged to go for the ‘Slam’

ALBANY — 

Most anglers fish for the challenge, measuring their success in a variety of ways. For most fishermen in southwest Georgia, when it comes to catching bass, size matters.

Next in the hierarchy of success, factors focus on the numbers of bass caught per outing. However, for some these measures are mundane and a new challenge is needed. Enter the Bass Slam.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has created the Georgia Bass Slam to recognize anglers in the state who possess the knowledge and skills required to catch five different species of black bass from a variety of habitats across the state. The program is not only a challenge for anglers, it promotes their interest in conserving and managing the state’s waters for these gamefish.

Georgia is home to 10 species of black bass that are eligible for inclusion in the Slam challenge.

Rules for the Slam dictate that the five fish must be legally caught, and a series of photographs should be submitted to verify each catch. All five fish must be caught during one calendar year. Information on rules and regulations pertaining to the Slam may be found at georgiawildlife.com/fishing/angler-resources/georgiabassslam.

Anglers who successfully catch five eligible species and submit all required information will receive the following:

• A personalized certificate

• Two passes to the Go Fish Education Center

• Some fantastic and fun stickers (for vehicle windows/bumpers) to advertise the brag-worthy achievement

All successful submissions for the calendar year will go into a drawing for an annual grand prize, and anglers will be recognized on georgiawildlife.com, at the Go Fish Education Center, and through a variety of social media platforms.

Jason McRae has successfully completed the challenge seven years in a row. McRae has fished Georgia’s waters for more than 40 years. Fifteen of those years were spent fishing tournaments.

“After a while, that type of fishing didn’t appeal anymore, not to mention that gas prices started going up,” McRae said. “I had fished rivers in the bass boat but couldn’t get to half the places I wanted to go. That’s when I transitioned into kayak fishing. The great thing about the kayak is you can go pretty much anywhere and it’s a relatively inexpensive way to enjoy the sport.”

If you think you might be up to the challenge of the Slam, McRae has more advice to offer on the Georgia Bass Slam page.