Okay maybe a little over zealous with NC record and hard to imagine a 4.5lber, but here is my bluegill (pretty sure it is at least) caught this evening. 12.1-5" inch range and wondering why I didn't weigh it, but I feel like at least 2.5lbs. It was at least 2" wide. Anyways it was a fun little fight and I've only seen cricket and cork sizes growing up. I could have done without the smell though...stinky rascal! Was at a Lake Hickory Oxford dam boat landing at the dock popping a metal wahoo jig.
Don't fish for records or anything, but would be cool to have one I reckon. I guess you would have to take a fish somewhere that has certified scales. What would you do if a place was closed until next morning? Put on a stringer maybe or in a bucket. Who would do that around Hickory?