Keith Lusher 08.26.25
Most people use their phones to call for takeout, but one Georgia man decided to cut out the middleman and use his phone to catch his seafood rather than order it. Unfortunately for him, game wardens weren’t buying what he was selling when they caught him using an antique crank telephone to electrocute fish.
The bizarre incident unfolded around 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 15, when Sgt. Matt Garthright and Game Warden Chason Brogdon were patrolling public fishing spots in Wilkes County, about 110 miles east of Atlanta. Their attention was drawn to a man and woman acting suspiciously near a creek.
As the officers approached, they watched the male suspect hastily retreat with a wooden box in his hands. Perhaps realizing his “catch of the day” might land him in hot water instead, the man threw the mysterious box into the creek. Unfortunately for him, Sgt. Garthright was able to retrieve the evidence from the water.
The confiscated item? A vintage crank telephone, complete with loose wiring spilling out. This relic from the early days of telecommunications was once used to signal operators. In this case, however, it was being repurposed for something far less innocent: shocking fish.
Electrofishing uses electric currents to temporarily stun fish, causing them to float to the surface where they can be easily scooped up. While wildlife agencies and researchers use controlled electrofishing equipment for legitimate fish population surveys, the practice is illegal for recreational use due to its potential harm to aquatic ecosystems.
The technique became more widespread among poachers in the 1970s, with crude homemade devices often cobbled together from car batteries and metal rods. Some resourceful (and misguided) individuals even used old crank phones, earning the practice colorful nicknames like “Skoal can shockers” when tobacco tins were incorporated into the design.
The problem with DIY electrofishing is that it indiscriminately stuns all aquatic life within range, including juvenile fish and endangered species. It’s essentially the underwater equivalent of using a sledgehammer when you need a flyswatter.
Shocking Without a License
The 29-year-old man from Mississippi, who was in Georgia for work, was charged with “Shocking Fish” under state regulations. Neither he nor his companion had valid fishing licenses at the time, though they were given the opportunity to purchase licenses online to come into compliance.
The antique crank telephone was confiscated on the spot, presumably ending its brief second career in illegal fishing operations.
While innovation in fishing techniques can be admirable, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that creativity doesn’t trump legality. Sometimes the old ways aren’t necessarily the best ways, especially when they involve repurposing antique communication devices for questionable purposes.
Next time you see a vintage crank phone at an antique shop, remember: it belongs on a shelf, not in a creek.
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