By Rylee Owens

Caroline with a largemouth bass during her time as a fisheries biologist at the Go Fish Education Center in Perry.

Fisheries biologist Caroline Cox has been instrumental in conducting annual surveys on regional reservoirs, including Lake Seminole, Lake Eufaula, Lake Walter F. George and Lake Blackshear. However, Caroline’s expertise extends far beyond the boundaries of the reservoirs. As the hatchery biologist at the Cordele Fish Hatchery and the biologist overseeing Silver Lake PFA, she orchestrates conservation efforts tailored to the needs of each habitat.

Caroline’s journey began during her undergraduate studies at Young Harris College followed by a master’s degree from Clemson University. Caroline improved her skills through volunteering with the DNR which later led to her accepting a position as a fisheries biologist in November 2023.

Bowfin fish found in Tired Creek (Grady County).

One of Caroline’s recent endeavors involves the annual electrofishing surveys, a crucial component of monitoring the health of fish populations. She and her team conduct surveys at approximately ten sites on each lake, analyzing the size, structure and overall condition of the largemouth bass and black crappie populations.

In the warmer months, Caroline is at the hatchery where spawning catfish kicks off the spring activities. Caroline is taking on her first summer as a DNR fisheries biologist where she is exploring Georgia springs and rivers and participating in scuba diving expeditions to count gulf striped bass.

Volunteers who assisted in picking gill nets, weighing and measuring fish.

Come fall, Caroline will begin gill netting, a sampling technique that provides insights into the growth and distribution of hybrids, white bass and gulf striped bass. Mesh nets are cast under waterfalls where they sit overnight in hopes to capture a variety of fish species.

During the winter months, Caroline is back in the office where she digs further into her research and plans for the upcoming year. She dedicates much of her time to data analysis and presentations which she shares with special interest groups for a deeper understanding of the reservoir ecosystems.

Through Caroline’s hard work, she not only safeguards Georgia’s waterways but also inspires future generations to explore the depths of science and conservation.

Rylee Owens is a communications specialist in the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division.