A Lawrenceville man's body was pulled from Lake Lanier in the Flowery Branch area Monday evening, authorities said.
Benjamin Franklin Jackson, 48, told a friend Sunday evening that he planned to spend the night fishing, but never returned, said Derreck Booth, Hall County Sheriff's Office spokesman.
At 3:50 p.m. Monday, Jackson's wife called to report him missing, telling authorities that she had pinged his cell phone in the area of Flowery Branch Park.
Jackson's wife discovered his pickup truck off the railroad tracks between Bell Drive and Mitchell Street, with his fishing equipment and chair nearby, close to the shore.
Deputies, with assistance from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, came to the scene and used sonar imaging equipment to locate Jackson's body at 6:30 p.m. about 20 feet off shore in 7.5 feet of water.
As of Tuesday afternoon, deputies did not suspect foul play to be involved, and believe it to be a case of accidental drowning.
Jackson's body has been sent to the medical examiner's office for an autopsy.
