Georgia Fishing License Requirements

Fishing License Info

http://www.georgianet.org/dnr/wild/

1-770-918-6418 Click here

Fishing License Requirements

Click here

Georgia Fishing Rules & Regulations

Fish Limits

Fresh & Saltwater Regulations from eAngler LENGTH LIMITS
There are no minimum length limits on game fish unless listed below:

Largemouth bass 12 inches statewide except:

Lake Blackshear - 14 inches

Lake Blue Ridge - 0 inches (you may keep any size)

Lake Burton - 0 inches (you may keep any size)

Lake Juliette - 0 inches (you may keep any size)

Lake Lanier - 14 inches

Lake Oconee - Largemouth bass between 6 and 11 inches and greater than 14 inches can be kept. All others must be released immediately.

Ocmulgee River from the Spring Street bridge crossing in Macon downstream to the confluence of the Ocmulgee River and the Oconee River - 14 inches

Lake Walter F. George - 14 inches

West Point Reservoir - 16 inches

Public Fishing Area lakes operated by the Department of Natural Resources - 14 inches. This limit will not apply to lakes which have been posted as having a different length limit for largemouth bass.

Shoal bass -

12 inches from the Flint River and its tributaries

Lake Lanier - 14 inches

Spotted bass:

Lake Lanier - 14 inches

Striped bass, White bass, Hybrid striped-white bass -
You may only keep two fish that are 22 inches or longer, except the minimum length is 22 inches on the North Newport River, Medway River including Mount Hope Creek, Little Ogeechee River; Ogeechee River; Oconee River downstream of Ga. Hwy 22 in Milledgeville; Ocmulgee River downstream of Ga. Hwy 96 bridge between Houston & Twiggs counties; Altamaha River, Satilla River, St. Marys River, and the tributaries to these river sections; and from saltwater.

Trout -
No minimum length limit for trout other than:

Waters Creek - brown and rainbow trout - 22 inches; brook trout - 18 inches

Noontootla Creek and its tributaries- 16 inches for all trout

How to Measure a Freshwater Fish
1. Place the fish on its side with the jaw closed
2. Squeeze the tail fin lobes together
3. Measure in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the extreme tip of the tail
4. You must release all fish shorter than the minimum length indicated for that species.

Fish Catch Rules
Fishing Methods:

• There is no restriction on the number of poles and lines to fish for game fish except: fishing for trout - one pole; fishing on Public Fishing Areas - two poles; and sport Shad fishing - two poles.
  
• Dip nets and cast nets may be used to take threadfin shad, gizzard shad, and blueback herring for bait.
  
• Landing nets may be used to land fish legally caught.
  
• Anglers using more than two poles and lines to fish for Shad must follow commercial shad fishing regulations. Bow nets are considered sport Shad fishing gear and shall have a minimum legal size of 31/2 inches stretched mesh.
  
• Seines, nets, and chemicals may be used in a private pond if all owners agree and a two hour notice is given to the local DNR Conservation Ranger.

IT IS ILLEGAL TO:

• Use live blueback herring for bait or possess live blueback herring in all freshwaters except the following: lakes Juliette, Lanier, Chatuge, and Nottely; the Altamaha River watershed downstream of the following dams: Juliette dam on the Ocmulgee River; Lake Juliette dam on Rum Creek; Lake Tobesofkee dam on Tobesofkee Creek, Lake Sinclair dam on the Oconee River; and watersheds of all other streams that flow directly into the Atlantic Ocean. For a color map showing where live blueback herring are legal and illegal, click here Blueback Herring Map (you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0 or more current to view this map).
  
• Fish for game fish, except American shad, Hickory shad, Channel catfish, or Flathead catfish, by any means other than pole and line.
  
• Take any fish from freshwater by any method other than pole and line, set hooks, jugs, and Sport Trotlines, Spear Fishing, Minnow Seines, and Bow Fishing as listed in Alternate Fishing Methods.
  
• Use electronic devices, explosives, poisons, or firearms to take fish.
  
• Snag any fish.

Alternate Fishing Methods:


SPORT TROTLINES:

• The following fish may be taken using sport trotlines: American and/or Hickory shad during shad season only and catfish and nongame fish year-round.
  
• Sport trotline is one line or a combination of lines using less than 51 hooks. Sport trotlines must be marked with the owner's name and address, with visible buoys, and must be submerged at least three (3) feet below the surface of the water. Sport trotlines must be attended regularly and removed after the completed fishing trip. Unmarked or unattended trotlines will be confiscated by DNR personnel. It is unlawful to use any sport trotline within one-half mile below any lock or dam on any of the freshwaters of Georgia.
  

SPEAR FISHING

• Only nongame fish may be speared in freshwater and are not to be sold or used for commercial purposes.
  
• It is illegal to spear game fish and all species of catfish.
  
• Possession of a sport fishing license is required to spear fish in freshwater.
  
• You must be completely submerged when in the act of spearing fish.
  
• "Spearing" is the use of a handheld spear or similar device and the use of a weapon, other than a firearm, which propels a projectile to which a wire, rope, line, or other means of recovering the projectile is attached and secured to the weapon or the person using the weapon.
  

Spear fishing for any species is prohibited in the marked areas around five fish refuges in Lake Seminole and three fish refuges in Lake Blackshear from May 1 - October 31.


MINNOW SEINES

• Nongame fish, except American eels and protected species, may be taken using a minnow seine when the fish are five (5) inches long or less and are not to be sold or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
  
• All game fish and American eels taken in minnow seines must be released
  immediately and unharmed into the waters they were taken in.
  
• A minnow seine must be less than 20 feet long and have a square mesh of 3/8 inches or less or in diameter if the mesh is not square.
  
• Minnow seines may not be used in designated trout waters.
  
  

BOW FISHING

• Nongame fish only may be taken by bow and arrow from freshwater under the following conditions:
  
• Any individual using a bow and arrow must have a valid sport fishing license on their person.
  
• Arrows must be equipped with barbs, or contain devices on the point to act as a harpoon, for recovering fish and must be attached to the person or bow by a rope, line, or cord sufficient for recovering the arrow and fish.
  
• Arrows with poisonous or exploding heads are illegal.
  
• Arrows cannot be discharged into the water closer than 150 feet of anyone engaged in another type of recreation.
  
• Legal hours for fishing with bow and arrow are from sunrise to sunset, except nongame fish may be taken any time during the day or night while using a light in the impounded waters of lakes over 500 acres in size.
  
• Any game fish with an open wound found in the possession of a person fishing with bow and arrow will be used as evidence of taking and possessing fish illegally.
  

Free Fish Days
June 2 & 9 of 2001
September 22 of 2001
Freshwater license waived for residents
NSW: Saltwater license not required year-round