Fishing in Georgia
Reservoirs, trout streams, rivers and the coast across all 159 counties, with the Georgia DNR rules.
Search a town, county, lake or bait shop
- 288lakes
- 524streams
- 267piers
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Lake Hartwell: Stelath, CC BY 4.0
Georgia reservoirs, trout streams, blackwater rivers and the coast
Georgia water runs from mountain trout streams and the big Corps and Georgia Power reservoirs of the Piedmont, through the Flint, Ocmulgee, Oconee and Altamaha river systems, to the sounds and barrier islands of the coast. The Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division manages fresh water and the Coastal Resources Division manages salt water; fresh water stays open all year outside listed waters.
This guide covers 288 lake pages (35 reservoirs, 95 Public Fishing Area ponds, 32 with a WRD fishing forecast), 524 river and trout stream pages, 771 boat ramp pages, 267 piers and bank fishing areas, 387 bait shops and marinas, all 159 counties and 675 towns.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 The largest Georgia reservoirs and lakes
Clarks Hill Lake
71,535 acres, Lincoln County and 4 other counties
Lake pageLake Hartwell
56,000 acres, Hart County and 2 other counties
Lake pageLake Walter F. George
45,180 acres, Clay County and 2 other counties
Lake pageLake Lanier
38,000 acres, Hall County and 3 other counties
Lake pageLake Seminole
37,500 acres, Decatur County and Seminole County
Lake pageLake Richard B. Russell
26,650 acres, Elbert County and Hart County
Lake pageWest Point Lake
25,900 acres, Troup County and Heard County
Lake pageLake Oconee
19,050 acres, Greene County and 2 other counties
Lake pageThe Georgia coast, sounds and reefs
- The Georgia coast12 sounds, piers, ramps and CRD limits
- Artificial reefs45 inshore and offshore reefs
- Saltwater limitsbag and size by species, SIP permit
Pick a kind of Georgia water
- Lakes288 lakes and reservoirs
- Rivers and trout streams524 rivers and streams
- Trout streamsdesignated trout water by county
- Public Fishing Areasthe eleven WRD areas
- Fishing pierslake, river and coastal piers
- Countiesall 159
- Towns675 towns
- Species73 species
- Tournamentsbass events and results
Georgia seasons worth marking
| Fishery | Season |
|---|---|
| Freshwater lakes and rivers | Open all year outside listed waters |
| Designated trout water | Open all year |
| Delayed harvest streams | Catch and release, artificial lures, November 1 to May 14 |
| Cobia | March 1 to October 31 |
| Free fishing days 2027 | June 5, 2027, June 12, 2027 and September 25, 2027 (residents) |
2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations (Georgia DNR). Checked October 2026.
Rules, gauges and lists for Georgia
- Georgia A to Zevery lake, river, county, town and species page
- Georgia state recordsfreshwater and saltwater record fish
- Georgia water levelsUSGS gauges and Corps of Engineers pools
- Georgia trout streamsdesignated trout water by county
- Georgia guides and chartersmountain trout guides and coastal captains
- Georgia trout stockingthe 2026 WRD stocking schedule
- The Georgia coastsounds, inlets, piers and saltwater limits
- Georgia artificial reefsinshore and offshore reef sites
- Georgia Public Fishing Areasthe eleven WRD fishing areas
- Georgia fishing pierspiers and bank fishing areas
- Georgia boat rampsWRD and CRD launch sites by county
- Georgia bait shopstackle shops and marinas by region
- Georgia license and regulationslicense prices, creel limits and rule topics
- Georgia free fishing daysthree license-free days for residents
- Georgia tournamentsbass events, results and the calendar
Georgia fishing questions people ask first
What license covers a Georgia fishing trip?
Georgia asks anglers 16 and older for a fishing license: $15 for residents and $50 for nonresidents, each good for 365 days from purchase. Trout water adds the trout license, and salt water the free SIP permit.
Which Georgia lake spreads over the most acres?
Clarks Hill Lake, listed at 71,535 acres.
Is there a fishing season in Georgia?
Fresh water is open all year except the listed waters and seasonal refuges; saltwater species like cobia have their own seasons.
Which parts of Georgia have trout streams?
458 designated trout streams have pages here, with the full list by county on the trout streams page.
Which agency manages Georgia fishing?
Georgia DNR: the Wildlife Resources Division for fresh water and the Coastal Resources Division for salt water.
What are Public Fishing Areas?
Eleven WRD-managed lakes and pond groups with posted limits and facilities, listed on the PFA page.
Where do Georgia tournament dates appear?
On the tournaments page, with upcoming events, published results and a page for each tournament lake.
Does Georgia have free fishing days?
Three a year for residents: two in June and one on National Hunting and Fishing Day in September.