Buttermilk Sound Fishing
A Georgia sound off McIntosh County with 7 ramps and 5 pier or bank sites nearby.
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Buttermilk Sound: what to expect
Buttermilk Sound is a Georgia sound on the McIntosh County coast, listed in the USGS place-name file. Darien, near 3 miles away, is the closest town.
You can choose from 7 public ramps and 5 pier or bank sites. CRD reef Troupe Creek Reef sits about 6 miles from the sound. Water moves in and out through Altamaha River mouth, Goulds Inlet and Cabretta Inlet.
Getting onto Buttermilk Sound
Boat launches for Buttermilk Sound
- Two-Way Fish Camp Boat Ramphoist launch, dock, restroom, fee, 3 miles
- Champney River Boat Ramp1 lane, dock, restroom, 4 miles
- Darien River Boat Ramp1 lane, dock, restroom, 5 miles
- Altama Plantation WMA Boat Rampcarry-in launch, 6 miles
- Altamaha Waterfowl Refuge Lakes #2 Boat Rampcarry-in launch, 11 miles
- Altamaha Waterfowl Refuge Lakes #1 Boat Rampcarry-in launch, 11 miles
- Altamaha Waterfowl Refuge Lakes #3 Boat Rampcarry-in launch, 11 miles
Piers and bank spots near Buttermilk Sound
- James Allen Williamson Champney River Parkcatwalk, 4 miles
- Butler River Bridgefoot bridge, 4 miles
- Altamaha Waterfowl Refuge Lakes #2fishing pier, 11 miles
- Altamaha Waterfowl Refuge Lakes #1fishing pier, 11 miles
- Altamaha Waterfowl Refuge Lakes #3fishing pier, 11 miles
GA DNR Coastal Resources Division Coastal Fishing Map layers and WRD Water Access Points, checked October 2026.
What you can keep in Buttermilk Sound
CRD sets the creel and size limits for state waters, shown here; past three miles the federal rules apply.
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Amberjack | 1; minimum size 28" FL | All year |
| American Eel | 25; minimum size 9" TL | All year |
| Atlantic Croaker | 25; minimum size None | All year |
| Atlantic Sturgeon | No harvest | Closed (no harvest) |
| Billfish (Blue marlin, White marlin, Sailfish) | Billfish may be landed in Georgia provided the angler complies with all federal regulations (federal HMS rules) | open all year |
| Black Drum | 15; minimum size 14" TL | All year |
| Black Sea Bass | 15; minimum size 12" TL | All year |
| Bluefish | 15; minimum size 12" FL | May 1 – Feb. 28 annually |
| Cobia | 1 per angler, maximum 6 per boat; minimum size 36" FL | March 1 – Oct. 31 |
| Dolphin (mahi mahi) | 10 (not to exceed 54 per boat, except headboats, which are allowed 10 per paying customer; minimum size 20" FL | All year |
| Flounder | 15; minimum size 12" TL | All year |
| Gag Grouper | 2; minimum size 25" TL | All year |
| King mackerel | 3; minimum size 24" FL | All year |
| Spanish mackerel | 15; minimum size 12" FL | All year |
| Red Drum | 5; minimum size 14" TL (Maximum 23" TL) | All year |
| Red Porgy | 3; minimum size 14" TL | All year |
| Red Snapper | 2; minimum size 20" TL | All year |
| Sharks (other than hammerheads, small shark composite, and prohibited | 1 per angler or boat, whichever is fewer; minimum size 54" FL (83" FL for Shortfin Makos) | All year |
| Small Shark Composite (Atlantic Sharpnose, Bonnethead, Spiny Dogfish) | 1 per angler; minimum size 30" FL | All year |
| Prohibited sharks | No harvest: Sand tiger, Sandbar, Silky, Bigeye sand tiger, Whale, Basking, White, Dusky, Bignose, Galapagos, Night, Reef, Narrowtooth, Caribbean Sharpnose, Smalltail, Atlantic angel, Longfin | Closed (no harvest) |
| Sheepshead | 15; minimum size 10" FL | All year |
| Spot | 25; minimum size None | All year |
| Spotted Seatrout | 15; minimum size 14" TL | All year |
| Striped bass (Saltwater) | 2; minimum size 22" TL | All year |
| Striped bass (Savannah River) | 2; minimum size 27" TL | All year |
| Tarpon | 1; minimum size 68" FL | All year |
| Tripletail | 2; minimum size 18" TL | All year |
| Weakfish | 1; minimum size 13" TL | All year |
| Hammerhead sharks (great, scalloped, smooth) | 1 per angler or boat, whichever is less; minimum size 78 inches FL | All year |
Saltwater anglers 16 and up carry a Georgia fishing license ($15 resident, $50 nonresident for 365 days) and the free Saltwater Information Program permit.
A Reef and Migratory Fish Endorsement becomes mandatory on January 1, 2027 for the listed species: $10 resident, $20 nonresident.
GA DNR Coastal Resources Division recreational limits and the 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations saltwater section, checked October 2026. CRD limits.
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| Reef | Distance | Type | Depth | Deployment points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Troupe Creek Reef | 6 miles southwest | inshore | ||
| Jove Creek Reef | 7 miles south | inshore | ||
| Little River Reef | 10 miles south | inshore | ||
| Jekyll Island Pier Reef | 13 miles south | inshore | ||
| Henry Vassa Cate (formerly Twin Sisters) Reef | 14 miles south | inshore | ||
| ALT Reef | 15 miles east | offshore | 30-40 ft | 55 |
CRD Offshore Artificial Reef footprints and guide points.
Short drives from Buttermilk Sound
Crickets, shiners and line near Buttermilk Sound
- Hampton River Marinamarina, St. Simons Island, 3 miles
- Two-Way Fish Campmarina, Brunswick, 3 miles
- Two Way Fish Camp & Marinamarina, Brunswick, 4 miles
- Darien River Waterfront Park & Docksbait and tackle shop, Darien, 5 miles
- Blue N Hall Marinamarina, Darien, 7 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 10400 Canal Crossingsporting goods store, Brunswick, 8 miles
Guided trips on Buttermilk Sound
- Billy Bee's Kids Charterscharter, St. Simons Island, (912) 269-9983
- Bracewell Charterscharter, Jekyll Island, (912) 996-1572
- Captain Mark Noble Charter Fishingcharter, St. Simons Island, (912) 634-1219
- Cashflow Fishing Charters Ltdcharter, Brunswick, (912) 267-0782
- Coastal Island Charter Fishingcharter, Saint Simons Island, (912) 638-0241
- Coastal River Charterscharter, Savannah, (912) 441-9930
- Creekside Charterscharter, Jekyll, Brunswick, (912) 571-6322
- Dead Bait Charterscharter, Brunswick, (912) 266-1430
Places to stay close to Buttermilk Sound
- Darien3 miles
- Country Club Estates8 miles
- St. Simons9 miles
- Sterling10 miles
Neighboring sounds of Buttermilk Sound
- Altamaha Sound5 miles
- Doboy Sound8 miles
- St. Simons Sound13 miles
Rivers feeding the area of Buttermilk Sound
- South Newport River24 miles
County pages that include Buttermilk Sound
- McIntosh Countyseat: Darien
Piscifun tackle chosen with Buttermilk Sound in mind
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Know what you hooked at Buttermilk Sound
Photo: NOAA Photo Library, CC BY 2.0
Photo: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC., Public domain
Photo: ScubaBear68, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada, CC BY 2.0
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Buttermilk Sound: questions Georgia anglers send in
Where is Buttermilk Sound?
In McIntosh County waters, about 3 miles from Darien.
Can a nonresident fish Buttermilk Sound?
Saltwater anglers 16 and up carry a Georgia fishing license ($15 resident, $50 nonresident for 365 days) and the free Saltwater Information Program permit.
What are redfish rules for Buttermilk Sound?
Five red drum a day, 14 to 23 inches total length, per CRD.
What is the spotted seatrout limit for Buttermilk Sound?
Spotted seatrout: 15 daily, 14-inch minimum.
Is there a public ramp near Buttermilk Sound?
Launch at Two-Way Fish Camp Boat Ramp, 3 miles away.
Is there bank fishing near Buttermilk Sound?
James Allen Williamson Champney River Park sits about 4 miles from it.
Which artificial reef is closest to Buttermilk Sound?
Troupe Creek Reef at 6 miles, depth not printed.
Which listed shop is closest to Buttermilk Sound?
Try Hampton River Marina, roughly 3 miles off.
Load the cooler for Buttermilk Sound
License, SIP permit and CRD limits come first.