Cumberland Sound Fishing
A Georgia sound off Camden County with 5 ramps and 2 pier or bank sites nearby.
Pick for marlinPiscifun AlinoX 400 baitcaster with bait clicker25% OFFSale $149.99 Photo of Satilla River: Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cumberland Sound in brief
Look for Cumberland Sound along the Camden County coastline. A stay in Kings Bay Base puts you about 5 miles from it.
CRD and WRD list 5 public ramps plus 2 pier or bank sites close by. Stafford Island Reef is the nearest CRD reef, around 2 miles away. Nearby openings to the sea include St. Marys River mouth, St. Marys Entrance and Satilla River mouth.
Shore and boat access at Cumberland Sound
Trailer ramps for Cumberland Sound
- North River, City of St. Marys Boat Ramp2 lanes, dock, restroom, 5 miles
- Crooked River State Park2 lanes, dock, restroom, fish cleaning, fee, 6 miles
- St. Marys Waterfront Boat Ramp2 lanes, dock, restroom, 6 miles
- Harriett's Bluff Boat Ramp1 lane, dock, 8 miles
- St. Marys River (US 17) Boat Ramp1 lane, 12 miles
Shore spots around Cumberland Sound
- Howard Gilman Memorial Parkpier, 6 miles
- Harrietts Bluff Boat Ramppier, 8 miles
GA DNR Coastal Resources Division Coastal Fishing Map layers and WRD Water Access Points, checked October 2026.
Saltwater regulations covering Cumberland Sound
State-water limits from CRD are below; federal limits apply farther out.
| 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.
Starting January 1, 2027, landing reef and migratory species also needs the new Reef and Migratory Fish Endorsement ($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.
For the marlin herePiscifun Saltflow offshore rod25% OFFSale $299.99 CRD reefs near Cumberland Sound
| Reef | Distance | Type | Depth | Deployment points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stafford Island Reef | 2 miles north | inshore | ||
| Mud Creek Reef | 8 miles north | inshore | ||
| KBY Reef | 13 miles east | offshore | 35-45 ft | 31 |
| A Reef | 17 miles northeast | offshore | 30-45 ft | 40 |
| CDH (formerly C) Reef | 20 miles east | offshore | 45-55 ft | 8 |
| Henry Vassa Cate (formerly Twin Sisters) Reef | 22 miles north | inshore |
CRD Offshore Artificial Reef footprints and guide points.
Around Cumberland Sound on the map
Where to grab bait close to Cumberland Sound
- St Marys Boat Servicemarina, Saint Marys, 4 miles
- Buccaneers Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Saint Marys, 5 miles
- Crooked River State Parkbait and tackle shop, St Marys, 6 miles
- North Star Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Saint Marys, 6 miles
- Barwick Gailmarina, Saint Marys, 6 miles
- Langs Marinamarina, St Marys, 6 miles
Guides who run trips on Cumberland 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
Towns to bunk in for a Cumberland Sound weekend
- Kings Bay Base5 miles
- St. Marys6 miles
- Woodbine18 miles
- Kingsland18 miles
Other Georgia sounds near Cumberland Sound
- St. Andrew Sound14 miles
- Jekyll Sound16 miles
- St. Simons Sound24 miles
Freshwater upstream of Cumberland Sound
- Crooked River12 miles
- Saint Marys River25 miles
County guides covering Cumberland Sound
- Camden Countyseat: Woodbine
Spinning and baitcast picks from Piscifun for Cumberland Sound
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Pictures of the fish at Cumberland Sound
Photo: NOAA Photo Library, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: NOAA's Fisheries Collection , SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC, Public domain
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Photo: Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada, CC BY 2.0
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What gets asked most about Cumberland Sound
Which Georgia town makes a handy base for Cumberland Sound?
Off Camden County, about 5 miles from Kings Bay Base.
Is the SIP permit needed on Cumberland 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 length of redfish may I keep from Cumberland Sound?
Keep up to five red drum from 14 to 23 inches.
How many speckled trout can I keep at Cumberland Sound?
15 fish, 14 inches TL minimum.
Where can I launch a boat for Cumberland Sound?
The closest is North River, City of St. Marys Boat Ramp at 5 miles.
Where is shore access to Cumberland Sound?
Try Howard Gilman Memorial Park, around 6 miles off.
Which CRD reef can I reach from Cumberland Sound?
Stafford Island Reef, about 2 miles away, depth not printed.
Is there a marina near Cumberland Sound?
St Marys Boat Service at 4 miles.
Plan a tide on Cumberland Sound
Read the CRD limits above before keeping fish.