St. Catherines Sound Fishing
A Georgia sound off Liberty County with 7 ramps and 2 pier or bank sites nearby.
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St. Catherines Sound in brief
Look for St. Catherines Sound along the Liberty County coastline. A stay in Buckhead puts you about 12 miles from it.
CRD and WRD list 7 public ramps plus 2 pier or bank sites close by. Bear River Reef is the nearest CRD reef, around 3 miles away. Nearby openings to the sea include Medway River mouth, McQueen Inlet and Ogeechee River mouth.
Shore and boat access at St. Catherines Sound
Trailer ramps for St. Catherines Sound
- Ossabaw Island WMA Boat Rampcarry-in launch, 4 miles
- Kilkenny Marinahoist launch, dock, restroom, fee, 6 miles
- Halfmoon Marinahoist launch, dock, restroom, fee, 7 miles
- Demeries Creek Boat Ramp1 lane, dock, restroom, 8 miles
- Sunbury Crab Co. Restaurant & Marina1 lane, dock, restroom, 8 miles
- Liberty County Regional Park1 lane, restroom, 14 miles
- Richmond Hill WMA / Egypt Island Boat Ramp1 lane, fee, 15 miles
Shore spots around St. Catherines Sound
- Sunbury Boat Ramp Pierpier, 8 miles
- Tivoli River Fishing Pier & Kayak Launchpier, 11 miles
GA DNR Coastal Resources Division Coastal Fishing Map layers and WRD Water Access Points, checked October 2026.
Saltwater regulations covering St. Catherines 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 St. Catherines Sound
| Reef | Distance | Type | Depth | Deployment points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear River Reef | 3 miles north | inshore | ||
| Van Dyke Creek Reef | 3 miles southwest | inshore | ||
| Timmons River Reef | 4 miles southwest | inshore | ||
| BL Reef | 6 miles southeast | offshore | 9-15 ft | 6 |
| Ogeechee River Reef | 11 miles north | inshore | ||
| CAT Reef | 12 miles east | offshore | 35-45 ft | 25 |
CRD Offshore Artificial Reef footprints and guide points.
Around St. Catherines Sound on the map
Where to grab bait close to St. Catherines Sound
- Yellow Bluff Fishing Campmarina, Midway, 5 miles
- Kilkenny Fish Campmarina, Richmond Hill, 6 miles
- Half Moon Marinamarina, Midway, 7 miles
- Sunbury Crab Co. Restaurant & Marinamarina, Midway, 8 miles
- Waterways Marinamarina, Richmond Hill, 11 miles
- Dallas Bluff Marina-Campgroundbait and tackle shop, Townsend, 12 miles
Guides who run trips on St. Catherines 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 St. Catherines Sound weekend
- Buckhead12 miles
- Richmond Hill16 miles
- Midway17 miles
- Riceboro17 miles
Other Georgia sounds near St. Catherines Sound
- Sapelo Sound12 miles
- Ossabaw Sound12 miles
- Green Island Sound12 miles
Freshwater upstream of St. Catherines Sound
- North Newport River13 miles
- South Newport River18 miles
County guides covering St. Catherines Sound
- Liberty Countyseat: Hinesville
Spinning and baitcast picks from Piscifun for St. Catherines Sound
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Pictures of the fish at St. Catherines Sound
Photo: NOAA Photo Library, CC BY 2.0
Photo: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC., Public domain
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 St. Catherines Sound
Which Georgia town makes a handy base for St. Catherines Sound?
Off Liberty County, about 12 miles from Buckhead.
Is the SIP permit needed on St. Catherines 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 St. Catherines Sound?
Keep up to five red drum from 14 to 23 inches.
How many speckled trout can I keep at St. Catherines Sound?
15 fish, 14 inches TL minimum.
Where can I launch a boat for St. Catherines Sound?
The closest is Ossabaw Island WMA Boat Ramp at 4 miles.
Where is shore access to St. Catherines Sound?
Try Sunbury Boat Ramp Pier, around 8 miles off.
Which CRD reef can I reach from St. Catherines Sound?
Bear River Reef, about 3 miles away, depth not printed.
Is there a marina near St. Catherines Sound?
Yellow Bluff Fishing Camp at 5 miles.
Plan a tide on St. Catherines Sound
Read the CRD limits above before keeping fish.