Georgia Fishing Methods and General Rules

• No restriction on the number of poles and lines used to fish for game fish except: designated trout waters 1 pole; Public Fishing Areas 2 poles; sport shad fishing 2 poles (more than two poles for shad requires following commercial shad regulations).poles and lines
• A sport trotline is one line or a combination of lines using less than 51 hooks; must be marked with owner's name and address and visible buoys, submerged at least three feet, attended regularly and removed after the trip. Unlawful within one-half mile below any lock or dam. Only catfish and nongame fish (year-round) and American and hickory shad during shad season may be taken. Not permitted on Lake Tobesofkee, any sport trotlines
• Only catfish and nongame fish (year round) and American and hickory shad during shad season may be taken with set hooks and jugs. Illegal on Lake Tobesofkee, any State Park lake or any PFA. Sport fishing license required.set hooks and jugs
• Only nongame fish, and flathead and channel catfish in the Savannah River basin (day or night by light), may be speared in freshwater; spears must have barbs and be attached to a line; the person must be completely submerged; sport fishing license required.spearfishing
• Nongame fish may be taken by bow and arrow from freshwater with a sport fishing license; arrows barbed and attached by line; no poisonous or exploding arrowheads; not within 150 feet of other recreation; sunrise to sunset except nongame at night with a light on reservoirs over 500 acres. Any catfish species may be taken by bow day or night with a light.bowfishing
• Dip nets and cast nets may take threadfin shad, gizzard shad and blueback herring for bait (no cast nets in State Park lakes or PFAs). Bow nets are sport shad gear, minimum 3.5 inch stretched mesh. Up to 50 nongame fish 5 inches or less may be taken by minnow seine (under 20 ft, 3/8 in mesh or less) or trap (size limits, tagged, up to 2 traps). Seines and traps prohibited in designated trout waters and listed Etowah,nets and traps
• Legal in freshwater March 1 – July 15 with a sport fishing license; only flathead, channel and blue catfish by hand without devices or breathing apparatus; may not alter features to attract or capture fish.noodling
• It is unlawful to fish on someone else's property without permission. Permission is not required in the Chattahoochee or Oconee National Forests, on WRD PFAs or WMAs, or in Georgia State Parks.permission
• According to statewide regulations or as otherwise posted, fishing is allowed on WMAs. Alcohol use is prohibited on WMAs except in designated camping areas.WMAs
• Individuals may not possess more than 10 freshwater turtles (any combination of species) without a valid permit; no closed season; protected species may not be taken.turtles
• There are 58 fishes, 10 salamanders, one frog, one snail, 27 mussels, 20 crayfish and 14 turtles under protection in Georgia. Native crayfish may be used as bait if not harvested from burrows.protected species

2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations (Georgia DNR), pages 62 to 65. Checked October 2026.

• Georgia Freshwater Creel Limitsblack bass, crappie, bream, catfish, stripers and walleye
• Georgia Trout Fishing Rulestrout license, delayed harvest and artificial-only streams
• Georgia Saltwater LimitsCRD bag and size limits, SIP permit and the 2027 reef endorsement
• Georgia Border Water AgreementsSouth Carolina, Alabama, Florida and North Carolina reciprocity
• Georgia Special Regulation Waterslake and river exceptions and seasonal closures
• License prices and permitswho needs a license and what it costs