Flathead Catfish in Georgia
Rules, records and where to find flathead catfish in Georgia.
- No limitlimit
- 83 lb, 0 ozrecord
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A Georgia primer on flathead catfish
The Georgia DNR fish lists carry Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) as a game fish. The guide row for statewide freshwater sets No limit; season open all year.
Georgia's freshwater record is 83 lb, 0 oz, set in 2006. 42 lake and river pages on this site name it in their WRD species lists.
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Description. “Flattened head, yellowish mottled with brown and green; lower jaw extends beyond upper jaw and unforked tail. Very small eyes. Weight can exceed 100 lb; less than 30 lb typical.”
Habitat. “Deep murky pools with some current; rocky, rubble-bottom areas with holes. Spawning occurs in holes or other sheltered places under rocks and logs when water reaches 70-80 degrees.”
Range. “Tennessee, Coosa, Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, Oconee, Savannah, Altamaha and Satilla River basins.”
Tips. “Live bait such as minnows, chubs, crayfish, or sunfish. Use trotlines, setlines or jugs.”
Quoted from the WRD fish identification page. The WRD entry covers several related fish. Checked October 2026.
Georgia bag rules covering flathead catfish
| Applies to | Limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide freshwater | No limit | Open all year |
| Statewide freshwater | Noodling (hand capture) legal March 1 – July 15 with a sport fishing license; only flathead, channel and blue catfish | March 1 – July 15 |
2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations (Georgia DNR). Checked October 2026.
Record flathead catfish from Georgia water
| List | Weight | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| freshwater | 83 lb, 0 oz | Altamaha River | 2006 |
| freshwater | 83 lb, 0 oz | Altamaha River | 2010 |
WRD freshwater record list and CRD saltwater game fish records; angler names left out. Checked October 2026.
Georgia waters listing flathead catfish
Still water holding flathead catfish
- Clarks Hill Lake71,535 acres
- Lake Walter F. George45,180 acres
- Lake Seminole37,500 acres
- West Point Lake25,900 acres
- Lake Oconee19,050 acres
- Lake Sinclair14,750 acres
- Lake Allatoona11,860 acres
- Lake Blackshear8,500 acres
- Lake Jackson4,750 acres
- Lake Nottely4,180 acres
- Lake Juliette3,600 acres
- Lake Blue Ridge3,290 acres
- Carters Lake3,220 acres
- Lake Andrews1,540 acres
- Lake Chehaw1,400 acres
- Reregulation Reservoir1,030 acres
- High Falls Lake650 acres
- Lake Acworth303 acres
- Miller Lake19 acres
- Hogan Lake10 acres
Moving water holding flathead catfish
- Ocmulgee RiverTelfair
- Chattahoochee RiverHall
- Altamaha RiverWayne
- Flint RiverBaker
- Oconee RiverLaurens
- Satilla RiverBrantley
- Etowah RiverCherokee
- Savannah RiverRichmond
- Ohoopee RiverTattnall
- Tallapoosa RiverHaralson
- Kinchafoonee CreekLee
- Oostanaula RiverGordon
- Coosa RiverFloyd
- Chestatee RiverLumpkin
- Coosawattee RiverGilmer
- Chattooga River, Chattooga CountyChattooga
- Ochlockonee RiverColquitt
- White Oak CreekCoweta
WRD access point species flags and WRD fishing forecasts; largest waters first.
Other Georgia species grouped with flathead catfish
- Largemouth Bassfreshwater
- Altamaha Bassfreshwater
- Bartram's Bassfreshwater
- Chattahoochee Bassfreshwater
- Redeye Bassfreshwater
- Shoal Bassfreshwater
- Smallmouth Bassfreshwater
- Spotted Bassfreshwater
- Suwannee Bassfreshwater
- Tallapoosa Bassfreshwater
- White Bassfreshwater
- Hybrid Striped Bassfreshwater
Scenes from the water around Flathead Catfish
Photo: Jcgaylor, CC0 1.0
Photo: Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mccunicano, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: David Dugan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Georgia flathead catfish, asked and answered
Which Georgia rule governs keeping flathead catfish?
No limit for statewide freshwater; season open all year.
Which year produced the Georgia record flathead catfish?
83 lb, 0 oz on the freshwater list, from Altamaha River in 2006.
Where are flathead catfish found in Georgia?
42 water pages on this site, led by Clarks Hill Lake, Lake Walter F. George and Lake Seminole.
Does Georgia stock flathead catfish?
WRD posts per-water stocking only for trout.
What kind of fish is flathead catfish under Georgia rules?
A game fish, Pylodictis olivaris; freshwater water.
Does Georgia close the season on flathead catfish?
Open all year on statewide freshwater.
Which permit do I need for flathead catfish?
Georgia asks anglers 16 and older for a fishing license: $15 for residents and $50 for nonresidents, each good for 365 days from purchase.
Does any Georgia charter run trips for flathead catfish?
See the guides page; none name it.
Go find some flathead catfish
Each listed Georgia water opens a page with launches and limits.