White Catfish in Georgia
Georgia white catfish: creel rules, records and waters.
- n/alimit
- 8 lb, 10 ozrecord
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Georgia white catfish at a glance
State fisheries staff list White catfish (Ameiurus catus) as a nongame fish.
In 1996 an angler set the Georgia freshwater record at 8 lb, 10 oz. It appears on 17 Georgia lake and river pages here.
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Description. “Upper body is slate gray or steel blue, under belly white, moderately forked tail. Head very wide. Up to 20 lb, most less than 5 lb.”
Habitat. “Ponds, slow moving streams or slightly brackish water. Migrates short distances to reach suitable spawning areas, spawns under rocks, logs or undercut banks when water reaches 75-80 degrees.”
Range. “Chattahoochee, Flint, Ochlockonee, Ocmulgee, Oconee, Altamaha, Ogeechee, Satilla, St. Marys and Savannah River basins.”
Tips. “Live bait, worms, cut bait, shrimp, liver.”
Quoted from the WRD fish identification page. The WRD entry covers several related fish. Checked October 2026.
white catfish record entries for Georgia
| List | Weight | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| freshwater | 8 lb, 10 oz | Savannah River | 1996 |
WRD freshwater record list and CRD saltwater game fish records; angler names left out. Checked October 2026.
Georgia lakes and rivers with white catfish
Reservoirs and ponds with white catfish
- Lake Sinclair14,750 acres
- Lake Jackson4,750 acres
- Lake Yonah330 acres
- Miller Lake19 acres
Creeks and rivers with white catfish
- Ocmulgee RiverTelfair
- Altamaha RiverWayne
- Oconee RiverLaurens
- Satilla RiverBrantley
- Savannah RiverRichmond
- Ogeechee RiverJefferson
- Ohoopee RiverTattnall
- Saint Marys RiverCharlton
- Chestatee RiverLumpkin
- Ochlockonee RiverColquitt
- North Oconee RiverJackson
- Little Satilla RiverBrantley
- Alabaha RiverPierce
WRD access point species flags and WRD fishing forecasts; largest waters first.
Similar Georgia fish to white catfish
- Yellow Bassfreshwater
- Bowfinfreshwater
- Black Bullheadfreshwater
- Brown Bullheadfreshwater
- Yellow Bullheadfreshwater
- Blue Catfishfreshwater
- Common Carpfreshwater
- Freshwater Drumfreshwater
- Longnose Garfreshwater
- Spotted Garfreshwater
- Smallmouth Buffalofreshwater
- Green Sunfishfreshwater
Photos of fishing water by White Catfish
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Jud McCranie, CC BY-SA 4.0
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What gets asked most about white catfish here
May Georgia anglers keep white catfish?
No Georgia row names it; statewide rules apply.
When was Georgia's white catfish record set?
8 lb, 10 oz on the freshwater list, from Savannah River in 1996.
Which Georgia water should I try for white catfish?
17 water pages on this site, led by Lake Sinclair, Lake Jackson and Lake Yonah.
Do Georgia hatcheries raise white catfish?
No published stocking schedule names it.
Is white catfish a game fish in Georgia?
A nongame fish, Ameiurus catus; freshwater water.
When is white catfish season open in Georgia?
No closed season is printed for it.
Is a saltwater permit required for white 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.
Do Georgia outfitters list white catfish?
No listed guide names it; the guides page lists every operator.
Head out after white catfish
Every water named above has its own page with ramps, gauges and limits.