(a) It shall be unlawful to take in one day or to possess at any one time, except at a commercial storage facility or at one's place of abode, more than the creel and possession limits established by the board for that fish species; provided, however, that it shall be illegal to possess more than a total of 50 individuals of all fresh water species named in this Code section. It shall be unlawful to take from the waters of this state or to possess any fish species larger or smaller or in numbers greater than the limits established by the board in accordance with this Code section. The board shall establish creel and possession limits which shall be no greater than the following limits and shall establish sizes of fish species within the following ranges which may not be taken: SpeciesRanges of Sizes Within Which Fish May Not Be TakenMaximum Daily Creel And Possession Limit(1)Genus micropterus (black bass)0 - 24 inches10(2)Mountain trout0 - 24 inches8(3)White bass0 - 36 inches15(4)Striped bass0 - 36 inches15(5)Striped white bass hybrids0 - 36 inches15(6)Any one or combination of the species of bream or sunfish0 - 10 inches50(7)Walleye0 - 24 inches15(8)Sauger0 - 24 inches15(9)Chain ped bass0 - 36 inches15(5)Striped white bass hybrids0 - 36 inches15(6)Any one or combination of the species of bream or sunfish0 - 10 inches50(7)Walleye0 - 24 inches15(8)Sauger0 - 24 inches15(9)Chain pickerel0 - 24 inches15(10)Grass pickerel0 - 12 inches15(11)Redfin pickerel0 - 12 inches15(12)Black crappie0 - 14 inches30(13)White crappie0 - 14 inches30(14)American shad0 - 30 inches8(15)Hickory shad0 - 24 inches8(16)Amberjack0 - 50 inches5(17)Atlantic croaker0 - 10 inches25(18)Atlantic sturgeon0 - 86 inches1(19)Black drum0 - 36 inches15(20)Black sea bass0 - 15 inches15(21)Blue marlin3(22)Bluefish0 - 20 inches15(23)Cobia0 - 40 inches5(24)Dolphin0 - 24 inches15(25)Flounder (Paralicthys spp.)0 - 15 inches15(26)Gag grouper0 - 25 inches5(27)King mackerel0 - 36 inches5(28)Red drum0 - 36 inches5(29)Red porgy0 - 20 inches10(30)Red snapper0 - 25 inches5(31)Sailfish3(32)Sand tiger shark0 - 140 inches1(33)Sharks0 - 120 inches2(34)Sheepshead0 - 20 inches15(35)Small sharks composite (Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, and spiny dogfish)0 - 54 inches4(36)Spanish mackerel0 - 20 inches20(37)Spot0 - 10 inches25(38)Spotted sea trout0 - 25 inches15(39)Tarpon0 - 90 inches1(40)Tripletail0 - 25 antic sharpnose, bonnethead, and spiny dogfish)0 - 54 inches4(36)Spanish mackerel0 - 20 inches20(37)Spot0 - 10 inches25(38)Spotted sea trout0 - 25 inches15(39)Tarpon0 - 90 inches1(40)Tripletail0 - 25 inches5(41)Weakfish0 - 15 inches15(42)White marlin3(b) In accordance with sound principles of wildlife research and management, the board shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations establishing size limits, open seasons, creel and possession limits, and possession and landing specifications on a state-wide, regional, or local basis in accordance with this Code section. The board is further authorized to designate certain areas as catch and release fishing areas and to promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the management of such areas for catch and release fishing.Amended by 2022 Ga. Laws 770,§ 5, eff. 7/1/2022.Amended by 2021 Ga. Laws 32,§ 2-7, eff. 4/27/2021.Amended by 2012 Ga. Laws 676,§; 5, eff. 1/1/2013.
Georgia Legal Code