2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 27 - GAME AND FISH (§§ 27-1-1 — 27-5-12) › Chapter 4 - FISH (§§ 27-4-1 — 27-4-283) › Article 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 27-4-1 — 27-4-13) › Section 27-4-10 - Creel and possession limits; size restrictions

(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:
Species
Ranges of Sizes Within Which Fish May Not Be Taken
Maximum Daily Creel And Possession Limit
(1)
Genus micropterus (black bass)
0 - 24 inches
10
(2)
Mountain trout
0 - 24 inches
8
(3)
White bass
0 - 36 inches
15
(4)
Striped bass
0 - 36 inches
15
(5)
Striped white bass hybrids
0 - 36 inches
15
(6)
Any one or combination of the species of bream or sunfish
0 - 10 inches
50
(7)
Walleye
0 - 24 inches
15
(8)
Sauger
0 - 24 inches
15
(9)
Chain pickerel
0 - 24 inches
15
(10)
Grass pickerel
0 - 12 inches
15
(11)
Redfin pickerel
0 - 12 inches
15
(12)
Black crappie
0 - 14 inches
30
(13)
White crappie
0 - 14 inches
30
(14)
American shad
0 - 30 inches
8
(15)
Hickory shad
0 - 24 inches
8
(16)
Amberjack
0 - 50 inches
5
(17)
Atlantic croaker
0 - 10 inches
25
(18)
Atlantic sturgeon
0 - 86 inches
1
(19)
Black drum
0 - 36 inches
15
(20)
Black sea bass
0 - 15 inches
15
(21)
Blue marlin
3
(22)
Bluefish
0 - 20 inches
15
(23)
Cobia
0 - 40 inches
5
(24)
Dolphin
0 - 24 inches
15
(25)
Flounder (Paralicthys spp.)
0 - 15 inches
15
(26)
Gag grouper
0 - 25 inches
5
(27)
King mackerel
0 - 36 inches
5
(28)
Red drum
0 - 36 inches
5
(29)
Red porgy
0 - 20 inches
10
(30)
Red snapper
0 - 25 inches
5
(31)
Sailfish
3
(32)
Sand tiger shark
0 - 140 inches
1
(33)
Sharks
0 - 120 inches
2
(34)
Sheepshead
0 - 20 inches
15
(35)
Small sharks composite (Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, and spiny dogfish)
0 - 54 inches
4
(36)
Spanish mackerel
0 - 20 inches
20
(37)
Spot
0 - 10 inches
25
(38)
Spotted sea trout
0 - 25 inches
15
(39)
Tarpon
0 - 90 inches
1
(40)
Tripletail
0 - 25 inches
5
(41)
Weakfish
0 - 15 inches
15
(42)
White marlin
3
(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.