Rule 391-4-3-.05. Creel and Possession Limits

In keeping with sound principles of wildlife research and management, creel and possession limits are:

1. (1) Ten (10) of any one or a combination of the following species, except only five (5) may be of species (c)-(j) listed below as well as only one (1) fish may be greater than twenty-two (22) inches from Lake Lindsay Grace:

   1. (a) Largemouth bass or Florida bass;
   2. (b) Spotted bass or Kentucky bass or Alabama bass;
   3. (c) Altamaha bass;
   4. (d) Bartram's bass;
   5. (e) Chattahoochee bass;
   6. (f) Redeye or Coosa bass;
   7. (g) Shoal bass;
   8. (h) Smallmouth bass;
   9. (i) Suwannee bass;
   10. (j) Tallapoosa bass.
2. (2) Eight (8) of any one or a combination of mountain trout.

3. (3) Fifteen (15) of any one or a combination of the following species; provided, however, only two (2) fish may be twenty-two (22) inches or longer in length:

   1. (a) White bass;
   2. (b) Striped bass;
   3. (c) Striped-white bass hybrids.

4. (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (3) to the contrary, from the North Newport River, the Medway River including Mount Hope Creek, the Little Ogeechee River, the Ogeechee River, the Oconee River downstream of Georgia Highway 22 in Milledgeville, the Ocmulgee River downstream of the Georgia Highway 96 bridge between Houston and Twiggs counties, the Altamaha River, and the Satilla River; from the tributaries to such described sections; and from salt water as defined in O.C.G.A. § 27-4-1 two (2) of any one or a combination of the following species each of which must be twenty-two (22) inches or longer:

   1. (a) White bass;
   2. (b) Striped-white bass hybrids;
   3. (c) Striped bass.

5. (5) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (3) to the contrary, from the Savannah River and its tributaries downstream of J. Strom Thurmond Dam two (2) of any one or a combination of the following species each of which must be twenty-seven (27) inches or longer:

   1. (a) White bass;
   2. (b) Striped-white bass hybrids;
   3. (c) Striped bass.
6. (6) Fifty (50) of any one or a combination of the game species, as defined by O.C.G.A. § 27-1-2 of bream or sunfish;
7. (7) Eight (8) walleye (walleyed pike);
8. (8) Eight (8) sauger;

9. (9) Fifteen (15) of any one or a combination of the following species of pickerel:

   1. (a) Chain;
   2. (b) Grass;
   3. (c) Redfin.

10. (10) Thirty (30) of any one or a combination of the following species:

    1. (a) Black crappie;
    2. (b) White crappie.

11. (11) Eight (8) of any one or a combination of the following species:

    1. (a) American shad;
    2. (b) Hickory shad.

Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 27-1-3, 27-1-4, 27-4-10, 27-4-12.

History. Original Rule entitled "Size Limits" adopted. F. Apr. 11, 1974; eff. May 1, 1974.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Apr. 15, 1975; eff. May 5, 1975.

Repealed: New Rule entitled "Catch-Out Ponds" adopted. F. Mar. 2, 1976; eff. Mar. 22, 1976.

Repealed: New Rule entitled "Possession Limits" adopted. F. Apr. 6, 1977; eff. Apr. 26, 1977.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Jan. 28, 1980; eff. Feb. 17, 1980.

Repealed: New Rule entitled "Creel and Possession Limits" adopted. F. Sept. 11, 1996; eff. Oct. 1, 1996.

Amended: F. Sept. 3, 1998; eff. Sept. 23, 1998.

Amended: F. Aug. 25, 2005; eff. Sept. 14, 2005.

Amended: F. Aug. 28, 2013; eff. Sept. 17, 2013.

Amended: F. Sept. 1, 2016; eff. Sept. 21, 2016.

Amended: F. June 8, 2021; eff. June 28, 2021.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. June 25, 2024; eff. July 15, 2024.