Ga. Code § 27-4-10

Current through 2023-2024 Legislative Session Chapter 709

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.

OCGA § 27-4-10

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.