Georgia Fishing

Learn how to catch more fish in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Ocean City, Virginia, North Carolina, Outer Banks, South Carolina, Georgia, & Florida!

GEORGIA FISHING

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Night Fishing

Learn to read tide charts to plan your fishing trips. When the nights are darkest with very little or no moon showing is called the New Moon. The height of the tide several days prior to the new moon and you will see the tides are gradually increasing in height due to the increased gravitational pull of the moon. The current flow is strongest as the tide heightens causing water to stir up the bottom and reduce fish vision to see your bait... This is not the best time of the month to fish.

The First Quarter or Waxing Moon phase the water will be much clearer, the tides will be six to seven feet in height and the water will not pull as hard... Get your gear now is the time to go fishing.

The Full Moon will bring an upswing in tide heights as does the New Moon, again not the time to plan your fishing trip due to rough waters.

Lastly, the Last Quarter or the Waning Moon phase will bring good fishing due to six to seven foot tides... It's time to grab your gear and head for the beach.

Reading the Beach

When Surf Fishing finding just the right spot is the key to catching the big one or going home with an empty cooler. Without understanding what you are looking for the surf will all look the same. What you really need to understand is that you need to know where the fish reside. For example, the area between the surf and a sandbar is called a trough and fish swim up and down looking for small fish, sand-worms and crabs.. It is easier to locate this trough at low tide when the sandbar is more visible. Especially after a storm or high winds waves will break on the sandbar helping you to identify it. It is important to realize the larger fish like drum will prefer the wider deeper troughs with shallow water at either end, while you can find flounder, speckled trout and sea mullet in the more narrow troughs. Fish need an escape from the trough and it can be recognized by watching the waves pass over the bar. It you see the wave cross the bar without breaking you will realize the water is escaping through a break in the bar. As the water rushes through the break there will be fast moving water shoving smaller fish to waiting predator fish.

Low Tide will also reveal tidal pools where the water will roll in a uniform swell. These tidal pools are close to the beach and time to cast for the fish such as Whiting as this is where they feed on bait fish. You might try using sand fleas or fresh peeled dead shrimp on a 2/0 hook with a pyramid sinker to catch whiting as they have small mouths. Whiting will take your bait if they are there and if after 30 minutes and nothing bites it is time to move to a better spot..

Look for a location on the beach that is not exactly the same in formation, such as points, and know that fish are often curious regarding anything unusual. Noting the texture of the beach sand can also be of real value. The tightly packed fine sand will clue you in to the fact that the beach has a gradual slope when coarse darker sand or small gravel will notify you of a steep sloping beach.

Beach surfaces change constantly due to winds, currents and waves so what is the perfect spot one time may not be satisfying the next. When piers, bridges, inlets or jetties are stable the beaches around them change often and can be the perfect place to attract larger fish when the small fish are swept out on a residing tide.

Spotted Sea trout and Red Drum can be found around oyster beds from October to December, Flounder are found on hard mud, shell or sandy bottoms from May to December. Sheepshead hang around piling or barnacle encrusted structures all year. Spot, Croaker, Whiting, Weakfish are found in deeper water with sandy and or dead shell bottoms. Black Drum are found in April through October near oyster beds, submerged structures and pilings.

Good Fishing Locations

Some of the most easily reached beaches on the Georgia coast would be St. Simons, Tybee and Cumberland Islands. If you have fished on Georgia's beaches you know that one of the existing conditions of the beaches is the gradual slope of the sand causing shallow water for up to a quarter of a mile with few fish. To find satisfactory beaches look for the ends of the isles where creek sand rivers empty through inlets into the ocean. This is especially true on the south end of Tybee Island and on both ends of Jekyll Island. Remember to look for the troughs and tidal pools as previously noted.

Deeper water tends to be along the St. Simons shore. As the inlet nears the ocean it will get more shallow for some reason so concentrate on looking for cuts and run-outs. As long as fish find food they will remain in the area.

You may choose to try Georgia's other barrier island such as Sapelo, St. Catherine, Ossabaw and Warsaw as the fishing opportunities are the same, but the difficulty may be in reaching them. You can find ferrying by boat captains by reservation. Remember, it is important to avoid dune lines when going to and from the beach. Another great fishing area is Camden County on Cumberland Island. This barrier island extends from St. Mary's River entrance north to The Satilla River and St. Andrews Sound.

How to Measure A Fish

Ocean resources are not unlimited, as some folks believe, and it is due partially to heavy commercial and recreational fishing. It is important to adhere to the size and catch limits. The challenge is in catching not killing the fish.

TL=Total Length: Close the fish’s jaw and place it on its side. Next squeeze the tail fin lobes together. Last measure from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail.

Total Length
FL=Fork Length: Measure straight line from tip of the nose to the fork of the tail.

Permits and Licenses

Fresh Water, Salt Water and Some Deep Sea fish require fishing permits/licenses to catch, as well as, catch limits. There are two ways to obtain the necessary licenses and permits. One is to purchase it from a license dealer in one of many locations such as the local hardware store, bait store or marina. The second way is to have your credit card handy and purchase your license online

Cleaning and Packaging Your Fish

After making sure you are within the catch limit. You can clean, package and ice down your fish on the beach if you are prepared, or you simply place them on ice until you get home. An easy way to hold your fish is with a glove or by wrapping a towel around the fish's head while you are scaling or filleting. If you are having your fish for dinner you don't have to worry about freezing it for another day. If you need to freeze them I have found the best way is to place them flat in a freezer baggies and fill it with enough water to cover the fish, being careful to force out all the air possible to prevent freezer burn. Putting them in the freezer on a cookie sheet and letting them freeze flat before stacking them in order for another day. This will prove to be of value when thawing them to prepare for dinner. Fish are tender and must be handled gently after completely thawing to prevent tearing the flesh. Frozen fish are best used before a year ends, but will taste the freshest if you cook them within the first six months.

Did you know that top predators (bass), bottom feeders (catfish) and older larger fish have more contaminant build-up than pan fish such as bream and crappie. Some contaminants build up in the fatty tissues of the fish. Removing the skin and trimming the fat will substantially reduce contaminants. When you cook your fish make sure the fat drips away by broiling, baking and grilling fish . Deep frying is better than pan frying, but only by a smidgen. Be careful to discard the oil the fish were cooked in. The nutritional value as a protein source is more in fish than that in beef, pork, chicken or milk. Fish is considered "heart healthy". Also, the fatty acids in fish are critical for the development of the brain and nervous system. We need the calcium, iron and zinc that fish provide. Eating fish regularly is said to protect against heart and inflammatory disease.

If, for any reason, it is your intention to release the fish you caught there are a few simple rules that will give the fish a better chance of survival.

Be quick and gentle and if possible keep the fish in the water while carefully removing the hook. Circle hooks can help prevent "gut Hooking" the fish. If the fish has swallowed the hook simply cut the line and leave the hook in the fish. It will deteriorate over time.
Wet the measuring board before measuring your fish.
Hold the fish in an upright position while pushing the fish through the water to have the water run over the gills.
Release the fish when it is able to swim

Take a Kid Fishing

Childhood memories create the person they will grow to become. Here are a few simple things to help create one of their very best experiences with you:

Keep it fun and easy. Make sure the tackle, bait and way you fish very simple. Fish for plentiful fish you can easily catch . Remember children don't have a lot of patience. It doesn't matter what size or kind the fish is just make sure you applaud their efforts often.

It is most important to keep them comfortable. If it is cool make sure they are warm or if it is warm make sure they have suntan lotion on exposed skin. Take drinks, snacks and treats that they really enjoy.

Be patient. There will be a lot of tangles, knots and re-baiting hooks. Make things interesting by explaining the surroundings and the fish you are trying to catch. Keep it interesting and fun. If possible keep some of the fish you catch for dinner.

Make sure you follow the rules for responsible safety, fishing limits, good sportsmanship and licensing regulations.

The Largemouth Bass is Georgia's State Fish

This picture was drawn by Joshua Knepper who won the State Fish Art Contest (Grades 7-9) Congratulations Joshua.

Tagged Fish

The Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) periodically tags fish for research purposes. Anglers who catch tagged fish are encouraged to return the tag to DNR.

Cut the tag off close to where it goes into the fish. You may then keep or release the fish.
Please call the phone number on the tag (706-857-3394) to report the tag information.
Mail the tag back to the address that is provided when you call.

In the past years, some individuals have placed their own personal tags on fish which were then released. This activity has created confusion among anglers over the purpose for the tagging and the organization responsible for it. Tagging by an inexperienced person can result in the needless death of the fish. For these reasons, DNR urges anglers not to tag fish in public waters unless they are cooperating in a recognized scientific tagging program. Visit The DNR-Sponsored tagging studies for further tagging information.

GEORGIA'S STATE WOMEN AND MEN'S SALTWATER RECORDS
SPECIES	WEIGHT	LOCATION	DATE	ANGLER
Amberjack	72 lbs. 8 oz.	Artificial Reef "L"	1986	Tricial L. Nicosin
Amberjack	92 lbs. 1 oz.	Artificial Reef "J"	1975	Ben W. Key Jr.
Great Barracuda	47 lbs. 8 oz.	Artificial Reef "J"	11/99	Marie Franklin
Great Barracuda	54 lbs. 8 oz.	East of Navy Tower R2	1999	Wayne Hall
Black Sea Bass	4 lbs. 8 oz	Savannah Snapper Banks	1983	Evelyn B. Carter
Black Sea Bass	5 lbs. 11 oz.	Navy Tower R2	1994	J.C. Hadden Jr.
Blue Fish	14 lbs. 4 oz.	Artificial Reef "G"	1986	Kathy Sikes
Blue Fish	17 lbs. 12 oz.	Artificial Reef "G"	1980	Gary Q. Altman
Cobia	68 lbs. 5 oz.	Savannah Snapper Banks	1999	Wanda Carroll
Cobia	88 lbs. 12 oz.	Buoy A ESE Tybee Island	1985	Jeffrey Clark
Atlantic Croaker	1 lb. 12 oz.	Jekyll Creek Boat Ramp	1992	Gretchen Keister
Atlantic Croaker	5 lbs. 12 oz.	Lanier Bridge Brunswick, GA	1977	David Flynt
Dolphin	54 lb. 8 oz.	66 miles off Buoy R "2W"	1977	Romona Arsenault
Dolphin	67 lbs. 6 oz.	East of Navy Tower "R8"	1997	Michael Sheppard
Black Drum	73 lbs. 8 oz.	Walberg Creek	1983	Jckie Cooke
Black Drum	86 lbs. 8 oz.	Drum Point Island Cumberland Sound	1998	Timothy Blecher
Red Drum (Channel Bass)	38 lbs. 13 oz.	ArtificialReef KC	1986	Sandra Price
Red Drum (Channel Bass)	47 lbs. 7 oz.	Artificial Reef KC	1986	Richard Price
Flounder Composite	15 lbs. 10 oz.	Jekyll Pier	1990	Janice Youmans
Flounder Composite	15 lbs. 8 oz.	North Jetties St. Mary's	1982	Walter C. Hewitt
Gag Grouper	20 lbs.	Savannah Snapper Banks	1984	Joyce L . Richards
Gag Grouper	38 lbs.	East of Navy Tower "R2"	2002	David Sapp
Scamp Grouper	23lbs. 6 oz.	Savannah snapper Banks	1987	Kathy Wash
Scamp Grouper	26 lbs.	50 Miles E. of Sapelo Sound	1995	Wayne Hall
Goliath Grouper	124 lbs.	Savannah Snapper Banks	1976	James Chumley
Warsaw Grouper	252 lbs.	62 miles off Savannah in 150 ft. of water 1984	1981	Gene Whitehurst
Jack Crevalle	30 lbs. 6 oz.	Buoy #1 (St. Simons Channel)	1981	Ann Allen
Jack Crevalle	38 lbs. 8 oz.	Off Little Tybee Island	2001	Lex Bazemore
Kingfish (Whiting)	2 lbs. 4 oz.	Mackay River	1975	Lois E. Guinn
Kingfish (Whiting)	2 lbs. 12 oz.	Mackay River	1975	Harold Guinn
Ladyfish	5 lbs	Off Cumberland Island	1978	Marjorie Nighbert
Ladyfish	3 lb. 12 oz.	Hampton River	1977	Dwight Thornton
King Mackerel	42 lbs.	Savannah Snapper Banks	1982	Joyce Richards
King Mackerel	75 lbs. 12 oz.	Grays Reef	2004	Joe H. Bell
Spanish Mackerel	7 lbs. 14 oz.	4 Miles SE of Tybee Island	1988	Ida Knight
Spanish Mackerel	8 lbs. 4 oz.	5 Miles E of Buoy "S"	1991	James I. Geiger
Blue Marlin ( all release)	176 lbs.	Gulf Stream East of Brunswick	1985	Susan D. Meek
Blue Marlin ( all release)	491 lbs. 8 oz.	Gulf Stream off Brunswick	1985	John C. Howard Jr.
White Marlin (all release)	49 lbs. 12 oz.	Gulf Stream, East of St. Catherine's Island	1986	Thomas Hester
Striped Mullet	9 lbs. 3 oz.	General's Cut. Darien River	1994	Steve Middleton
Florida Pompano	1 lb. 7 oz.	Sea Island Beach	1982	Laura A. Cheek
Florida Pompano	5 lbs. 4 oz.	Two Miles E of Sapelo Sound	2002	Bill Knight
Porgy, Composite	15 lbs. 14 oz.	Savannah Snapper Banks	1988	Louis F. Jiran
Porgy, Red	5 lbs. 6 oz.	Triple Ledge	1980	Jimmy Ginna
Runner, Rainbow	17 lbs. 12 oz.	Savannah Snapper Banks	1984	Tyler Bond
Sailfish (All Release)	38 lbs. 5 oz.	3 Miles E of Bouy R (2W)	1992	Laura Hammond
Sailfish (All Release)	65 lbs.	NOAA Buoy Gulf Stream	1981	Vann Downs
Seatrout, Spotted	7 lbs. 8 oz.	Christmas Creek Cumberland Island	1990	Amanda Wooten
Seatrout, Spotted	9 lbs. 7 oz.	Christmas Creek Cumberland Island	1976	Tommy Hall
Shark, Blacktip	94 lbs.	PelicanSpit Hampton River	1984	Wendy Head
Shark, Blacktip	131 lbs.	Warsaw Channel	1978	Albert Lee Boyd
Bull Shark	455 lbs.	Byou "STS"	1978	Mark D. Noble
Dusky Shark	6 lbs. 2 oz.	Hampton River	1962	Wendy Head
Dusky Shark	272 lbs. 8 oz.	Buoy STS	1978	Bill Hunter
Lemon Shark	375 lbs.	St. Andrew Sound	1974	Thomas Winslow
Hammerhead Shark	10 lbs.	Warssaw Sound Channel	1985	Katherine Bullis
Hammerhead Shark	770 lbs.	St. Andrew Sound	1973	Charlie Marshall
Sandbar Shark	124 lbs. oz.	Dickinson Creek Medway River	1985	Dorothea Bays
Sandbar Shark	158 lbs. 8 oz.	Jekyll Island Pier	1979	Chet Lee Kirby
Sandtiger Shark (All Release)	212 lbs. 6 oz.	Artificial Reef KC	1984	Clara Adams
Sandtiger Shark (All Release)	290 lbs.	Ossabaw Island	1977	Billy Castle
Mako shark	228 lbs. 8 oz.	E. of Savannah in 270 ft. of water	1975	Harry Wooley
Nurse Shark	244 lbs.	Sapelo Channel	1981	Bull Watson
Thresher Shark	116 lbs.	Artificial Reef "C"	1976	Mark D. Noble
Tiger Shark	794 lbs.	Buoy STS	1975	Chuck Hall
Sheepshead	12 lbs. 9 oz.	Artificial Reef "A"	2003	Linda Carroll
Sheepshead	14 lbs. 14 oz.	Delegal Creek	2002	Ralph B. White
Red Snapper	29 lbs. 8 oz.	Savannah Snapper Banks	1989	Phyllis Thompson
Red Snapper	37 lb. 8 oz.	Savannah Snapper Banks	1988
Snook	3 lbs. 2 oz.	Honey Creek Camden County	1998	Yvonne Depratter
Snook	10 lb. 2 oz.	Kings Creek St. Simon's Island	1990	Lester Rooks
Atlantic Spadefish	11 lbs 5 oz.	Artificial Reef "L"	2003	Deidra H. Jeffcoat
Atlantic Spadefish	13 lbs. 2 oz.	Artificial Reef "KC"	2004	Shamram Zare
Swordfish	86 lbs.	Gulfstream E of Savannah	1980	W.H. Lippitt
Tarpon	139 lbs.	Gould's Inlet St. Simons	1986	Wendy A. Head
Tarpon	161 lbs.	Buttermilk Sound	1995	C. Edwards
Gray Triggerfish	11 lbs. 5 oz.	Savannah Snapper Banks	1987	Elizabeth Zeagler
Gray Triggerfish	11 lbs. 3 oz.	Savannah Snapper Banks	1989	Dean Williams
Tripletail	22 lbs. 7 oz.	Jekyll Island	1994	Joan Thigpen
Tripletail	38 lbs. 14 oz.	Hampton River	2005	Kyle Thigpen
Blackfin Tuna	30 lbs. 8 oz.	Navy Tower	1999	Penny Morgan-Turner
Blackfin Tuna	38 lbs. 10 oz.	South Ledges	2005	Teddy Elrod
Yellowfin Tuna	165 lbs. 4 oz.	135 Degrees 70 Miles off Buoy R"2W"	1973	Anne Smith
Yellowfin Tuna	249 lbs. 2 oz.	135 Degrees off R "2W"	1988	Ken Cooper
Little Tunny	20 lbs.	135 Degrees off Buoy R "2W"	1973	Sister Mary Clarice
Little Tunny	19 lbs. 3oz.	East of St. Catherine's	1997	Jerry Duncan Sr.
Wahoo	77 lbs.	53 Miles SE of Buoy R "2W"	1988	Linda Li-Chao Yan
Wahoo	123 lbs. 3 oz.	W. of tTriple Ledges (140')	2002	Michael Stefanick
Weakfish	6 lbs. 8 oz.	Troupe Creek	1976	Frank Taylor

Freshwater Fishing Lakes and Reservoirs

Allatoona Lake: This 11, 860-acre reservoir
Species:   Crappie, Spotted bass, Largemouth Bass, Striper, Channel and Flathead Catfish, Gar, Bluegill, Redbreast Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, and Carp
Location: on the Etowah River is 41 miles north of Atlanta on 1-75.

Bartletts Ferry: is a 5,850-acre reservoir (a.k.a. Lake Harding)
Species:   Bream. Largemouth Bass
Location: On the Chattahoochee Riverabove Goat Rock Lake in Harris County

Black Rock Mountain State Park Lake is a 19 acres.
Species:   Bass, Bream, Channel Catfish and Trout
Location: Rabun County, off U.S. Highways 441 and 23 near Mountain City

Black Shoals Lake: This is a 650-acre reservoir
Species:   Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Shellcracker, Channel Catfish, and Crappie
Location:   Rockdale County

Blue Ridge Lake: 3,290 acre reservoir on the Toccoa River near Blue Ridge.
Species:   Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Rainbow Trout, Spotted Bass, White Bass, Channel, Flathead Catfish and Bluegills
Location: Fannin County

Carters Lake: This 3,220-acre reservoir is Georgia's deepest reservoir, with many steep bluff banks
and a totally undeveloped shoreline.
Species:   Walleye, Striper, Crappie, White Bass, Yellow Bass, Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass,
Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Bream, Drum, Buffalo and Sunfish.
Location: Between Calhoun and Ellijay on the Coosawattee River

Clarks Hill Lake is a 71,535-acre reservoir
Species: Striped and Hybrid Bass, Crappie, White Bass, Flathead Catfish, Shellcrackers and White Perch.
Location: 30 miles northeast of Augusta on the Savannah River in Lincoln County.

Cohutta Fisheries Center:   There are several ponds of variable sizes 0.25 to one acre.
Species:   channel catfish, trout (Nov. through May)
Location:   2 miles north of Cohutta on Red Clay Road in Whitfield County.

Commerce Watershed Lake: is a 60 acre lake.
Species:   bass, catfish and crappie
Location:  Banks County, on Level Grove Road two miles east of GA Hwy 98 north of Maysville

Dockery Lake: Three acres. Note: (Seasonal) Anglers 16 or older must have: a state fishing license plus trout stamp, honorary fishing license, or one day fishing license and trout stamp.
Species:   trout
Location:   Lumpkin County

Dyer Trout Hatchery: 0.25 acre. Charge per pound of fish caught Open all year,
Monday through Saturday from 9 am until 5 pm
Species:   Trout
Location:   Towns County

Fort Mountain State Park:   17 acres with $2.00 parking fee. Bank fishing only.
The park is open all year, 7 am to 10 pm.
Species:   Bass, Bream and Channel Catfish
Location:   Murray County, 7 miles east of Chatsworth off GA Hwy 52.

Goat Rock Lake: 940-acre reservoir.
Species:   Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Lunker Largemouth, Hybrid Bass, White Bass,
Striped Bass, Blue Gills, Crappie, Channel Catfish and White Catfish.
Location:   On the Chattahoochee River ten miles above Columbus between Oliver and
Bartlett's Ferry reservoirs. Muskogee & Harris counties.

Hickory Nut Cove Trout Farm: This farm has three 0.25 acre ponds and 6 raceways. Per pound charge includes cleaning and icing catch Facilities: rods and reels provided Open all year from daylight until dark. A five acre pond is available to bed and breakfast guests only.
Species:   Trout
Location:   Towns County, on Bell Creek Road off GA Hwy 75 South of Hiawassee

High Falls Lake: This is a 650-acre State Park lake.
Species:   Crappie, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker), Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Bullhead Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Hybrid Striped Bass and White Bass
Location:  Butts County located north of Forsyth and just east of 1- 75 (exit # 198)

James Sloppy Floyd State Park Lakes: There are two lakes, each 30 acres. Open all year from 7 am until 10 p.m.
Species:   Bass, Bream, Channel Catfish and Crappie
Location:   Chattooga County, 3 miles south of Summerville on City Road 13 off U.S. Hwy 27.

Lake Andrews: 1,540-acre mainstream reservoir
Species:  Gamefish include largemouth Bass, White Bass, Hybrids, Crappie, Channel Catfish and Bream.
Location: on the Chattahoochee River in Southwest Georgia. Lake Andrews begins at the Walter F. George Lock and Dam near Fort Gaines, and stretches for 29 miles downstream to the George W. Andrews Lock and Dam near Blakely.

Lake Blackshear: 8,500-acre reservoir
Species:   Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, White Bass, Bream, Stripers, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Channel Catfish and Flathead Catfish.
Location: on the Flint River in southwest Georgia

Lake Burton: 2,775 acre reservoir
Species:  Spotted Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Brown Trout Bluegills and Shellcrackers,
Location: Rabun and Towns counties northeast Georgia mountains due west of Clayton

Lake Chatuge: 7,050 acre reservoir
Species:   Crappie, Bream, Perch, Catfish, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass,
Spotted Bass, White Bass and Hybrid Bass
Location: Towns County, Georgia and Macon County, North Carolina

Lake Chehaw: (Lake Worth) is a 1,400-acre impoundment
Species:   Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker), Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, and Striped Bass
Location: The reservoir of the Flint River, Muckalee and Kinchafoonee creeks is located partly within the Albany city limits in Lee, Doughety counties.

Lake Conasauga: 14 acre lake
Species:   Bass, Bream, Channel Catfish and Rainbow Trout
Location: Murray County

Lake Eufaula: Lake Eufaula, with over 600 miles in shoreline, is the largest lake in the state.
Species:   Largemouth Bass
Location:   Quitman, Stewart and Clay Counties

Lake Hartwell: 56,000 acre reservoir
Species:   Redeye Bass, Largemouth Bass, Hybrid bass Black and White Crappie
Location: On the Savannah River along the Georgia-South Carolina border in Hart County

Lake Jackson: 4,750 acre impoundment
Species:   Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, Spotted Bass, Bream, Bluegill, Redbreast Sunfish, Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker), Bluegill, White Catfish, Bullheads,. Channel Catfish and Crappie
Location: Jasper, Butts, and Newton counties in central Georgia

Lake Juliette: (also known as Rum Creek) is a 3,600 acre reservoir.
Species:   Trout, Bullhead Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Shoal Bass, Crappie, Shellcracker, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish
Location: 15 miles north of Macon in Monroe County

Lake Lanier: 38,000 acre reservoir
Species:   Striped Bass, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Walleye, Spotted Bass and Hybrid Bass.
Location: About 50 miles northeast of Atlanta in Forsyth, Hall Counties

Lake Nottely: 4,180 acre reservoir
Species:   Spotted Bass, Striped Bass, Hybrid Bass, Crappie, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Bream, Carp and Catfish
Location: Union County

Lake Oconee: 19,050-acre impoundment was formed by the construction of Wallace Dam in 1979.
Species:   White Bass, Crappie, Blue and Flathead Catfish
Location: Lake Oconee is approximately 60 miles east of Atlanta near the towns of Madison and Greensboro in Putnum County

Lake Oliver: 2,150 acre reservoir.
Species:   Bream, Bluegill, Crappie, Largemouth, Spotted Bass, Shoal Bass, Hybrid Bass and
White Bass
Location: On the Chattahoochee River within the city limits of Columbus, in Muscogee County.

Lake Rabun:   Is the third reservoir in a chain of lakes. This narrow reservoir is 10 miles long and covers 834 acres.
Species:   Spotted Bass, Black crappie, Yellow Perch, Walleye, Bluegill, Redbreast, Shellcrackers, and Largemouth Bass
Location: On the Tallulah River, located in the northeast Georgia Mountains near Clayton.

Lake Russell: 26,650-acre reservoir
Species:   Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Crappie, Stripers, Hybrid Bass,
Location: Nestled between Lakes Hartwell and Clarks Hill on the Savannah River in Habersham County,

Lake Seminole: 37,500-acre reservoir
Species:   Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Hybrid Bass, Stripers and Channel Catfish
Location: The junction of the Flint and Chattahoochee Rivers in the southwestern comer of Georgia

Lake Sinclair: The reservoir covers more than 14,750 acres
Species:  Channel Catfish, White Catfish, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Bass, White Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish (Shellcrackers) and Bullheads
Location: North of Milledgeville off Hwy 441 and stretches over Baldwin, Hancock, and Putnam Counties.

Lake Tobesofkee: a 1,750-Acre Lake
Species:   Crappie, Catfish, Hybrids, Crappie, White Bass, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish,
Bluegill and Shell Cracker (Redear Sunfish)
Location: Bibb County near Macon

Lake Trahlyta: 22 acre Lake
Species:   Bass, Bream And Trout
Location:   Union County, in Vogel State Park on U.S. Hwy 129 south of Blairsville

Lake Tugalo: has 597 acres of water and is the fifth reservoir in a chain of lakes
Species:   Largemouth Bass, White Catfish, White Bass, White Crappie, Black Crappie,
Summer Bream and Shellcracker
Location: on the Tallulah River, and flows through the northeast Georgia Mountains near Clayton. Habersham, Rabun Counties

Lake Varner: 850-acre drinking water reservoir
Species: Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Hybrid Bass, Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker), Bluegill,
Crappie, Channel Catfish,
Location: approximately two miles northeast of Covington on Alcovy Road (1-20 Exit 92) in Newton County.

Lake Walter F. George: 45,180-acre Chattahoochee River reservoir
Species:   White Bass, Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Crappie, Channel Catfish, and Blue Catfish
Location: encompasses 640 miles of Georgia and Alabama shoreline and 85 river miles between Columbus and Ft. Gaines. Clay and Quitman Counties

Lake Winfleld Scott: 18-acre Lake.
Species:   Bass, Bream and Trout
Location:    Union County, on GA Hwy 180 between Suches and Vogel State Park

Littletons Fishing Lake: Two lakes, 2.5 acres each. Habersham
Species:   Catfish and Carp
Location:   County, between Toccoa and Hollywood on GA Hwy 17 in Habersham County

Mossbrook Rainbow Trout Farm: The Farm supplies all equipment and ice. There is a charge per pound caught.
Species:   Trout
Location:   9 miles east of Hiawassee on US Highway 76 towards Clayton in Town County

Peeples Lake and Murray Lake: Peeples Lake is 2 acres, Murray Lake is 5 acres
Species:   Bass and Bream
Location:  Obtain directions from the District Forest Ranger in Chatsworth. Murray County

Queen City Lake: 260 acres
Species:   Bass, Bream, Channel Catfish and Crappie
Location:   Walker County, 0.5 miles northeast of LaFayette on Warthen

Rock Creek Lake: 13 acres
Species:   Trout
Location: Fannin County

Salacoa Creek Park: 126 acres
Species:   Bass, Bream, Channel Catfish and Crappie
Location:   Gordon County, 12 miles east of Calhoun on GA Hwy 156

Seed Lake: 240 acres
Species:   Bass, Bream, Yellow Perch and Walleye
Location:   Rabun County, on the Lake Rabun Road between Lakemont and Burton Dam

Unicoi Lake: 53 acre Lake
Species:   Bass, Bluegill, Catfish and Trout
Location:   White County in Unicoi State Park on GA Hwy 356 east of Robertstown

Victoria Bryant State Park: Two small lakes
Species:   Bass, Bream and Channel Catfish
Location:   Franklin County, on GA Hwy 327 north of Franklin Springs

Walkers Lake: 8 acres
Species:   Catfish
Location: Hart County

Weiss Lake: 2,000 acre Reservoir
Species:   Stripers, White Bass, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Blue, Channel, Flathead, White Catfish, Black, Brown and Yellow Bullheads, Freshwater Drum, Smallmouth Buffalo, Carp, Bluegill, Redbreast Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Walleye, Buffalo and Carp
Location: The lower Coosa River from Mayo's Lock and Dam near Rome to the Georgia-Alabama
state line is the Georgia portion of Weiss in Floyd County

West Point Lake: 25,900-acre reservoir
Species:   Largemouth Bass Spotted Bass, Black Bass, Crappie, Stripers, Channel Catfish, White Bass and Hybrid Lake Bass.
Location: on the Chattahoochee River on the Georgia-Alabama border in Troup County

Yonah Lake: Size: 325 acres.
Species:   Bass, Bream and Catfish
Location: Stephens County, on Prather Bridge Road off GA Hwy 184 north of Toccoa