Length Limits

NOTE: There are no minimum length limits on game fish unless they are listed below:

Largemouth bass - 12 inches statewide except:

• Bear Creek Reservoir (Jackson County) - bass between 16 and 22 inches must be released immediately.  All others may be kept.
• Blackshear - 14 inches
• Blue Ridge - no minimum (0 inches)
• Burton - no minimum (0 inches)
• Juliette - no minimum (0 inches)
• Lanier - 14 inches
• Oconee - bass between 11 and 14 inches must be released immediately.  All others may be kept.
• Ocmulgee River from the Spring Street bridge crossing in Macon downstream to the confluence of the Ocmulgee River and the Oconee River - 14 inches
• Walter F. George - 14 inches
• West Point - 14 inches
• Public Fishing Area lakes operated by the Department of Natural Resources - 14 inches.  This limit will not apply to lakes which have been posted as having a different length limit for largemouth bass.

Shoal bass:

• Flint River and its tributaries - 12 inches
• Lake Lanier - 14 inches

Spotted bass:

• Lake Lanier - 14 inches

Striped bass, White bass, Hybrid striped-white bass: You may only keep two (2) fish that are 22 inches or longer, except the minimum length is 22 inches on the:

• North Newport River
• Medway River including Mount Hope Creek
• Little Ogeechee River
• Ogeechee River
• Oconee River downstream of Ga. Hwy 22 in Milledgeville
• Ocmulgee River downstream of Ga. Hwy 96 bridge between Houston & Twiggs counties
• Altamaha River, Satilla River, St. Marys River, and the tributaries to these river sections
• Saltwater

NOTE: A regulation change related to striped bass and the Savannah River took effect on October 1, 2005. 

Trout:

No minimum length limit for trout other than -

• Waters Creek - brown and rainbow trout - 22 inches; brook trout - 18 inches
• Noontootla Creek and its tributaries- 16 inches for all trout

How to Measure a Freshwater Fish

1. Place the fish on its side with the jaw closed.
2. Squeeze the tail fin lobes together.
3. Measure in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the extreme tip of the tail.
4. You must release all fish shorter than the minimum length indicated for that species.

Lake Oconee's Largemouth bass Slot Limit - Make it Work by Harvesting Small Bass!

• Keeping bass less than 11 inches will improve bass growth!
• Keeping bass larger than 14 inches is your choice.
• Bass between 11 and 14 inches must be released.

For more information or comments, call 770-918-6418