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    Georgia Fishing Regulations: Offshore Limits by Species

    By Breakpoint Team
    Georgia Fishing Regulations: Offshore Limits by Species

    Georgia’s offshore water runs from the sandy shelf past the 3-mile line to the live bottom, the artificial reefs and Gray’s Reef, then out to the Gulf Stream edge. This page sorts the rules by species and by the line on the chart, then points to the agency that owns each rule. Georgia fishing regulations split at the 3-mile line. It is one of the state guides we keep alongside the other states we cover at Breakpoint across the US.

    Georgia Fishing Official Government Organizations

    Georgia Fishing Official Government Organizations

    Inside 3 nautical miles, Georgia DNR sets the rule. Past the 3-mile line, out to 200 nautical miles, SAFMC and NOAA Fisheries do. Where Georgia’s rule is stricter, it can bind in federal waters too; cobia is the example. A vessel with a federal snapper-grouper charter/headboat or commercial permit also follows federal closures in state waters. Those closures include red snapper, the January to April shallow-water grouper closure, the April greater amberjack closure, and prohibited speckled hind and warsaw grouper.

    Anglers 16 and older need a Georgia fishing license and SIP in both state and federal waters off Georgia. The free Saltwater Information Program (SIP) permit expires 365 days after issue and must be renewed every year, including by lifetime, senior and multi-year license holders. Georgia’s reciprocal license agreements with Alabama, South Carolina and Florida do not apply to saltwater. Nonresident licenses run $50 annual, $10 one-day and $3.50 for each additional day. Resident licenses run $15 annual and $5 one-day. Licenses are sold at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com or 1-800-366-2661.

    Who owns what:

    • Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division – Sets and manages saltwater fishing rules in state waters from Brunswick. Marine Fisheries: 912-264-7218.
    • Georgia Board of Natural Resources – Adopts the state saltwater finfish rule, Rule 391-2-4-.04.
    • Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division – Issues fishing licenses.
    • DNR Coastal Law Enforcement – Enforces state rules and inspects catches: 912-264-7237. Ranger Hotline: 1-800-241-4113.
    • South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) – Writes the federal plans for snapper-grouper, dolphin-wahoo, coastal pelagics and cobia off Georgia, and posts SAFMC federal fishing regulations.
    • NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office – Implements those federal rules and announces seasons and closures.
    • NOAA Fisheries Atlantic HMS Management Division – Regulates tunas, billfish, swordfish and sharks and issues permits through the NOAA HMS permit portal: 301-713-2347.
    • NOAA Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary – Sets gear and anchoring rules inside the sanctuary, about 19 miles off Sapelo Island, under the Gray’s Reef sanctuary regulations: 912-598-2345.

    Georgia Offshore Fishing Regulations by Species

    Georgia Offshore Fishing Regulations by Species

    Each bullet below gives "State waters: …; federal waters: …" when the figures differ, and a single statement when they match. Length is total length (TL, nose to tail tip) or fork length (FL, nose to the fork of the tail) as listed. These Georgia saltwater fishing regulations assume the license and SIP described above.

    Fish under a size or bag rule are landed with head and fins intact. No fish may be transferred to another person or vessel on the water, and catches must be available for inspection.

    Federal snapper-grouper gear rules apply in federal waters. A dehooking device and a descending device must be on board and ready for use. The descending device carries at least 16 ounces of weight on at least 60 feet of line. North of 28° N, non-offset, non-stainless-steel circle hooks are required with hook and line and natural bait. The full text is in the federal snapper-grouper gear rules. For how the South Atlantic bottom and pelagic fisheries fit together, see our guide to South Atlantic bottom and pelagic fishing.

    Georgia has 15 inshore and 31 offshore artificial reefs. The 19 reefs past 3 miles are federal special management zones (SMZs), limited to handline, rod and reel and spearfishing gear. Sea bass pots and bottom longlines are prohibited there. Reef locations and coordinates are on the Georgia offshore artificial reef locations page. Chart Contours shows the bottom around a reef. Chart layers are not for navigation.

    Gray’s Reef bars fishing for or possessing snapper-grouper. A vessel in transit may carry snapper-grouper only with gear stowed: terminal gear disconnected and stowed separately, and rods out of the holders and on or below deck. Gray’s Reef allows rod and reel and handline only. Anchoring is prohibited.

    red snapper

    red snapper (Georgia Fishing Regulations)

    State waters and federal waters run different rules. Georgia DNR holds an exempted fishing permit (EFP) with its own season in federal waters. EFP participants land fish under the EFP only and cannot also fish the federal season. The EFP carries 1 per person per day, zero for captain and crew, a harvest cap, trips that begin and end in Georgia, and trip declaration and reporting in the VESL app.

    • LengthState waters: 20 inches TL. Federal waters: no minimum size during the federal season.
    • Bag limitState waters: 2 per person per day. Federal waters: 1 per person per day in season, zero when closed.
    • SeasonState rule: all year. Federal waters are closed except for a short season NOAA announces each year in the Federal Register. Georgia DNR posts EFP dates and terms. A vessel with a federal snapper-grouper permit follows the federal closure in state waters as well.
    • Gear and permitsDehooking and descending devices and circle hooks are required as described above. Georgia license and SIP. Charter vessels and headboats need the federal snapper-grouper charter/headboat permit.

    Check the Georgia DNR red snapper page before fishing.

    black sea bass

    • LengthState waters: 12 inches TL. Federal waters: 13 inches TL.
    • Bag limitState waters: 15. Federal waters: 7 per person per day.
    • SeasonState waters: all year. Federal waters: no standing closure, and NOAA announces the length of the recreational season each year.
    • Gear and permitsSnapper-grouper gear rules apply. Sea bass pots are barred in SMZs. Georgia license and SIP. Federal for-hire permit for charters.

    Check NOAA Fisheries South Atlantic seasonal closures before fishing.

    vermilion snapper

    • LengthState waters: no Georgia size limit. Federal waters: 12 inches TL.
    • Bag limitState waters: no Georgia bag limit. Federal waters: 5 per person per day. Vermilion is not part of the 10-fish snapper aggregate.
    • SeasonFederal waters: no standing closure.
    • Gear and permitsStandard snapper-grouper gear, Georgia license and SIP, and the federal for-hire permit for charters.

    Check the federal snapper-grouper rule text before fishing.

    gag and black grouper

    gag and black grouper

    Groupers and tilefish share a 3-fish aggregate per person per day. Later sections refer back to it.

    • Length24 inches TL in both state and federal waters for gag. Georgia sets no limit for black grouper.
    • Bag limitState waters: gag 2 per person per day. Federal waters: 1 gag or black grouper combined per person per day, inside the 3-fish aggregate. Vessel limit: gag 2, and black grouper 2, per private vessel per day or per for-hire vessel per trip. Captain and crew on a for-hire trip: zero.
    • SeasonState waters: all year. Federal waters: shallow-water groupers closed January 1 to April 30. Gag opens May 1 and closes when NOAA projects the catch limit is reached, and NOAA announces the end date each year. Federal permit holders follow the closure in state waters.
    • Gear and permitsSnapper-grouper gear rules as above. Georgia license and SIP. Federal for-hire permit for charters.

    Check the SAFMC gag grouper page before fishing.

    red grouper, scamp and other groupers

    • LengthState waters: no Georgia limit. Federal waters: red, scamp, yellowmouth and yellowfin grouper 20 inches TL.
    • Bag limitFederal waters: inside the 3-fish aggregate. No more than 1 scamp or yellowmouth combined. 1 snowy grouper per vessel. Goliath, Nassau, warsaw and speckled hind: no retention.
    • SeasonFederal waters: red, scamp, yellowmouth and yellowfin closed January 1 to April 30 off Georgia. Snowy grouper closed January 1 to April 30 and July 1 to December 31.
    • Gear and permitsStandard snapper-grouper gear. Speckled hind and warsaw stay prohibited for federal permit holders in state waters too. Georgia license and SIP.

    Check NOAA Fisheries South Atlantic seasonal closures before fishing.

    golden and blueline tilefish

    • LengthNo Georgia limit. Federal waters: no minimum size.
    • Bag limitFederal waters: golden 1 per person per day, blueline 2 per person per day, both inside the 3-fish aggregate. Captain and crew on for-hire trips: zero blueline.
    • SeasonGolden tilefish opens January 1 and closes when NOAA projects the catch limit is reached. NOAA announces the date. Blueline tilefish closed January 1 to April 30 and September 1 to December 31.
    • Gear and permitsStandard snapper-grouper gear. Georgia license and SIP.

    Check NOAA Fisheries South Atlantic seasonal closures before fishing.

    greater amberjack

    Before planning the day, read about where greater amberjack hold around wrecks and ledges.

    • Length28 inches FL in state and federal waters.
    • Bag limit1 per person per day in both.
    • SeasonState waters: all year. Federal waters: closed April 1 to April 30, with no fishing for, harvest or possession. Federal permit holders follow the April closure in state waters.
    • Gear and permitsStandard snapper-grouper gear. Georgia license and SIP.

    Check the federal amberjack rule text before fishing.

    gray triggerfish

    • LengthState waters: no Georgia limit. Federal waters: 12 inches FL.
    • Bag limitFederal waters: part of the 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate per person per day, no more than 10 of any one species.
    • SeasonNo standing closure.
    • Gear and permitsStandard snapper-grouper gear. Georgia license and SIP.

    Check the federal triggerfish rule text before fishing.

    red porgy

    • LengthState waters: 14 inches TL. Federal waters: see NOAA.
    • Bag limitState waters: 3 per person per day. Federal waters: see NOAA.
    • SeasonState waters: all year. Federal waters have a closed season, which NOAA publishes on its closures page.
    • Gear and permitsStandard snapper-grouper gear. Georgia license and SIP.

    Check NOAA Fisheries South Atlantic seasonal closures before fishing.

    king mackerel

    King mackerel are found along the nearshore edges and reef lines. State and federal figures match.

    • Length24 inches FL.
    • Bag limit3 per person per day.
    • SeasonAll year in state waters, with no standing federal closure.
    • Gear and permitsOn a charter or headboat trip longer than 24 hours, with two licensed operators and a trip receipt for each passenger, up to 2 daily bags may be possessed. Charters need the Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic charter/headboat permit. Georgia license and SIP.

    Check the federal king mackerel rule text before fishing.

    Spanish mackerel

    • Length12 inches FL.
    • Bag limit15 per person per day.
    • SeasonAll year in state waters, with no standing federal closure.
    • Gear and permitsOn a charter or headboat trip longer than 24 hours, with two licensed operators and a trip receipt for each passenger, up to 2 daily bags may be possessed. Charters need the Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic charter/headboat permit. Georgia license and SIP.

    Check the SAFMC regulations page before fishing.

    cobia

    Before picking a spot, see where the cobia show up. A vessel in federal waters off Georgia follows Georgia’s size and bag limit where Georgia’s is more restrictive.

    • Length36 inches FL.
    • Bag limit1 per person per day, no more than 6 per boat.
    • SeasonState waters: March 1 to October 31. Federal waters: SAFMC lists the season off Georgia as closed November 1 to February 28.
    • Gear and permitsHead and fins intact. Federal authorized gear: automatic reel, bandit gear, handline, rod and reel, pelagic longline and spear. Georgia license and SIP.

    Check the SAFMC cobia page before fishing.

    mahi-mahi (dolphin)

    For where these fish stack up, read about mahi along the Gulf Stream edge. State and federal figures match.

    • Length20 inches FL.
    • Bag limit10 per person per day, not to exceed 54 per boat. On a headboat, 10 per paying passenger. For state waters, the headboat needs a valid certificate of inspection.
    • SeasonAll year, with no standing federal closure.
    • Gear and permitsCharters need the Atlantic dolphin and wahoo charter/headboat permit. Georgia license and SIP.

    Check the federal dolphin rule text before fishing.

    wahoo

    Our wahoo guide covers where they run.

    • LengthState waters: no Georgia limit. Federal waters: no minimum size.
    • Bag limitFederal waters: 2 per person per day.
    • SeasonNo standing closure.
    • Gear and permitsDolphin and wahoo charter/headboat permit. Georgia license and SIP.

    Check the federal wahoo rule text before fishing.

    tunas

    Georgia sets no size or bag limit for blackfin tuna. Tunas are federal HMS species.

    • LengthSet by NOAA Fisheries HMS. See the HMS minimum sizes page.
    • Bag limitSet by NOAA Fisheries HMS. See the same page.
    • SeasonNOAA Fisheries HMS sets seasons and quotas.
    • Gear and permitsAn HMS permit from the HMS Management Division applies, plus Georgia license and SIP.

    Check NOAA HMS minimum sizes and bag limits before fishing.

    billfish

    Blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish may be landed in Georgia if the angler follows all federal regulations. In state waters, the size, catch, closure and release rules are the federal rules.

    • LengthFederal HMS rules.
    • Bag limitFederal HMS rules.
    • SeasonFederal HMS rules.
    • Gear and permitsHMS permit, plus Georgia license and SIP.

    Check the Georgia DNR HMS page before fishing.

    sharks

    State rules cover sharks landed in Georgia waters. Federal waters follow NOAA HMS.

    • LengthState waters: sharks other than hammerheads, the small shark composite and prohibited sharks 54 inches FL. Small shark composite (Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, spiny dogfish) 30 inches FL. Great, scalloped and smooth hammerhead 78 inches FL. Shortfin mako 83 inches FL. Federal waters: see NOAA HMS.
    • Bag limitState waters: 1 shark per person or per boat, whichever is fewer, plus 1 small shark composite per person.
    • SeasonAll year. Shortfin mako only when the federal quota is available, and NOAA sets that quota.
    • Gear and permitsRod and reel or handline only. Non-offset, corrodible, non-stainless-steel circle hooks are required except with flies or artificial lures. Prohibited sharks may not be possessed: sandbar, silky, dusky, oceanic whitetip, sand tiger and others, with the full list on the DNR page. Federal waters: HMS permit. Georgia license and SIP.

    Check the Georgia DNR limits page before fishing.