Island Spear Co.

Regulations Georgia

Spearfishing Regulations in Georgia

Checked against the primary source (GA DNR) on July 5, 2026state

Governing agency: Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) — Wildlife Resources Division (fresh water) and Coastal Resources Division (salt water). Last verified July 5, 2026 by independent primary-source check.

Summary

Georgia has an Atlantic coast, so spearfishing exists in both salt and fresh water but the rules are very different. In fresh water, only nongame fish may be speared — and only while the diver is completely submerged; it is illegal to spear any game fish or any catfish, except channel and flathead catfish in the Savannah River basin. In salt water, spearfishing is a lawful method (subject to the same seasons, size and creel limits as any other gear), and the state's offshore artificial reefs beyond 3 miles are federal Special Management Zones open only to hand-held and spear gear. A fishing license is required everywhere, plus a free Saltwater Information Program (SIP) permit for salt water.

License

What you need to be legal

LegalA license is required
License
Georgia resident or nonresident fishing license (Sport Fishing License), plus a free Saltwater Information Program (SIP) permit for salt water
Who needs it
Anyone spearing fish in Georgia's fresh waters must hold a valid resident or nonresident fishing license (O.C.G.A. § 27-4-33(c)). Anyone 16 or older fishing or spearing in Georgia's salt waters (0–3 nm state waters and beyond) needs both a fishing license and the free SIP permit — the SIP is required even for full-privilege/lifetime license holders and even for people otherwise exempt from a fishing license. Residents age 16–64 generally need a license. (s1, s5, s6, s7)
Resident cost
Resident annual fishing license: $15 (valid 365 days from purchase). The Saltwater Information Program (SIP) permit is free. (s6, s7)
Non-resident cost
Nonresident annual fishing license: $50. Nonresident short-term options include a 1-day license around $10 with additional consecutive days about $3.50 each. The SIP permit is free for residents and nonresidents alike. 6
Where to buy
Online at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, by phone at 1-800-366-2661, or from local license agents statewide. The free SIP permit is obtained the same way. (s6, s7)

Exemptions

  • The SIP permit itself is free but NOT optional — it is required for saltwater anglers 16+ regardless of any fishing-license exemption they may hold 7
  • General Georgia fishing-license exemptions apply (e.g., certain age brackets and short-term free fishing days set by GA DNR), but a saltwater angler still needs the free SIP permit (s5, s7)

The full story

The full story

Georgia has no phantom-license problem — the interesting nuance is jurisdictional and species-based, not law-vs-practice on paperwork. The license is real and enforced: a fishing license is required to spear in fresh water (O.C.G.A. § 27-4-33(c)), and a fishing license plus a free Saltwater Information Program (SIP) permit is required for anyone 16+ in salt water. The SIP being free does NOT make it optional. (s1, s5, s7)

In FRESH water, Georgia is restrictive. Under § 27-4-33 you may spear only nongame fish, and only 'solely for the purpose of sport' while you are 'completely submerged.' Every game fish is off-limits to a spear, and so is every catfish — with exactly one carve-out: channel and flathead catfish in the Savannah River basin, which may be speared day or night by light with a barbed, line-attached spear. Spears may not have poisonous or exploding heads, and you may not fire a spear within 150 feet of anyone else recreating. If a warden finds a game fish with an open spear wound in your bag, that alone is prima-facie evidence you took it illegally. (s1, s2)

In SALT water, Georgia is permissive by comparison. The Coastal Resources Division applies all the normal saltwater finfish rules — seasons, size limits, creel limits — 'regardless of the gear used,' which means spearfishing is a legitimate way to take saltwater finfish subject to those limits. Georgia's showpiece for divers is its offshore artificial-reef system: the 19 reefs beyond 3 miles are federal Special Management Zones where gear is deliberately restricted to handline, rod & reel, and spearfishing gear (including powerheads), effectively reserving those reefs for hook-and-line anglers and spearos. The two things you cannot do with a spear in salt water are take sharks (hook-and-line only) and use a gig on anything but flounder. (s4, s5)

Where it's legal

Saltwater & freshwater

Saltwater

Legal

Georgia's coastal (marine) waters are open to spearfishing. Per the Coastal Resources Division rules, all seasons, hours, creel limits, minimum size limits and other saltwater finfish regulations apply regardless of the gear used, which includes spears. Georgia's 19 offshore artificial reefs beyond 3 miles are designated federal Special Management Zones (SMZs) where gear is restricted to handline, rod & reel, and spearfishing gear (including powerheads). Two hard limits: (1) recreational shark harvest is hook-and-line ONLY — sharks may not be speared; (2) gigs are unlawful in salt water except for taking flounder. A fishing license plus the free SIP permit is required (age 16+). (s4, s5)

Freshwater

Legal

Freshwater spearing is legal but narrowly limited by O.C.G.A. § 27-4-33. Only NONGAME fish may be speared, and only 'solely for the purpose of sport' while the person doing the spearing is COMPLETELY SUBMERGED. It is unlawful to spear any game fish and unlawful to spear all species of catfish — with one exception: channel catfish and flathead catfish may be speared anywhere in the Savannah River, including its tributaries and impoundments within the Savannah River basin, at any time of day and at night using a light. A game fish found with an open (spear) wound in a spearfisher's possession is prima-facie evidence of illegal take. A resident or nonresident fishing license is required. (s1, s2, s8)

Gear

What you can carry

Speargun
Lawful. The statute defines 'spearing' to include 'a weapon other than a firearm which propels or forces a projectile' with a recovery line attached — i.e., a speargun — as well as a hand-held spear. In salt water, spearfishing gear (including powerheads) is expressly allowed at the offshore SMZ artificial reefs. (s1, s5, s8)
Pole spear
Lawful. A hand-held spear or similar instrument held in the hand of the user falls squarely within the statutory definition of 'spearing.' The statute does not name 'pole spear' specifically but a pole spear is a hand-held spear. 1
Hawaiian sling
Not named specifically in Georgia law. A Hawaiian sling propels a spear/projectile and would fall under the statutory 'weapon...which propels...a projectile' language for spearing, provided a recovery line is attached in fresh water; treat this as covered-by-general-definition rather than expressly enumerated. 1
Spearfishing on SCUBA
Not expressly addressed for spearing. Georgia's freshwater spearing statute REQUIRES the spearer to be 'completely submerged,' so diving underwater is contemplated, but the statute neither permits nor prohibits SCUBA/rebreather apparatus for spearing. IMPORTANT nuance confirmed at the DNR guide: the ONLY SCUBA / air-hose / artificial-breathing-apparatus ban in Georgia freshwater fishing law applies to the hand-grabbing ('noodling') catfish exception — it does NOT apply to spearing. Saltwater rules are silent on SCUBA, and the offshore reefs are federal SMZs that allow spearfishing gear. Verify with GA DNR before using compressed-gas diving to spear. (s1, s2, s8 / express permission unverified)

Gear restrictions

  • In fresh water, all spears must have barbs or other devices to recover the fish and must be attached to a line/rope/cord secured to the person or the weapon (this is explicit for the Savannah River catfish exception and is the general practice stated in the regulations) (s1, s2)
  • It is unlawful to use spears with poisonous or exploding heads 1
  • It is unlawful to discharge spears in waters nearer than 150 feet to anyone engaged in any other means of recreation 1
  • In fresh water the spearer must be completely submerged while spearing nongame fish 1
  • In salt water, gigs are unlawful except for flounder; sharks may be taken by hook and line only, not by spear (s4, s5)

What you'll see

Target species

A field guide to the fish a spearo may actually encounter on Georgia's coast — a temperate South Atlantic fishery centred on the offshore artificial-reef system out of Savannah and Brunswick. This is not exhaustive, and it is not a legality ruling. Georgia's spearfishing traps are jurisdictional, not tropical: in salt water every finfish season, size and creel limit applies 'regardless of the gear used,' but Red Drum is a rod-and-reel-only gamefish and sharks may not be speared at all; in fresh water you may spear only NONGAME fish and only while completely submerged. Ciguatera — the headline hazard in Florida and Puerto Rico — is essentially not a concern this far north. Always confirm the current GA DNR Coastal Resources Division and NOAA South Atlantic rules before taking any fish.

Black Sea Bass

Sea bass

Centropristis striata

Legal to spear
reef25-45 cm, up to ~60 cm
Edibility & ciguatera
Excellent — sweet, firm white meat; no ciguatera concern in Georgia's temperate waters.
Where you'll see it
The staple of Georgia reef spearfishing — dense over live bottom, ledges, wrecks and the offshore artificial reefs in 30-75 ft. Curious and approachable, they hold tight to structure.
Legal status
Legal to spear (all gear-neutral limits apply). Georgia lists a 12 in minimum and 15/day; note the federal South Atlantic stock (SAFMC) uses a 13 in minimum and can have a seasonal spawning closure — verify the current GA and federal numbers before you dive.
Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus)
Photo: FDA

Sheepshead

Convict fishSheephead

Archosargus probatocephalus

Legal to spear
inshore0.5-4 kg, up to ~5 kg
Edibility & ciguatera
Very good eating; no ciguatera concern.
Where you'll see it
Jetties, bridge and dock pilings, nearshore wrecks and the offshore reefs — anywhere with barnacles. Stack up on structure in the cooler months; a rewarding, wary structure target.
Legal status
Legal to spear (gear-neutral). Georgia: 10 in minimum, 15/day. Verify current limits.

Southern Flounder

FlatfishDoormatMud flounder

Paralichthys lethostigma

Legal to spear
bottom30-50 cm, 'doormats' larger
Edibility & ciguatera
Excellent eating; no ciguatera concern.
Where you'll see it
Sand/mud bottom near inlets, channels, structure and grass edges; a top gigging/spearing target, especially the fall run out the sounds. Georgia's coast also holds some summer and Gulf flounder (Paralichthys dentatus, P. albigutta).
Legal status
Legal to spear or gig — flounder is the ONE species gigs are lawful for in Georgia salt water. Georgia: 12 in minimum, 15/day. Verify current limits.
Gray Triggerfish (Balistes capriscus)
Photo: Diego Delso / CC-BY-SA 4.0

Gray Triggerfish

Trigger

Balistes capriscus

Restricted — verify
reef0.5-2 kg
Edibility & ciguatera
Excellent — dense, sweet white meat; no ciguatera concern.
Where you'll see it
Reefs, wrecks and hard bottom on the offshore reefs; hangs just off structure and can be shy.
Legal status
Legal to spear but federally managed in the South Atlantic (SAFMC): a 12 in fork minimum and an annually-set season that can close mid-year. Verify the current open dates and bag before targeting.
Cobia (Rachycentron canadum)
Photo: D Ross Robertson · Public domain

Cobia

LingLemonfish

Rachycentron canadum

Restricted — verify
pelagic9-27 kg, up to ~45 kg
Edibility & ciguatera
Excellent eating; no ciguatera concern.
Where you'll see it
Follows rays, turtles and buoys near the surface and holds on wrecks, reefs and nearshore markers; often a surprise cruising target in spring and summer.
Legal status
Legal to spear in season. Georgia: 36 in fork minimum, 1 per angler and a maximum of 6 per boat, open March 1 - October 31. Verify current dates and vessel limit.
Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili)
Photo: Diego Delso / CC-BY-SA 4.0

Greater Amberjack

AJReef donkey

Seriola dumerili

Restricted — verify
reef9-27 kg, up to ~45 kg
Edibility & ciguatera
Good eating (watch for cosmetic flesh worms); no ciguatera concern in Georgia.
Where you'll see it
Wrecks and deep reefs in aggressive schools — a hard-fighting, bucket-list Georgia reef target.
Legal status
Legal to spear. Georgia: 28 in fork minimum, 1/day. The South Atlantic federal fishery has a spring spawning closure (roughly April 1 - April 30) — verify the current season where you dive.
King Mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla)
Photo: ScubaBear68 / CC BY 2.0

King Mackerel

KingfishSmoker

Scomberomorus cavalla

Restricted — verify
pelagic2-14 kg, up to ~23 kg
Edibility & ciguatera
Good eating; no ciguatera concern in Georgia, but ice immediately — mackerel are prone to scombroid (histamine) spoilage.
Where you'll see it
Nearshore to the reefs in the water column, often over structure; fast — a bluewater/reef spear target.
Legal status
Legal to spear. Georgia: 24 in fork minimum, 3/day. Verify current limits.

Spanish Mackerel

Spanish

Scomberomorus maculatus

Legal to spear
pelagic0.5-2 kg, up to ~4 kg
Edibility & ciguatera
Good eating; no ciguatera concern, but ice immediately (scombroid risk).
Where you'll see it
Fast-moving nearshore schools over reefs, bars and beaches; a quick, skittish water-column target.
Legal status
Legal to spear (gear-neutral). Georgia: 12 in fork minimum, 15/day. Verify current limits.

Atlantic Spadefish

Spadefish

Chaetodipterus faber

Legal to spear
reef1-4 kg, up to ~9 kg
Edibility & ciguatera
Good, mild white meat; no ciguatera concern.
Where you'll see it
Schools over wrecks, reefs, buoys and nearshore structure, often mid-water in tight silver shoals; an accessible reef target.
Legal status
Legal to spear. Georgia sets no minimum size or creel limit for Atlantic spadefish — but confirm the current rule, as unmanaged species can be added to the regulations.

Tripletail

Lobotes surinamensis

Restricted — verify
nearshore2-9 kg, up to ~18 kg
Edibility & ciguatera
Excellent — one of the best-eating fish on the coast; no ciguatera concern.
Where you'll see it
Hangs at the surface beside buoys, markers, crab-trap floats and flotsam, tipped on its side like a leaf; a sight-hunted ambush target in warmer months. Locally nicknamed 'blackfish,' but we omit that name because it is ambiguous with black sea bass and, further north, tautog.
Legal status
Legal to spear. Georgia: 18 in minimum, 2/day. Verify current limits.
Gag Grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis)
Photo: FDA

Gag Grouper

GagGrey grouper

Mycteroperca microlepis

Restricted — verify
reef2-12 kg, up to ~23 kg
Edibility & ciguatera
Excellent eating; no ciguatera concern in Georgia.
Where you'll see it
Ledges, live bottom and wrecks on the offshore reefs; a strong fighter that bolts to structure — a classic reef spear target.
Legal status
Legal to spear in season only. South Atlantic: 24 in minimum, 2/day, and shallow-water groupers are CLOSED Jan 1 - Apr 30. The 2026 South Atlantic recreational gag season runs May 1 - Aug 2 (93 days). Season dates are set annually — verify before targeting.
Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus)
Photo: Geeklikepi / CC-BY-SA 3.0

Red Snapper

American red snapperGenuine red snapper

Lutjanus campechanus

Restricted — verify
bottom1-7 kg, up to ~14 kg
Edibility & ciguatera
Excellent eating; no ciguatera concern.
Where you'll see it
Deep live bottom, ledges and wrecks on the offshore reefs, often 60-130+ ft — deep for freedivers. Abundant on Georgia's reefs but tightly regulated.
Legal status
Effectively CLOSED for most of the year. The South Atlantic recreational red snapper season is extremely short (a handful of days when it opens), 1 fish per person, and the 2026 recreational season was halted — a May 21 2026 court injunction paused it and NOAA rescinded the state exempted-fishing permits on June 29 2026, leaving the recreational sector closed pending a separate notice. Do NOT target red snapper without confirming an open season with GA DNR / NOAA.
Mangrove (Gray) Snapper (Lutjanus griseus)
Photo: Clinton & Charles Robertson / CC-BY 2.0

Mangrove (Gray) Snapper

MangoGray snapperBlack snapper

Lutjanus griseus

Legal to spear
reef25-40 cm, larger offshore
Edibility & ciguatera
Excellent eating; no ciguatera concern in Georgia.
Where you'll see it
Wrecks, live bottom and the offshore reefs, holding tight around structure; wary and a good ambush target. Reaches its northern abundance limit around Georgia.
Legal status
Legal to spear. South Atlantic: 12 in total-length minimum, within the 10-fish snapper aggregate. Verify current limits.
Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)
Photo: Geeklikepi / CC-BY-SA 3.0

Red Drum

Spottail bassRedfishChannel bass

Sciaenops ocellatus

Protected — do not take
inshoreslot 14-23 in, adults to ~1.5 m
Edibility & ciguatera
Good in slot on hook-and-line, but do NOT spear — spearing is illegal in Georgia.
Where you'll see it
Sounds, flats, oyster bars, jetties and the surf; Georgia's signature inshore gamefish. You will see them, but they are a rod-and-reel-only fish.
Legal status
PROHIBITED TO SPEAR. Red Drum is a designated gamefish in Georgia [O.C.G.A. 27-1-2(36)(I)] and may only be taken with pole and line (rod/reel) — never by spear or gig. A hook-and-line slot limit (14-23 in, 5/day) applies; note a 2026 proposal to move the slot to 15-24 in and the daily limit to 3, pending the Board of Natural Resources. Illegal to take by spear.

Sharks (all species)

Carcharhinidae, Sphyrnidae & others (multiple species)

Protected — do not take
pelagicvaries widely by species
Edibility & ciguatera
Some species eaten, but do NOT spear — spearing sharks is illegal in Georgia.
Where you'll see it
Common on the offshore reefs and nearshore — Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip, bonnethead, spinner and others. A frequent reef encounter, not a spear target.
Legal status
PROHIBITED TO SPEAR. Recreational harvest of sharks in Georgia is limited to hook-and-line gear ONLY — no shark may be taken by spear. Several shark species are also entirely no-harvest (prohibited) under federal rules. Verify species-specific rules with GA DNR / NOAA.
Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara)
Photo: Albert kok / CC-BY-SA 3.0

Goliath Grouper

Jewfish

Epinephelus itajara

Protected — do not take
reefup to ~2.5 m / 360 kg
Edibility & ciguatera
Do not take — protected.
Where you'll see it
Wrecks and large reef structure; a massive, curious fish. Uncommon at Georgia's latitude but occurs on some offshore wrecks, where it may shadow divers.
Legal status
PROHIBITED — no harvest by any method, including spearing. Goliath grouper is federally protected in the South Atlantic; must be released. Illegal to take by spear.

Atlantic Sturgeon

Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus

Protected — do not take
inshoreup to ~3 m
Edibility & ciguatera
Do not take — endangered and protected.
Where you'll see it
Estuaries and coastal rivers (e.g. the Altamaha and Ogeechee), moving between salt and fresh water to spawn; large, armoured and unmistakable. The closely related shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) shares these rivers.
Legal status
PROHIBITED — federally protected under the Endangered Species Act (both Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon are ESA-listed as endangered). No take, possession or targeting by any method, including spear. Must be left undisturbed.

Longnose Gar

GarGarfish

Lepisosteus osseus

Legal to spear
inshoreup to ~1.8 m
Edibility & ciguatera
Edible (roe is TOXIC — never eat gar eggs); a nongame fish, not a prized table fish.
Where you'll see it
Sluggish freshwater rivers, backwaters and reservoirs, often near the surface; the classic legal freshwater spear target because it is a nongame species. Freshwater visibility in Georgia is usually poor, so freedive spearing is niche here.
Legal status
Legal to spear in FRESH water — but ONLY while the spearer is completely submerged, and only nongame fish like gar may be speared (O.C.G.A. § 27-4-33). A fishing license is required. Spears must be barbed and attached to a recovery line. Freshwater spearing is sport-only.

Largemouth Bass

LargemouthGreen troutBucketmouth

Micropterus salmoides

Protected — do not take
inshore30-55 cm, trophies larger
Edibility & ciguatera
A prized freshwater gamefish on rod-and-reel, but do NOT spear — spearing game fish is illegal in Georgia fresh water.
Where you'll see it
Lakes, ponds, reservoirs and slow rivers statewide; the South's premier freshwater gamefish. You will see them, but they are strictly off-limits to a spear.
Legal status
PROHIBITED TO SPEAR. In Georgia fresh water it is unlawful to spear any GAME fish — largemouth (and all black bass, striped/hybrid bass, crappie, bream/sunfish, trout, walleye) may be taken only by legal hook-and-line methods. A game fish found with an open spear wound in your possession is prima-facie evidence of illegal take.

Channel Catfish

Channel cat

Ictalurus punctatus

Restricted — verify
bottom30-70 cm, up to ~1 m
Edibility & ciguatera
Good eating; a freshwater fish, no ciguatera concern.
Where you'll see it
River channels, reservoirs and impoundments across the state. Georgia's signature spearfishing carve-out lives here: catfish are otherwise off-limits to spears statewide.
Legal status
MOSTLY PROHIBITED. It is unlawful to spear ANY catfish in Georgia — with exactly one exception: channel catfish and flathead catfish may be speared in the Savannah River, its tributaries and impoundments within the Savannah River basin, day or night by light, with a barbed spear attached to a line. Everywhere else in Georgia, do not spear catfish.

Local names & details still being verified

  • Georgia salt water is gear-neutral: every season, size and creel limit 'applies regardless of the gear used,' so most finfish (sea bass, flounder, sheepshead, triggerfish, mackerels, spadefish, tripletail, snapper, grouper, amberjack) are legal to spear within their limits. The two hard bans are Red Drum (a rod-and-reel-only gamefish) and sharks (hook-and-line only). Confirm the current GA DNR list before assuming any single species is spearable.
  • Spotted Seatrout is legal to spear in Georgia (14 in min, 15/day) because — unlike Florida — only Red Drum carries the gamefish/pole-and-line restriction among common inshore species. It is soft-mouthed and rarely a spear target, so we did not give it its own card; verify the current GA rule if you intend to target it.
  • South Atlantic federally-managed species (red snapper, gag and other shallow-water groupers, greater amberjack, gray triggerfish, black sea bass) have seasons and closures that are set annually and can change or close mid-year. Red snapper in particular was closed for 2026 after a court injunction and rescinded EFPs. Always confirm current open dates with GA DNR / NOAA.
  • Black sea bass minimum size differs by authority (Georgia state table shows 12 in; the federal South Atlantic stock uses 13 in) and can carry a seasonal spawning closure — verify which applies to your dive site.
  • 'Blackfish' is a local nickname for tripletail in Georgia/South Carolina, but it is also used for black sea bass and (further north) for tautog. We deliberately omitted it as a listed local name to avoid ID confusion; a game fish mis-ID is a legal and safety risk.
  • Freshwater spearing is narrow and niche in Georgia: nongame fish only, and only while completely submerged. We list longnose gar as the representative legal target and largemouth bass / channel catfish to illustrate what is OFF-limits. Confirm the current nongame/game classifications with GA DNR before spearing any freshwater fish.
  • Red Drum 2026 rule change: a proposal to move the slot to 15-24 in and cut the daily limit to 3 was before the Board of Natural Resources (vote scheduled Aug 25 2026). Verify the current hook-and-line slot — but note it remains rod-and-reel-only and never spearable regardless.

A guide, not a ruling

Species identification and regional names are provided as a guide, not a substitute for local knowledge or the current regulations. In Georgia the key spearfishing rules are jurisdictional: in salt water you may spear finfish subject to every normal season, size and creel limit 'regardless of the gear used,' EXCEPT Red Drum (rod-and-reel-only gamefish) and sharks (hook-and-line only), and gigs are lawful only for flounder; in fresh water you may spear only nongame fish and only while completely submerged, with all game fish and all catfish off-limits except channel/flathead catfish in the Savannah River basin. A fishing license — plus a free Saltwater Information Program (SIP) permit for salt water — is required. Ciguatera, the headline hazard further south, is not a meaningful concern on Georgia's temperate coast. Confirm the current GA DNR Coastal Resources Division and NOAA South Atlantic rules before taking any fish.

Do not spear

Prohibited species

  • FRESH WATER: all game fish may NOT be speared (e.g., largemouth/smallmouth bass, striped/hybrid bass, black crappie, bream/sunfish, trout, walleye, sauger) — nongame fish only 1
  • FRESH WATER: all species of catfish may NOT be speared, EXCEPT channel catfish and flathead catfish in the Savannah River basin 1
  • SALT WATER: sharks may NOT be speared — recreational shark harvest is limited to hook-and-line gear only 5

Where you can't

Area restrictions

  • No discharging a spear in waters nearer than 150 feet to anyone engaged in any other means of recreation (statewide, fresh water) 1
  • Flint River and its tributaries from the Georgia Power Co. dams at Albany to the US Hwy 84 bridge — CLOSED to striped bass fishing and spearfishing May 1–October 31 3
  • Chattahoochee River and its tributaries from the Columbia Lock and Dam to the GA Hwy 91 bridge — CLOSED to striped bass fishing and spearfishing May 1–October 31 3
  • Spring Creek and its tributaries downstream to GA Hwy 253 — CLOSED to striped bass fishing and spearfishing May 1–October 31 3
  • Lake Seminole — all fishing, including spearfishing, is prohibited in the marked areas around five fish refuges May 1–October 31 3
  • SALT WATER: Georgia's 19 offshore artificial reefs beyond 3 miles are federal Special Management Zones where only handline, rod & reel, and spearfishing gear (incl. powerheads) are allowed 5

Worth knowing

Notable rules, seasons & limits

  • The 'completely submerged' rule is Georgia's signature freshwater quirk — you must be underwater to legally spear nongame fish; you cannot lawfully spear/gig them from the surface or a boat under the spearing statute 1
  • Game fish and catfish are off-limits to spears in fresh water — the ONLY catfish exception is channel/flathead in the Savannah River basin, allowed day or night by light 1
  • A game fish found with an open (spear) wound in a spearfisher's possession is prima-facie evidence of illegal take — a strong enforcement presumption against you 1
  • Speared fish may not be sold or used for commercial purposes — freshwater spearing is sport-only (s1, s2)
  • In salt water, spearing is legal but every season, size limit and creel limit that applies to hook-and-line applies to spearfishing too — 'regardless of the gear used' 5
  • Bowfishing is treated separately and is broader than spearing: nongame fish plus ANY catfish (even game catfish) may be taken by bow and arrow in reservoirs over 500 acres, day or night by light 2

What divers here typically use

Gear up for Georgia spearfishing

Most divers working Georgia's coast start with a band speargun sized to the water and the fish they are after. Our honest guide to the Best Speargun for Beginners walks through what to look for — curated from published specs and community consensus, not paid placement.

If you break them

Penalties

Spearing game fish or catfish in fresh water outside the Savannah River exception, spearing without a required license, spearing in a closed area/season, or using prohibited spearheads is a violation of Georgia's game-and-fish laws (O.C.G.A. Title 27) and GA DNR rules, enforceable by citation, fines, and possible license suspension; possession of a game fish with an open spear wound is prima-facie evidence of an illegal take. Exact fine amounts/misdemeanor classifications are set in O.C.G.A. Title 27 and were not itemized on the regulation pages reviewed. (s1 / unverified)

Not yet independently confirmed — verify directly

  • Annual license fees (resident $15 valid 365 days; nonresident $50) were independently re-confirmed via georgia.gov (s6) on 2026-07-05. STILL unverified: the nonresident short-term figures (1-day ~$10 + ~$3.50/added consecutive day) were not pinned to an official fee schedule this session; confirm at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com.
  • Whether SCUBA or rebreather apparatus is expressly permitted or prohibited for spearing — the statute requires a freshwater spearer to be 'completely submerged' but does not name SCUBA, and saltwater rules are silent.
  • Explicit naming of 'pole spear' and 'Hawaiian sling' — Georgia's statute uses the general terms 'spear' and 'a weapon...which propels...a projectile,' which these devices fall under, but they are not individually enumerated.
  • No-take/prohibited status of Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon (federally protected) with respect to spearing was not pinned to a Georgia primary source in this session; assume no take of any federally protected species by any method.
  • Exact penalty/fine dollar amounts and misdemeanor classification for unlawful spearing — set in O.C.G.A. Title 27 and not itemized on the regulation pages reviewed.

Confirm these points directly with Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) — Wildlife Resources Division (fresh water) and Coastal Resources Division (salt water) before you rely on them.

Primary sources

Sources

Every fact above is drawn from these official sources. Each was retrieved on the date shown; regulations can change after that date.

  2. Source 2: Georgia DNR Fishing Regulations — Fishing Methods (spearing, bowfishing, gear rules; official published guide)

    Retrieved July 5, 2026https://www.eregulations.com/georgia/fishing/fishing-methods

  6. Source 6: Georgia.gov — Purchase a Fishing or Hunting License (license fees; SIP; where to buy)

    Retrieved July 5, 2026https://georgia.gov/purchase-fishing-or-hunting-license

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Is spearfishing legal in Georgia?
Yes — spearfishing is legal in Georgia's saltwater, and it is permitted in fresh water, subject to license, gear, species, and area rules. Georgia's coastal (marine) waters are open to spearfishing. Per the Coastal Resources Division rules, all seasons, hours, creel limits, minimum size limits and other saltwater…
Do you need a license to spearfish in Georgia?
Yes. Georgia requires the Georgia resident or nonresident fishing license (Sport Fishing License), plus a free Saltwater Information Program (SIP) permit for salt water. Resident cost: Resident annual fishing license: $15 (valid 365 days from purchase). The Saltwater Information Program (SIP) permit is free. (s6, s7) Non-resident cost: Nonresident annual fishing license: $50. Nonresident short-term options include a 1-day license around $10 with additional consecutive days about $3.50 each. The SIP permit is free for residents and nonresidents alike.
Can you spearfish on scuba in Georgia?
Not expressly addressed for spearing. Georgia's freshwater spearing statute REQUIRES the spearer to be 'completely submerged,' so diving underwater is contemplated, but the statute neither permits nor prohibits SCUBA/rebreather apparatus for spearing. IMPORTANT nuance confirmed…
What can't you spear in Georgia?
Protected or no-take species you may not spear in Georgia include: FRESH WATER: all game fish may NOT be speared, FRESH WATER: all species of catfish may NOT be speared, EXCEPT channel catfish and flathead catfish in the Savannah River basin, SALT WATER: sharks may NOT be speared — recreational shark harvest is limited to hook-and-line gear only. Always check the full prohibited-species list and current seasons before diving, and confirm with Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) — Wildlife Resources Division (fresh water) and Coastal Resources Division (salt water).

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Regulations shift between seasons. We re-check Georgia's rules against the primary source and send a short note when the limits, seasons, or licensing move — nothing else.

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Last verified July 5, 2026. Regulations change — always confirm the current rules with Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) — Wildlife Resources Division (fresh water) and Coastal Resources Division (salt water) before you dive.

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