“Georgia offers so many different fishing opportunities from the coast to the mountains and this booklet is designed to help anglers find great places to fish and to educate them on Georgia’s fishing regulations,” said WRD Chief of Fisheries Management Chuck Coomer. “It contains information that should answer all basic questions for both new and experienced anglers.”
This guide provides helpful information such as color fish identification charts for both freshwater and saltwater fish, license purchasing information, contact information for WRD Fisheries Management Offices and WRD Law Enforcement Offices, trout stream listings, public fishing area (PFA) information, state record fish listings and complete fishing regulations for Georgia.
The cover photos and message of this year’s regulations - “take me fishing” - is part of the Take Me Fishing ™ campaign, a national effort sponsored by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation that encourages family and friends to take time to go fishing. To learn more about this program and how fishing helps connect family and friends visit www.TakeMeFishing.org.
The Board of Natural Resources sets Georgia’s fishing regulations based on recommendations made by the Department’s fisheries biologists and field personnel and the Georgia General Assembly sets the laws related to fishing.
Some of the regulation changes anglers should be aware of for 2005 – 2006 include:
· A new senior discount lifetime license for Georgia residents 60 years of age and older is now available;
· A new non-resident lifetime license for non-resident grandchildren under 16 years of age is now available for purchase by Georgia lifetime license holders; and
· Recreational crab traps now must be marked with a fluorescent or lime green float bearing the owner’s contact information.
For more information about Georgia’s fishing regulations or where and when to go fishing, go to www.gofishgeorgia.com, contact the nearest WRD Fisheries Management Office or call (770) 918-6418.
A recent national survey conducted by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation indicated that 87 percent of Americans believe that fishing and boating have a positive effect on family relationships
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