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Fishing regulations at Cool Branch, GA
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in Georgia can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Regulations for top species
Largemouth bass
Bag limit10
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
Min size12" (Total Length)
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.
Aggregate limit10
The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.
Restrictions & requirements
GA Spearing
Harvest of this species by spearing is prohibited. Spearing is the use of a handheld spear or similar device and the use of a weapon, other than a firearm, which propels the spear to which a wire, rope, line, etc. is attached and secured to the weapon or the person using the weapon.
Bow Fishing
Harvest of this species by bow fishing is prohibited.
GA FW Gamefish
It is unlawful to possess more than a total of 50 individuals of all Georgia freshwater game fish, except channel and flathead catfish.Georgia freshwater gamefish include: Bass: Largemouth, Redeye (Coosa), Shadow, Shoal, Smallmouth, Spotted, Suwannee; Catfish: Channel and Flathead; Crappie: Black and White; Pickerel: Chain, Grass, Redfin; Shad: American and Hickory; Sunfish: Bluegill, Flier, Redbreast, Redear, Rock, Spotted, Warmouth; Trout: Brook, Rainbow, and Brown; Walleye.
Additional information
Exceptions to state-wide size limit:
- Lake Blackshear: 14-inches total length
- Lake Blue Ridge: no minimum size
- Lake Burton: no minimum size
- Lake Juliette: no minimum size
- Lake Lanier: 14-inches total length
- Lake Oconee: 14-inches total length
- Lake Lindsay Grace: bass between 15- and 22-inches total length must be released immediately. All others may be kept. In addition, only one bass may be greater than 22 inches.
- Lake Walter F. George: 14-inches total length
- West Point Reservoir: 14-inches total length
- 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.
Edibility
Synonyms
American shad
Bag limit8
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
Special gear
GA Shad
Dip nets and cast nets may be used to take threadfin shad, gizzard shad, and blueback herring for bait except cast nets may not be used in State Park Lakes.Bow nets are considered sport shad fishing gear and shall have a minimum legal size of 3½ inches stretched mesh.
Restrictions & requirements
GA FW Gamefish
It is unlawful to possess more than a total of 50 individuals of all Georgia freshwater game fish, except channel and flathead catfish.Georgia freshwater gamefish include: Bass: Largemouth, Redeye (Coosa), Shadow, Shoal, Smallmouth, Spotted, Suwannee; Catfish: Channel and Flathead; Crappie: Black and White; Pickerel: Chain, Grass, Redfin; Shad: American and Hickory; Sunfish: Bluegill, Flier, Redbreast, Redear, Rock, Spotted, Warmouth; Trout: Brook, Rainbow, and Brown; Walleye.
Additional information
Edibility
Synonyms
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