Red Drum (Redfish) (also known as Red Drum, Channel Bass, Spottail Bass) in Georgia. Minimum legal size, daily bag limit, possession limit, slot rule — verified against the Georgia DNR CRD guide, 2026.
In Georgia, the minimum legal size for Red Drum (Redfish) is 14 in and the daily bag limit is 5. A slot limit applies: 14-23 inches total length (TL) harvest slot — fish must be within this range to keep. Season note: Open seasons and these size and bag limits are reviewed at least annually and can change in-season — always confirm the current Georgia rules before keeping fish.
14-23 inches total length (TL) harvest slot — fish must be within this range to keep
Open seasons and these size and bag limits are reviewed at least annually and can change in-season — always confirm the current Georgia rules before keeping fish.
Atlantic coast only — Georgia has no Gulf coast, so there is no Atlantic-vs-Gulf split. STATE WATERS (0-3 nmi). Managed as a gamefish — may be taken by pole-and-line (rod and reel) only. Harvest/possession of red drum is PROHIBITED in federal waters (the EEZ, 3-200 nmi) for both recreational and commercial fishers, so legal harvest is effectively inshore/nearshore only.
These limits are pulled from the Georgia DNR CRD recreational size and creel limits. Last verified September 2026.
Always check the official guide before keeping any fish. Regulations change. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division updates its guide annually and occasionally mid-year. Fines for over-bag or undersized fish are significant.
Georgia requires a recreational fishing licence to fish in salt water, plus a free Saltwater Information Program (SIP) permit for anyone aged 16 or older. Georgia licences.
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