DO IT: Fishing

Fishing: Bring Home Your Georgia Trophy

On the water, anglers enjoy boating and fishing, including for trophy bass, in lakes all over Georgia.

Trout is another favorite game fish, and you’ll find Georgia’s mountain streams enjoyed by fishermen throwing out hand-tied flies to fill a creel. There is also the opportunity to search for that deepwater trophy fish out of marinas in St. Marys, Jekyll Island, Brunswick, St. Simons Island, and Tybee Island. Fishing tournaments of all kinds are scheduled year-round so that you can display your skill at making the big catch.

Forty-five of Georgia’s state parks have bodies of water where you can fish, from reservoirs, warm water streams and rivers to lakes of all sizes and saltwater fishing. To make sure more guests experience the relaxation (and occasional thrill) of one of Georgia’s most popular sports, several state parks have programs that allow you to borrow equipment for little or no charge. You just check out a pole, try your luck and return it when you’re done.

There are also 10 Public Fishing Areas around Georgia. You can fish from the bank or a boat, picnic, hike, watch wildlife, camp (however, not all PFAs provide camping), and enjoy being outdoors. Good bank fishing opportunities are available at all PFAs and many of them have special kids fishing areas for young anglers. Fish species available include: largemouth bass, bream, channel catfish, hybrid striped bass, and crappie.

Get Licensed

Georgia law requires that anyone 16 and older who is fishing have a fishing license in their possession. There are separate licenses for trout fishing, saltwater shore fishing, and for fishing in a Wildlife Management Area. Fishing licenses can also be combined with hunting licenses in Georgia.

Georgia hunting and fishing licenses are available throughout the state from approximately 400 license agents in many sporting goods stores, marinas, bait and tackle stores, hardware stores, etc. Licenses also may be purchased in person at Department of Natural Resources’ Law Enforcement offices statewide. And for the current Georgia fishing regulations, click here.

Free Fishing Days

Georgia has established certain “free fishing” days for Georgia residents only. On these days, no fishing or trout license is required, and no WMA license is required on a Public Fishing Area or Waters Creek trophy trout stream. These special days do not apply to fees at private lakes, and all other fishing regulations do apply.

  • Region

  • Reset

Fishing - Locations

Lenora Park

Atlanta Metro
4515 Lenora Church Rd.
Snellville, GA 30058
770-814-6054

icon-bicyclingicon-fishing.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-running.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Leita Thompson Memorial Park

Atlanta Metro
1200 Woodstock Rd.
Roswell, GA 30075
770-640-3253

icon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-running.png
> Learn More
Leisure Acres Campground

Northeast Georgia Mountains
3840 Westmoreland Rd.
Cleveland, GA 30528
706-865-6466

icon-camping.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
Lawrence Shoals Recreation Area

Historic Heartland
123 Wallace Dam Rd.
Eatonton, GA 31024
706-485-5494

icon-adrenalineadventuresicon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Laurel Park

Northeast Georgia Mountains
3100 Old Cleveland Hwy
Gainesville, GA 30506
770-535-8280

icon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-boating.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-running.pngicon-services.png
> Learn More
Lanier Park

Northeast Georgia Mountains
1360 Lanier Park Rd.
Buford, GA 30518
770-945-9531

icon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-boating.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-running.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Lamar Moody Park

Northwest Georgia Mountains
2377 Lake Paradise Rd.
Villa Rica, GA 30180
770-459-7011

icon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-boating.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-paddlingfloating.png
> Learn More
Lakeshore Park

Northwest Georgia Mountains
Cedar St.
Dalton, GA 30720
706-278-5404

icon-fishing.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-running.png
> Learn More
Lake Yonah – Georgia Power

Northeast Georgia Mountains
Tugalo Dam Rd.
Tallulah Falls, GA 30573
706-782-4014

icon-boating.pngicon-fishing.png
Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area

Northeast Georgia Mountains
GA Hwy. 180
Suches, GA 30572
706-745-6928

icon-adrenalineadventuresicon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-swimming.png
Lake Walter F. George

Plantation Trace
Off Hwy. 82
Fort Gaines, GA 39851
229-768-2516

icon-adrenalineadventuresicon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-swimming.png
Lake Tugalo – Georgia Power

Northeast Georgia Mountains
Off U.S. Hwy. 441 N.
Tallulah Falls, GA 30573
706-782-4014

icon-boating.pngicon-fishing.png
Lake Tobesofkee Recreation Area

Historic Heartland
6600 Mosely Dixon Rd.
Macon, GA 31220
478-474-8770

icon-adrenalineadventuresicon-bicyclingicon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-running.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Lake Sinclair – Milledgeville

Classic South
Lakeshore
Sparta, GA 31087
706-485-8704

icon-adrenalineadventuresicon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-cabins.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
Lake Shamrock Reservoir

Atlanta Metro
2688 Shamrock Rd.
Jonesboro, GA 30236-6730
770-603-5605

icon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-boating.pngicon-fishing.png
Lake Seed – Georgia Power

Northeast Georgia Mountains
Off Lake Rabun Rd.
Lakemont, GA 30552
706-782-4014

icon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-swimming.png
Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area

Northeast Georgia Mountains
Off GA Hwy. 123
Cornelia, GA 30563
770-535-5700

icon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-camping.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-huntingshooting.pngicon-paddlingfloating.png
Lake Rabun Beach

Northeast Georgia Mountains
Burton Dam Rd.
Lakemont, GA 30552
706-490-1246

icon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-swimming.png
Lake Rabun – Georgia Power

Northeast Georgia Mountains
Lake Rabun Rd.
Lakemont, GA 30552
706-782-4014

icon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-paddlingfloating.png
Lake Peachtree

Atlanta Metro
Lake Peachtree
Peachtree City, GA 30269

icon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-boating.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-running.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Lake Oliver Marina

West Georgia
5501 River Rd.
Columbus, GA 31904
706-653-4634

icon-boating.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-services.png
> Learn More
Lake Oliver

West Georgia
5501 River Rd.
Columbus, GA 31904
706-653-4634

icon-boating.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-paddlingfloating.png
> Learn More
Lake Oconee – Putnam County

Historic Heartland

Eatonton, GA 31024
706-485-7701

icon-boating.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-golf.png
Lake Oconee – Greene County

Classic South
1034 Silver Drive Suite 201
Greensboro, GA 30642
706-453-0380

icon-adrenalineadventuresicon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-equestrian.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-geocaching.pngicon-golf.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-huntingshooting.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-running.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
Lake Nottely

Northeast Georgia Mountains
U.S. Hwy. 19 and U.S. Hwy. 129 N.
Blairsville, GA 30512
706-745-5789

icon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-swimming.png
Lake Meriwether

West Georgia
728 Lake Meriwether Rd.
Woodbury, GA 30293
706-553-5247

icon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-golf.pngicon-hiking.png
> Learn More
Lake McIntosh

Atlanta Metro
TDK Blvd and Lake McIntosh
Peachtree City, GA 30269
678-216-0282

icon-bicyclingicon-boating.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-running.png
> Learn More
Lake Mayers – Appling County Tourism

Magnolia Midlands
U.S. 341
Baxley, GA 31513
912-367-8100

icon-boating.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-swimming.png
Lake Louise

Northeast Georgia Mountains
462 Sonrise Way
Toccoa, GA 30577
706-886-3133

icon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Lake Lindsay Grace

Magnolia Midlands
1167 Griffis Rd.
Screven, GA 31560
912-579-6475

icon-boating.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-paddlingfloating.png

Featured Attractions