Agreements with Bordering States

Agreements with bordering states allow holders of Georgia fishing licenses to fish in the waters covered without obtaining a fishing license from the bordering state.

Note: Regulations under these agreements may differ from Georgia’s general laws and regulations. If this is the case, the laws and regulations of the agreement explained in this section are to be followed.

ALABAMA

Waters Covered

The banks and waters of only that portion of the Chattahoochee River forming the boundary between Georgia and Alabama and Lakes Bartletts Ferry (Harding), George W. Andrews, Goat Rock, Oliver, Seminole, Walter F. George (Eufaula) and West Point; however, this agreement does not include that portion of West Point Reservoir lying upstream (north) of Georgia Hwy 109 bridge on the Chattahoochee River arm of the reservoir. The waters covered by this agreement do not include other streams or tributaries which flow into the Chattahoochee River or its impoundments or the portion of Lake Seminole covered by the agreement with Florida or Lake Weiss.

Licenses

All persons meeting the sport fishing requirements of Georgia or Alabama may fish from the banks and in the waters covered without having to obtain any other license.

Minimum Length Limits

• Largemouth bass:
• – Lake West Point: 14 inches
• – Lake Walter F. George: 14 inches
• All other fishing laws and regulations of the State of Georgia apply in Georgia waters covered by this agreement.

Creel and Possession Limits

• All creel and possession limits on waters covered by this agreement are the same as Georgia’s statewide limits.
• Note: Anglers fishing in waters covered by reciprocal agreement may fish for and possess shoal bass for tournament weigh-in purposes in Alabama, however the harvest of shoal bass is prohibited in Alabama.
• Note: It is illegal to possess and fish with live blueback herring in Alabama waters covered by this agreement.

SOUTH CAROLINA

General Notes

• Any person using baskets, jugs, minnow seines, or trot lines in the waters covered must comply with the laws, rules and regulations of the state in which the baskets, jugs, minnow seines, or trot lines are fished, regardless of their residence.
• No person may carry to either state or possess in such state more fish than the laws of that state or those of this agreement permit, even though the fish were caught in the waters of the other state.

Waters Covered

On the banks and in the waters of all channels of the Savannah River from its mouth to the junction of the Tugaloo (Toogaloo) and Seneca Rivers; the Tugaloo River from its mouth to the junction of the Tugaloo and Chattooga Rivers; and the Chattooga River to the North Carolina state line (35th parallel of North latitude at Ellicott’s Rock). This agreement also applies to all the waters and banks of Clarks Hill Reservoir (Strom Thurmond), Richard B. Russell Reservoir, Hartwell Reservoir, Yonah Lake, Tugaloo (Toogaloo) Lake, the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam, and Stevens Creek Lake (except that portion on the Stevens Creek arm upstream of South Carolina Hwy 53). The agreement does not apply to any flowing portions of tributary streams to these impoundments nor to tributary streams of the Savannah, Tugaloo and Chattooga Rivers.

Licenses

• All persons meeting the freshwater license requirements of Georgia or South Carolina may fish from the banks and in the waters covered without having to obtain any other license.
• This agreement does not apply to commercial fishing or saltwater sport fishing.
• A South Carolina saltwater fishing license is required wthen fishing from a boat on the SC side of the Savannah River downstream of where the CSX Railroad trestle crosses the Back River.

Length, Creel and Possession Limits

See GA-SC chart below.

FLORIDA

Waters covered

• The waters and the banks of the St. Mary’s River, not including its tributaries.
• The waters and banks of Lake Seminole, bounded on the west by Florida State Road No. 271; on the south by the Jim Woodruff Dam; on the east by the line immediately east of the Chattahoochee Marina (also known as the Booster Club) running northwest across the reservoir to the tip of land at the junction of the Flint and Chattahoochee Rivers, west of Spring Creek; and on the north by the Herman Talmadge Bridge across the Chattahoochee River.

Licenses

• Any person who has a valid fishing license and properly issued permits or licenses, or both, required by Georgia or Florida in their possession may sport fish for freshwater fish in the waters covered.
• Georgia Honorary Disability License is not recognized by Florida under this agreement.
• A nonresident fishing license is required to fish, castnet, seine, crab, gig, sport bait trawl, or harvest shell fish in saltwater in Georgia.
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required to fish for or to possess saltwater fish on the Florida side of the St. Mary’s River.

Creel and Possession Limits

• The limit for striped bass, white bass, and hybrid white-striped bass on the St. Mary’s River is two fish which must be 22 inches or longer.
• For all other species in the waters covered, Georgia’s statewide creel and possession limits (under General Regulations) apply.
• All other fishing regulations of the State of Georgia apply on the Georgia side of the St. Mary’s River and the Georgia portion of Lake Seminole. Florida laws and regulations apply on the Florida side of the St. Mary’s River and the Florida portion of Lake Seminole.

NORTH CAROLINA

Waters covered

Lake Chatuge and all tributary branches lying in Georgia or North Carolina which are accessible by boat from the main body of the reservoir.

Licenses

• Holders of a valid Georgia or North Carolina fishing license may fish with hook and line in Lake Chatuge only from boats. Boats may not be anchored to the shore or to a pier or boat dock connecting to the shore.
• Senior citizen and youth license exemptions authorized by either state are honored by both states on Lake Chatuge.
• All other laws and regulations of Georgia apply to the Georgia portion of Lake Chatuge. All other laws and regulations of North Carolina apply to the North Carolina portion of Lake Chatuge.