Public Fishing Areas

Public Fishing Areas (PFAs) are great places for family outings! You can fish from the bank or a boat, picnic, hike, watch wildlife, and enjoy the outdoors. Good bank fishing opportunities are available at all PFAs and many of them have special kids fishing areas for young anglers.

Please Read Before Fishing a PFA

Licenses:

• Anglers 16 years of age and older must possess a valid Wildlife Management Area (WMA) license and a current fishing license to fish, except a WMA license is not required to fish at Rocky Mountain Recreation and Public Fishing Area.
• If you have a Sportsman’s license, 3-Day Hunting/Fishing License, Senior Lifetime license or Honorary license you are not required to have a WMA license to fish on a PFA.
• Remember, not all PFAs have the ability to sell licenses on site. Please call each PFA for details.

Length and Daily Limits:

Unless a pond or lake has been posted as having a different length limit or daily limit, the following apply:

Length limit: Largemouth bass: 14 inches minimum

Daily limits: Largemouth bass (unless otherwuse posted) – 5

Bream or sunfish (of any one species or a combination) – 15

Channel catfish – 5

All other species – see Freshwater Game Species Daily Limits

Grass carp must be released immediately.

Hours of Operation

Public Fishing Areas hours of operation are Wednesday through Sunday, sunrise to sunset.

Hunting on Public Fishing Areas

There are hunting opportunities available at several PFAs located around the state. Refer to the Hunting Regulations Guide for a complete list of PFA hunting opportunities and regulations or visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com.

Fishing on Department Fish Hatcheries

Unless otherwise posted, fishing is not allowed on state owned fish hatcheries. While most fish hatcheries have designated ponds for fishing, Department owned hatcheries can set creel limits, hours, dates, age limits, and other conditions. Please call the hatchery for more information regarding fishing opportunities and rules.

Fishing on Wildlife Management Areas

Unless otherwise posted, fishing is allowed on WMAs according to statewide regulations. Alcohol use is prohibited on WMAs except in designated camping areas. Refer to the Hunting Regulations Guide for a complete list of WMA regulations.

Fishing Without Permission

It is unlawful to fish on someone else’s property without permission. Conservation Rangers and other law enforcement officers are charged with enforcing this law. Always ask permission before entering private land.

Permission is not required to fish in the Chattahoochee or Oconee National Forests, on Wildlife Resources Division Public Fishing Areas (PFAs) or Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), or in Georgia State Parks (gastateparks.org) as long as all applicable state regulations are followed.

To find a PFA location refer to the map above.

BIG LAZER CREEK

Talbot County, 478-825-6151

Fish Species: Largemouth bass, Bluegill and Red­ear sunfish, Channel catfish, Crappie. Live fish (minnows) are allowed for bait.

Water: 195 acre lake.

Facilities: Concrete two-lane boat ramp, fishing pier, fish cleaning station, shooting range, restrooms, picnic tables, primitive camping, shooting range, some facilities accessible to persons with disabilities.

Directions from Talbotton: East on US Hwy 80 for 4 mi.; left on Po Biddy Road for 6.4 mi.; left on Bunkham Road; left into area.

CHARLIE ELLIOTT WILDLIFE CENTER/MARBEN PFA

Jasper/Newton Counties, 478-825-6151 or 770-784-3063

Fish Species: Largemouth bass, Bluegill, Redear sunfish, Crappie, Channel catfish. Live fish (minnows) are allowed for bait.

Water: 20 ponds, totaling 293 acres, ranging in size from 1 to 95 acres.

Facilities: Kids only ponds, concrete boat ramps (6 lakes), boat docks, restrooms, fishing piers, fish cleaning station, picnic areas, primitive camping, shooting and archery ranges, and some fishing areas accessible to persons with disabilities.

Note: Check information board for lakes that are open for fishing when you visit.

Directions From Mansfield: South on GA Hwy 11 for 2.7 mi.; left on Marben Farm Rd. Follow signs.

DODGE COUNTY

478-374-6765 or 912-285-6094

Fish Species: Largemouth bass, Bluegill, Red­ear sunfish, Channel catfish, Crappie.

Water: 104 acre lake.

Facilities: Concrete boat ramps, fishing pier, fish cleaning station, 3-D archery range, restrooms, picnic tables, nature trail, some facilities accessible to persons with disabilities.

Directions From Eastman: South on US Hwy 23/341 for 3 mi.; left on County Rd. 49 for 0.6 mi. to lake.

EVANS COUNTY

Area temporarily closed for repairs. Expected to reopen Summer 2013.

For more, visit georgiawildlife.com/PFA/Evans

FLAT CREEK (Houston County State Park) Houston County, 478-825-6151

Fish species: Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear sunfish, Channel catfish.

Water: 102 acre lake and one special event pond.

Facilities: Concrete two-lane boat ramp, fish cleaning station, restroom, picnic tables, bank fishing, archery range and some facilities accessible to persons with disabilities.

Directions from I-75: Take I-75 to exit 134 (South Perry Parkway), Turn west onto South Perry Parkway, Travel approx. 0.25 miles and turn left (South) on Georgia Highway 41, Drive about 3.5 miles and turn left into Flat Creek Public Fishing Area

HUGH M. GILLIS

Laurens County, 478-296-6192 or 912-285-6094

Fish species: Largemouth bass, Bluegill, Red­ear sunfish, Channel catfish, Crappie. Water: 109 acre lake and two 1 acre KFE ponds.

Facilities: Concrete boat ramps, fishing pier, fish cleaning station, restrooms, picnic tables, some facilities accessible to persons with disabilities.

Directions From East Dublin: East on US Hwy 80 for 10 mi.; left on Keens Crossing Rd. for 1.4 mi., PFA entrance on right.

McDUFFIE

McDuffie County, 706-595-1619

Fish Species: Largemouth bass, Bluegill, Red­ear sunfish, Channel catfish.

Water: 7 ponds varying in size from 5 to 37 acres. Rodbender Lake is open the 1st through the 15th of each month.

Facilities: Concrete boat ramps, courtesy docks, rest­rooms, picnic tables, tent and RV camping in designated areas (fee is $15–25 per site per night), archery range, and some facilities accessible to persons with disabilities.

Directions From Thomson: South on Hwy 17 to US Hwy 278; left (east) for 5.6 mi.; right on Ellington Airline Road for 2.8 mi.; right on Fish Hatchery Road for 0.8 mi.

OCMULGEE

Area temporarily closed for repairs. Expected to reopen Spring 2014.

For more, visit georgiawildlife.com/PFA/Ocmulgee

PARADISE

Berrien County, 229-533-4792 or 912-285-6094

Fish Species: Largemouth bass, Bluegill, Redear sunfish, Channel catfish, Crappie, Brown bullhead.

Water: 68 lakes encompassing 525 acres of water.

Facilities: Restrooms, fish cleaning station, picnic area, concrete boat ramps, tent camping ($10 per site per night; pay a drop box; no reservation needed; first come first serve), group camp ($20 per night; 20 person minimum; call for reservations), fishing pier, boat dock, some facilities accessible to persons with disabilities.

Directions From Tifton: East on US Hwy 82 for 8 mi. to Whitley Road near Brookfield; follow signs from US Hwy 82 to the area.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN RECREATION & PUBLIC FISHING AREA

Floyd County, 706-802-5087

Fish Species: Largemouth bass, Bluegill, Redear sunfish, Channel catfish, Black crappie, Walleye.

Water: Two lakes (202 and 357 acres). Heath Lake is open the 1st–10th of each month only.

Facilities: Concrete boat ramps, fishing jetties, restrooms, picnic shelters, scenic overlooks, hiking trails, tent and RV camping, group primitive camping, group picnic area, biking trails, swimming beach, some facilities accessible to persons with disabilities.

Fee: Daily or annual Rocky Mtn. PFA parking permit required (one per vehicle) WMA license not required.

Restrictions:

• It is illegal to possess alcoholic beverages.
• No one may rappel, rock climb or hang glide.

Directions From Rome: North on US Hwy 27 for 10.4 mi.; left on Sike Storey Road 0.4 mi.; left on Big Texas Valley Road 5.4 mi. to entrance.

Regulations in red are new this year.

Purple text indicates an important note.