Waterbody · Florida · Georgia
Chattahoochee River Fishing Regulations 2026
Chattahoochee River fishing regulations in 2026: top targets are bass, striped bass, trout. 155 current rules across 12 species from 2 state agencies (Florida, Georgia).
Species pages for Chattahoochee River
Dedicated rule pages for the most-targeted species at this water.
Florida waters
50 rules from FWC, 6 species.
Striped Bass
Chattahoochee River
- Daily bag
- 15 fish
- Max size
- 22"
15 striped bass, white bass and sunshine bass (individually or in total) of which no more than two may be 22 inches or longer in total length
Any Tributary, Creek Or Stream Of The Suwannee River
- Daily bag
- 3 fish
- Min size
- 18"
Areas North And West Of The Suwannee River
- Daily bag
- 3 fish
- Min size
- 18"
Jim Woodruff Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 15 fish
- Max size
- 22"
- Slot max
- 22"
no more than two may be 22 inches or longer
Lake Jackson
- Daily bag
- 15 fish
- Max size
- 22"
15 striped bass, white bass and sunshine bass (only 5 of which may be 22 inches or longer in total length) only 5 of which may be 22 inches or longer in total length
Lake Jackson (Walton County)
- Daily bag
- 15 fish
- Max size
- 22"
only 5 of which may be 22 inches or longer in total length
Lake Seminole
- Daily bag
- 15 fish
- Max size
- 22"
- Slot max
- 22"
no more than two may be 22 inches or longer
Lower Ochlockonee River (Downstream Of The Jackson Bluff Dam To Ochlockonee Bay)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 24"
only one of which may be 24 inches or longer in total length only one of which may be 24 inches or longer
Ochlockonee Bay
- Daily bag
- 3 fish
- Max size
- 24"
bag limit for striped bass is 3, only one of which may be 24 inches or longer in total length only one of which may be 24 inches or longer in total length
Perdido River
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
- Max size
- 22"
- Slot max
- 22"
only 5 of which may be 22 inches or longer in total length only 5 of which may be 22 inches or longer
Black Sea Bass
Atlantic And Gulf
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
5 per harvester aggregate of the two species
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State ParkClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Harvest prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
Largemouth Bass
Lake Crago, Polk CountyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Gear
- Statewide Limits Apply
statewide size and bag limits apply
Long LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Gear
- Statewide Limits Apply
statewide size and bag limits apply.
State Of FloridaOpen
- Status
- Permitted
An angler may possess one Florida bass or largemouth bass 16.5 pounds or greater, per day over the legal length or bag limit when submitting for the certification of a potential state record provided they contact the Commission at this link (https://myfwc.wufoo. com/forms/potential-state-record-largemouth-bass/). Bass maintained in live condition may only be possessed on the waterbody or adjacent shore from which the fish was caught and may only be released alive in the same waterbody, unless otherwise directed by Commission staff.
Black Bass
Chattahoochee River
- Daily bag
- 10 fish
- Min size
- 12"
10 black bass each must be 12 inches or greater in total length
White Bass
Chattahoochee River
- Daily bag
- 15 fish
- Max size
- 22"
15 striped bass, white bass and sunshine bass (individually or in total) of which no more than two may be 22 inches or longer in total length
White Bass And Sunshine Bass Striped Bass
Chattahoochee River
- Daily bag
- 15 fish
- Max size
- 22"
15 striped bass, white bass and sunshine bass (individually or in total) no more than two may be 22 inches or longer
Georgia waters
105 rules from DNR WRD, 9 species.
Striped Bass
Altamaha River
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 22"
both of which must be 22 inches in length or longer
Lake Lanier
- Possession
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 22"
You may only keep two fish of the total limit that are 22 inches or longer
Lake Richard B. Russell From The Russell Dam To Lake Hartwell Dam And Lake Secession Dam, All Tributaries To Lake Richard B. Russell
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
only one (1) of which can exceed 34 inches in length
Little Ogeechee River
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 22"
both of which must be 22 inches in length or longer
Medway River Including Mount Hope Creek
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 22"
both of which must be 22 inches in length or longer
North Newport River
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 22"
both of which must be 22 inches in length or longer
Ocmulgee River Downstream Of The Ga Hwy 96 Bridge Between Houston And Twiggs Counties
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 22"
both of which must be 22 inches in length or longer
Oconee River Downstream Of Ga Hwy 22 In Milledgeville
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 22"
both of which must be 22 inches in length or longer
Ogeechee River
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 22"
both of which must be 22 inches in length or longer
Satilla River
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 22"
both of which must be 22 inches in length or longer
Savannah River And Its Tributaries Downstream Of J. Strom Thurmond Dam
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 27"
both of which must be 27 inches in length or longer
Spotted Bass Lake
- Possession
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 22"
You may only keep two fish of the total limit that are 22 inches or longer
Spring Creek And Its Tributaries Downstream To Ga Hwy 253Closed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Nov 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
CLOSED to striped bass fishing from May 1 - October 31 each year
St. Mary’s River
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 22"
both of which must be 22 inches in length or longer
Tributaries To These River Sections
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 22"
both of which must be 22 inches in length or longer
Georgia statewideIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
- Min size
- 22 TL
Flint River and its tributaries from the Georgia Power Co. dams at Albany to the US Hwy 84 bridge; the Chattahoochee River and its tributaries from the Columbia Lock and Dam to the GA Hwy 91 bridge; and Spring Creek and its tributaries downstream to GA Hwy 253 are CLOSED to striped bass fishing and spear fishing from May 1 - October 31 each year. Statewide aggregate per 2025-26 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations (Game Species Daily Limits, p.55). Combined statewide limit with White Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass (15 total; only 2 over 22 inches).
Largemouth Bass
All Pfas
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
- Min size
- 14"
Largemouth bass (unless otherwise posted) — 5 Largemouth bass: 14 inches minimum unless otherwise posted
Dodge County
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 24"
only 1 over 24 inches between 16 and 24 inches must be released immediately
Evans County
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 16"
with only one (1) over 16 inches between 12 and 16 inches must be released immediately
Hugh M. Gillis
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 24"
between 16 and 24 inches must be released immediately
Lake Lindsay Grace
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 22"
only one bass may be greater than 22 inches
Lake Lindsay Grace (Wayne Co.)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
Only one bass may be greater than 22 inches.
Marben Pfa (Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center)
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
- Min size
- 16"
only one (1) of which can be 16 inches or longer
OcmulgeeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
Largemouth bass are catch-and-release.
Public Fishing Area Lakes Operated By The Department Of Natural Resources
- Min size
- 14"
This limit will not apply to lakes which have been posted as having a different length limit for largemouth bass.
Georgia statewide
- Min size
- 12"
statewide except for specific lakes listed
Trout
Chattahoochee River From Sope Creek (Off Columns Drive) Downstream To Us Hwy 41 (Cobb Parkway)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Anglers fishing delayed harvest streams must release all trout immediately from Nov. 1 - May 14 annually. use and possess only artificial lures with one single hook per lure from Nov. 1 - May 14 annually.
Amicalola Creek From County Road 192 (Steele Bridge Road) Downstream To Ga Hwy 53Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Anglers fishing delayed harvest streams must release all trout immediately from Nov. 1 - May 14 annually. use and possess only artificial lures with one single hook per lure from Nov. 1 - May 14 annually.
Any Stream On The Conservation Area Or The Ga Hwy 75 Alternate Right-Of-WayCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
No trout may be possessed while fishing on any stream on the Conservation Area or the GA Hwy 75 Alternate right-of-way.
Chattooga River From Ga Hwy 28 Bridge Upstream To The Mouth Of Reed CreekCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Anglers fishing delayed harvest streams must release all trout immediately from Nov. 1 - May 14 annually. use and possess only artificial lures with one single hook per lure from Nov. 1 - May 14 annually.
Noontootla CreekCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
All trout less than 16 inches in length caught from this section of Noontootla Creek must be released immediately.
Smith Creek On Unicoi State Park From Unicoi Dam Downstream To The Unicoi State Park Property BoundaryCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Anglers fishing delayed harvest streams must release all trout immediately from Nov. 1 - May 14 annually. use and possess only artificial lures with one single hook per lure from Nov. 1 - May 14 annually.
Toccoa River On U.s. Forest Service Land From 0.4 Miles Above The Shallowford Bridge Upstream To A Point 450 Feet Upstream Of The Sandy Bottom Canoe AccessCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Anglers fishing delayed harvest streams must release all trout immediately from Nov. 1 - May 14 annually. use and possess only artificial lures with one single hook per lure from Nov. 1 - May 14 annually.
All Species
Chattahoochee River From Sope Creek (Off Columns Drive) Downstream To Us Hwy 41 (Cobb Parkway)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Anglers fishing delayed harvest streams must release all trout immediately from Nov. 1 - May 14 annually. Anglers fishing delayed harvest streams must use and possess only artificial lures with one single hook per lure from Nov. 1 - May 14 annually. The use of additional “dropper” lures on one line is permitted as long as each lure contains one single hook.
Chattahoochee River From Buford Dam To Peachtree CreekOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Fishing hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. Night fishing is not allowed.
Chattahoochee River And Its Tributaries From The Columbia Lock And Dam To The Ga Hwy 91 BridgeClosed
- Status
- Closed
to striped bass fishing and spear fishing from May 1 - October 31 each year
Chattahoochee River From Ga Hwy 20 To The Boat Ramp At The National Park Service Medlock Bridge Park Immediately Upstream Of Ga Hwy 141
- Gear
- Artificial Only
Black Sea Bass
Bass
Brook Trout
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
FAQ
Which states regulate fishing on Chattahoochee River?
Chattahoochee River spans 2 states (Florida, Georgia). Each state's wildlife agency sets rules for its own waters; FWC / DNR WRD.
What species can I target on Chattahoochee River?
Chattahoochee River is best known for bass, striped bass, trout. Other species are present and tracked in the rule tables below.
Where should I verify these rules?
These rules summarize FWC / DNR WRD's published content. Always confirm with the official source before keeping a catch.
Reference only. Regulations change mid-season. Always verify with the official source before keeping a catch.