Fish Worth Catching in Georgia’s Lakes, Rivers, and Coastal Waters

Quick Take

• Georgia has 10 black bass species, and one of them holds an official state title most anglers have never heard of. Explore Georgia's bass species →
• One lake just an hour from Atlanta is considered the Southeast's premier fishery for a species most people associate with the coast. See the premier striped bass lake →
• Georgia's largest freshwater fish can exceed a weight that would shock most anglers, and it is not a bass. Discover Georgia's largest freshwater fish →
• The best time to catch certain Georgia fish isn't when most people head out, and fishing at the wrong hour could mean going home empty-handed. Find the best fishing times →

Peaches, pecan pie, and fish! That might seem like a strange combination, but great fishing is just one more reason to plan a trip to Georgia. The lakes, rivers, and coastal waters offer many different types of fishing opportunities. Some Georgia fish prefer shallow marshy waters; others thrive in the cool depths of large lakes. Whether you want to try trolling or casting, you’ll be able to take your pick. Read on to learn about the best fish to catch in Georgia.

1. Trout

When you’re fishing Georgia streams and lakes, you have to try your hand at catching trout. Trout are freshwater fish that belong to the salmon family. They are generally found in cool, clear water. Rainbow, brown, and brook trout can be caught in Georgia. Rainbow trout average 10 to 20 inches long and weigh between 1 and 5 pounds. Brown trout average 8 to 14 inches and weigh between 0.5 and 2 pounds. Brook trout average 6 to 15 inches, and weigh 1 to 5 pounds.

There are over 4,000 miles of trout streams in the state. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partner to stock 160 streams with over a million catch-able rainbow, brown, and brook trout from late March through October. Anglers can use the trout streams map to find a place to fish. A few recommended trout fishing locations include Noontootla Creek Watershed, the Chattahoochee River, and the Tallulah River.

2. Crappie

Crappie belong to the sunfish family. Black and white crappie are common game fish in Georgia. These fish are generally found in reservoirs and rivers. Both black and white crappie typically average 8 to 12 inches in length and weigh between 0.5 and 0.75 pounds.

The best times to catch crappie are when they spawn in the spring from February through May, then again in late fall to early winter from October through December. Some of the most popular places to fish for crappie are Lake Oconee, Clarks Hill Lake on the Savannah River, and Lake Allatoona.

3. Redfish

The redfish, or red drum, makes our list of the best fish to catch in Georgia because of its impressive size. Some trophy reds can weigh 25 pounds or more, with the largest on record exceeding 94 pounds and stretching to around 57 inches long. This coastal game fish is known for its reddish-copper color and the black spot on its tail. Anglers can fish for redfish inshore in creeks and marshes or nearshore in channels and sounds.

The peak season to fish for redfish is the fall, generally from September through November. The cooler water temperatures trigger voracious feeding in slot-sized redfish (fitting the legal harvest measurement limits), while trophy “bull” redfish move to spawn in the inlets, sounds, and rivers. Some of the best places to fish for redfish include the grass marshes and tidal creeks around Savannah, Hampton River on St. Simons Island, the Altamaha River delta, and the tidal marshes around Tybee Island and Jekyll Island.

4. Black Bass

Georgia is one of the premier destinations for black bass. The state has 10 black bass species, including largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass, and shoal bass, which is the Georgia state native riverine sportfish. Black bass generally grow 12 to 24 inches long and weigh between 1 and 5 pounds, depending on species. The best time to fish for black bass is during the spawn in early spring from March through May.

The different species can be found all across the state, from major lakes and reservoirs to rivers and ponds. Largemouth bass are generally found in all of the major reservoirs, public lakes, and slower rivers. Smallmouth bass are native to the Tennessee River basin in north Georgia, but they are stocked in some mountain reservoirs, such as Lake Blue Ridge. Check the Georgia Department of Natural Resources website for detailed information about where to fish for each species.

5. Striped Bass

The striped bass, or striper, is an anadromous game fish, which means it lives in the ocean but returns to fresh or brackish water each spring to spawn. Striped bass average 10 to 30 pounds in coastal areas and the larger rivers. However, fish in inland freshwater reservoirs commonly average 4 to 10 pounds, but trophy fish over 20 pounds are not uncommon. In Georgia, the best time to fish for stripers is during spring from March through May and fall from October through November when the fish swim into shallower waters and feed closer to the surface.

One of the most popular locations to fish for striped bass is Lake Lanier, which is around 60 minutes northeast of Atlanta. Lake Lanier is considered the Southeast’s premier striper fishery due to trophy fish over 20 pounds and high numbers. Lake Hartwell on the Savannah River is also considered to be a reliable fishery for trophy stripers.

6. Catfish

Channel, flathead, and blue catfish are the three main species of large-bodied catfish found in Georgia. Channel catfish are brownish-olive or grey with small dark spots and a forked tail. It is the smallest of the three, usually weighing under 20 to 30 pounds. In addition to a flat head, flatheads have a protruding lower jaw, yellowish-brown mottling, and an unforked tail. They can reach over 100 pounds, but commonly weigh between 30 and 50 pounds. Blue catfish are the state’s largest freshwater fish, frequently exceeding 50 pounds, with the state record fish reaching over 110 pounds, 6 ounces. Blue catfish are a silvery-grey to blue fish with a deeply forked tail.

Anglers can fish for catfish year-round in Georgia, but the best time of year is from early spring through the height of summer. The most productive fishing is dusk and at night. Some of the premier locations to fish for catfish include Altamaha River for large flatheads, Lake Oconee and Clarks Hill Lake for big blue and channel cats, and the Coosa River for all three catfish species.