SlotGaugeCheck a catchShoal Bass regulations in Georgia
Black Bass · Freshwater · 2026 season
Shoal Bass size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia freshwater, statewide | Open year-round | 15 inch minimum | Within the 10 black bass limit, no more than 5 combined of shoal, Altamaha, Bartram's, Chattahoochee, Coosa, smallmouth, Suwannee, Tallapoosa bass |
| Flint River downstream of Warwick Dam (Lake Blackshear) | Open year-round | under 15 inches; 20 inch minimum | Within the 10 black bass limit, no more than 5 of the native stream bass species |
Notes
- Shoal bass must be 15 inches statewide. On the Flint River below Warwick Dam (Lake Blackshear) you must release 15–20 inch fish and may keep fish under 15 or over 20.
- Counts toward the 10-bass daily limit, and toward the sub-limit of 5 native stream bass (shoal, Altamaha, Bartram's, Chattahoochee, Coosa, smallmouth, Suwannee, Tallapoosa).
Exact Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division wording
- Season
- Open year-round
- Size
- 15 inches total length statewide; Flint River below Warwick Dam: release 15–20 inches
- Limit
- Part of the 10 black bass limit, only 5 of which may be Altamaha, Bartrams, Chattahoochee, Coosa, Shoal, Smallmouth, Suwannee, Tallapoosa
- Georgia freshwater, statewide — as printed
- “Shoal Bass 15-inches statewide except: Flint River downstream of Warwick Dam (Lake Blackshear): Bass between 15 and 20 inches must be released immediately. All others may be kept.”
Source: Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division, captured 2026-10-01 (2026 season).
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About the shoal bass
Species of fish
The shoal bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Centrarchiformes. One of the black basses, it is native to waters in Florida and Georgia. It is also occasionally found in rivers and streams of East Alabama where it has been declared an endangered species and cannot legally be kept if caught by fishermen. Of typical size for a black bass, M. cataractae reaches a maximum recorded length of 24 inches (61 cm) and a maximum published weight of 8 pounds, 12 ounces.
Read more about Shoal bass on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division, not Wikipedia.
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Shoal Bass in Georgia?
15 inch minimum in Georgia state waters.
How many Shoal Bass can you keep per day in Georgia?
Within the 10 black bass limit, no more than 5 combined of shoal, Altamaha, Bartram's, Chattahoochee, Coosa, smallmouth, Suwannee, Tallapoosa bass.
When is Shoal Bass season in Georgia?
Open year-round.
Is my Shoal Bass a keeper today?
A shoal bass is a keeper today if it measures at least 15 inches, with a daily limit of 5.