Spanish Mackerel Regulations in Georgia (2026)

Where

All waters

Size limit

Minimum Size (inches): 12 FL

Bag limit

Daily Creel and Possession Limit: 15

Season

All Year

• Fishermen who take finfish or other seafood for commercial sale must possess a valid commercial fishing license and if a boat is used, a commercial boat license.
• Commercial fishermen must abide by season, creel and size limits when harvesting any of the finfish for which the Georgia General Assembly or the Board of Natural Resources (Board) has created regulations. However, individuals fishing with a valid federal commercial fishing permit in federal waters may exceed the creel limits provided those waters are open for commercial fishing with specified gear, minimum size limits are observed, the quota has not been met, and the Board has not prohibited sale of the species.
• (a) All fish subject to restrictions specified in this Rule may be possessed in state waters or landed only with head and fins intact, except that when landed for commercial purposes, all sharks, small shark composite species, hammerhead sharks, and Shortfin Mako Sharks may have the heads removed but fins and tail must remain naturally attached.
• (b) It shall be unlawful to transfer at sea in State waters from a fishing vessel to any other vessel or person any fish caught which are subject to the restrictions specified in this Rule.
• 1. A catch of Spanish mackerel under the minimum size limit is allowed equal to five percent by weight of the total catch of Spanish mackerel on board a trawler.
• (c) No person may sell any fish managed under federal law and harvested from either Georgia waters or the South Atlantic Exclusive Economic Zone except when the catch of such fish is allowed by applicable federal law.

Official source