Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-4-3-.09 - Public Fishing Areas
(1)
Drivers of vehicles parking at the Rocky Mountain public fishing area must
obtain a daily or annual Rocky Mountain public fishing area parking permit
(which is not a Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division Parking
Pass).
(2) On ponds or portions of
ponds where fisheries resources are limited, area managers may limit fishing to
persons under 16 years of age by posting a sign at the pond which indicates
said limitations.
(3) Except as
provided by O.C.G.A. Sec.
27-4-11.1, the creel and
possession limits for fish caught from public fishing areas are:
(a) Fifteen (15) of any one or a combination
of the game species of bream or sunfish;
(b) Five (5) largemouth bass;
(c) Five (5) channel catfish;
(d) All grass carp must be immediately
returned to the waters from which they were caught unless otherwise posted;
and
(e) All fish or designated fish
species taken from ponds and lakes posted as open only to catch and release
fishing must be immediately returned to the waters from which they were taken.
Possession of fish or designated fish species in ponds and lakes open only to
catch and release fishing is not allowed.
(4) Camping shall not be allowed on public
fishing areas except under the following circumstances:
(a) Any activity that disturbs other campers
between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. is prohibited;
(b) No musical instrument, radio, television
or other noise making device may be used after 10:00 p.m. or before 7:00 a.m.
in such a manner that it may be heard by other campers;
(c) Occupancy of campsites is limited to
fourteen consecutive days. Any camper who has used a campsite for 14
consecutive days must vacate the camping area for a period of not less than 7
days before again occupying a campsite;
(d) Any tents, trailers, automobiles, other
vehicles or other personal property left unattended at the campsite overnight
or beyond the designated time limit shall be removed and any expenses,
including towing charges, incurred by such removal shall be paid by the person
under whose name the campsite is registered;
(e) Dishwashing is prohibited at drinking
faucets and at comfort stations;
(f) Picnic supplies and other personal
property shall not be left unattended in the picnic shelters;
(g) Campers may cut only dead and fallen
trees for firewood to be used on the area;
(h) Persons who wish to camp on areas where
gates are usually locked at night must contact area managers in advance to make
arrangements for camping; and
(i)
Rules for camping on wildlife management areas shall apply on areas which are
both public fishing areas and wildlife management areas; and
(j) Camping on the Rocky Mountain public
fishing area is prohibited except from April 1 until October 31, and except at
other times as designated by the public fishing area manager for special
purposes.
(5) Persons may
not fish with any gear other than pole and line, as the term is defined in
O.C.G.A. Sec.
27-1-2(51), and
no person shall fish with more than two poles and lines at any public fishing
area:
(6) Persons may not use or
possess live fish for bait at any public fishing area except in lakes or ponds
posted as being open to the use of live fish for bait.
(7) Except as provided herein, persons may
not operate any vessel as defined in O.C.G.A. Sec.
52-7-3 on any public fishing area
owned or operated by the department; provided, however, that fishing boats
propelled by paddles, oars, or electric motors may be used on ponds or lakes
unless they are posted as being closed to the use of such fishing boats, and
provided further, that:
(a) Persons may
operate any fishing boat being propelled by a motor at idle speed on any public
fishing area lake designated open to the use of fishing boats with motors;
and
(b) Personal watercraft (jet
skis), sailboats and sailboards are not permitted on any public fishing area
lake; and
(8) Persons may
not utilize the waters of any public fishing area for recreational swimming;
provided, however, this subsection shall not apply to the designated beach area
at Rocky Mountain Public Fishing Area between Memorial Day and Labor Day during
the hours designated by the public fishing area manager.
(9) No person may consume or use alcoholic
beverages on any public fishing area except in designated facilities or at
campsites on these areas; provided, however, no alcoholic beverages are allowed
on the Rocky Mountain Public Fishing Area.
(10) No horses are allowed on public fishing
areas except in those areas designated as open to equestrian use.
(11) Persons may not rappel, rock climb or
hang glide on the Rocky Mountain public fishing area.
(12) No person shall disobey any lawful order
of a law enforcement officer or the area manager.
(13) If hunting is authorized, hunters may
access specified portions of the public fishing area during legal hunting hours
for the purpose of hunting.
(14)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Rule
391-4-3-.09 to the contrary,
Department sponsored special events are authorized on public fishing areas
twenty-four hours a day, subject to any special conditions for the event
established by the Department.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
No prior version found.