---
title: O.C.G.A. § 27-4-1. Salt-water and fresh-water demarcation line.
collection: code
id: 27-4-1
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 27-4-1 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-4-1
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-4-1.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-4-1/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t27-t30-(v22)-2018-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=f493d811_0#page=185
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: GAME AND FISH / FISH / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 27-4-1. Salt-water and fresh-water demarcation line.

(a) The line established in this state as the separation point between salt waters and fresh waters for commercial fishing and sport fishing is as follows:

(1) The point at which U.S. Highway 17 crosses the following bodies of water and their tributaries shall be the line of demarcation for them: St. Marys River, Satilla River, South Altamaha River, Champney River, Butler River, Darien River, Little Ogeechee System (except Salt Creek), North Newport River, Medway River, Big Ogeechee River, and the point at which Georgia Highway 25/South Carolina 170 crosses the Savannah River and its tributaries. All water seaward of these points shall be considered salt water; and

(2) The following streams and their tributaries are designated as salt water for their entire length: Crooked River, Little Satilla River, South Brunswick River, Turtle River, Sapelo River, South Newport River, Salt Creek (Little Ogeechee System), and all other rivers, streams, and tributaries in the six coastal counties which are not enumerated in this subsection.

(b) This Code section shall not apply to fresh-water ponds on the seaward side of the demarcation line.

## History

Code 1933, § 45-811, enacted by Ga. L. 1977, p. 396, § 1; Ga. L. 1982, p. 1629, § 4; Ga. L. 1984, p. 537, § 4; Ga. L. 1998, p. 783, § 13; Ga. L. 2008, p. 163, § 1/HB 1016.

## Code Commission Notes

Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 1997, ‘‘St. Marys River’’ was substituted for ‘‘St. Mary’s River’’ in paragraph (a)(1).