27-4-10. Creel and possession limits; size restrictions.

It shall be unlawful to take in one day or to possess at any one time, except at a commercial storage facility or at one’s place of abode, more than the creel and possession limits established by the board for that fish species; provided, however, that it shall be illegal to possess more than a total of 50 individuals of all fresh water species named in this Code section. It shall be unlawful to take from the waters of this state or to possess any fish species larger or smaller or in numbers greater than the limits established by the board in accordance with this Code section. The board shall establish creel and possession limits which shall be no greater than the following limits and shall establish sizes of fish species within the following ranges which may not be taken: Species Ranges of Sizes Maximum#

1. Within Which Fish Daily Creel

2. May Not Be Taken And Possession

3. Limit

Genus microp- 0 — 24 inches 10#

1. terus (black

2. bass)

Mountain trout 0 — 24 inches 8#

White bass 0 — 36 inches 15#

Striped bass 0 — 36 inches 15#

Striped white 0 — 36 inches 15#

1. bass hybrids

Any one or com- 0 — 10 inches 50#

1. bination of the

2. species of bream

3. or sunfish

Walleye 0 — 24 inches 15#

Sauger 0 — 24 inches 15#

Chain pickerel 0 — 24 inches 15#

Grass pickerel 0 — 12 inches 15#

Redfin pickerel 0 — 12 inches 15#

Black crappie 0 — 14 inches 30#

White crappie 0 — 14 inches 30#

American shad 0 — 30 inches 8#

Hickory shad 0 — 24 inches 8#

Amberjack 0 — 50 inches 5#

Atlantic croaker 0 — 10 inches 25#

Atlantic stur- 0 — 86 inches 1#

1. geon

2. Species Ranges of Sizes Maximum

3. Within Which Fish Daily Creel

4. May Not Be Taken And Possession

5. Limit

Black drum 0 — 36 inches 15#

Black sea bass 0 — 15 inches 15#

Blue marlin 3#

Bluefish 0 — 20 inches 15#

Cobia 0 — 40 inches 5#

Dolphin 0 — 24 inches 15#

Flounder (Paral- 0 — 15 inches 15#

1. icthys spp.)

Gag grouper 0 — 25 inches 5#

King mackerel 0 — 36 inches 5#

Red drum 0 — 36 inches 5#

Red porgy 0 — 20 inches 10#

Red snapper 0 — 25 inches 5#

Sailfish 3#

Sand tiger shark 0 — 140 inches 1#

Sharks 0 — 120 inches 2#

Sheepshead 0 — 20 inches 15#

Small sharks 0 — 54 inches 4#

1. composite (At-

2. lantic sharp-

3. nose, bonnet-

4. head, and spiny

5. dogfish)

Spanish mack- 0 — 20 inches 20#

1. erel

Spot 0 — 10 inches 25#

Spotted sea 0 — 25 inches 15#

1. trout

Tarpon 0 — 90 inches 1#

Tripletail 0 — 25 inches 5#

Weakfish 0 — 15 inches 15#

White marlin 3#

1. (b)

   In accordance with sound principles of wildlife research and management, the board shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations establishing size limits, open seasons, creel and possession limits, and possession and landing specifications on a state-wide, regional, or local basis in accordance with this Code section. The board is further authorized to designate certain areas as catch and release fishing areas and to promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the management of such areas for catch and release fishing.#