Georgia’s commercial shad season will open at 6 a.m. on Monday, January 2, 2017, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD). Shad season runs through midnight on Friday, March 31, 2017.
Shad fishing will be open on parts of the Altamaha and Savannah rivers. The Ogeechee, Satilla, and the St. Marys rivers are not open to commercial shad fishing.
Commercial shad fishermen must have a valid Georgia commercial fishing license and a free letter of authorization (LOA) to commercially fish for shad. Fisherman must have the LOA in their possession while commercially fishing for shad.
Commercial licenses and LOA’s can be obtained at the Coastal Resources Division office in Brunswick. Applications for commercial licenses are also available at www.georgiawildlife.com/commercial-licenses or WRD offices.
Vessels must be registered for use on Georgia waters. Vessel registration information is available at www.georgiawildlife.com/boating/registration. Boats used below the saltwater demarcation line for commercial fishing need additional registration. Visit www.coastalgadnr.org/fb/cf/lics for information.
Georgia’s commercial fishing regulations require that fishermen must report the harvest of American shad to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Coastal Resources Division via Trip Tickets. Fishermen can obtain Trip Tickets by contacting CRD’s Julie Califf at 912-264-7218.
For a complete set of commercial fishing regulations, visit www.coastalgadnr.org/fb/cf/lics or contact any of the following WRD law enforcement offices: Brunswick (912) 264-7237; Thomson (706) 595-4211 or Metter (912) 685-2145.
source: Georgia Department of Natural Resources