Public Fishing Areas

Public Fishing Areas are great places for family outings.  You can fish from the bank or a boat, picnic, hike, watch wildlife, camp (not all PFAs provide camping), and enjoy being outdoors.  Good bank fishing opportunities are available at all PFAs and many of them have special kids fishing areas for young anglers.  So check out a PFA and see what you, your family, and friends have been missing!  Detailed information about all of our PFAs may be found in the Public Fishing Area portion of our website  

PFAs are areas managed intensively for fishing by the Wildlife Resources Division.  Currently, WRD operates eight PFAs located around the state.  Most of the PFAs are made up of one or more intensively managed ponds or lakes.  Fish available to the angler include: largemouth bass, bream (bluegill & redear sunfish), channel catfish and crappie.  Important management activites conducted at PFAs include: fertilization and liming of lakes to increase fish harvest opportunities, sampling to better manage the fish populations, picking up litter and cleaning restrooms, mowing grass, planting wildlife foods, constructing nature trails, checking licenses and fish, education, and assisting users.  Purchasing property and constructing new PFAs is a high priority for the Wildlife Resources Division.

Licenses:

• Anglers 16 years of age and older must posses a current fishing license and Wildlife Management Area (WMA) license to fish
• A WMA license is not required to fish at Rocky Mountain Recreation & PFA.
• Senior (65+) Lifetime and Honorary License holders are not required to possess a WMA license to fish.
• If you possess a Sportsman's License or a Three-Day Fishing/Hunting License (resident or nonresident) you are not required to possess a WMA license.
• Georgia Outdoor Recreation Pass (GORP)

Hours of Operation:

PFAs hours of operation are Wednesday through Saturday sunrise to sunset.

Unless otherwise posted at a PFA lake:

Length limit for Largemouth bass - 14 inch minimum

Daily Possession Limits:

• Largemouth bass.....5
• Bream or sunfish (of any one or a combination).....15
• Channel catfish.....5
• Grass carp (white amur) must be immediately released.

Operation of boats:

• You can operate fishing boats propelled by paddles, oars, or electric motors on ponds or lakes, unless otherwise posted.
• You can operate outboard motors at idle speed only on lakes posted as open to the use of outboard motors.

It is unlawful to:

• Consume alcoholic beverages except at campsites on the area.  No alcoholic beverages are allowed on Rocky Mountain Recreation & PFA.
• Fish except during the time between sunrise and sunset.
• Fish in a pond or lake that has been posted as "closed".
• Fish with any gear other than pole and line.
• Fish with more than two poles and lines.
• Use or possess live fish for bait, unless the lake or pond has been posted.
• Operate personal watercraft (jet skis), sailboats, or sailboards.
• Park a vehicle at any place within a PFA where signs prohibit parking.
• Drive or otherwise operate a vehicle on any road posted "closed" to vehicular access, drive around a closed gate or cable blocking a road, or drive on any road that is not receiving maintenance for the purpose of vehicular access.
• Camp any place other than designated camping areas.  Note: Contact the PFA before visiting for all regulations regarding camping.
• Swim, except at Rocky Mountain Recreation & PFA beach.
• For children under 14 years of age to enter or remain on any PFA unless under the supervision of an adult.
• For horses to be on areas other than those designated as open to equestrian use.

Fishing on Wildlife Management Areas

Unless otherwise posted, fishing is allowed on WMAs according to state-wide regulations.  A fishing license is required.  A WMA license is required only when the area is designated as a both WMA & PFA.  Alcohol use is prohibited on WMAs except in designated camping areas.  Refer to the Hunting Regulations guide for a complete list of WMA regulations.