Georgia state waters, out to 3 miles
Gamefish, rod-and-line only. The 3-fish, 15-24 in slot adopted by the Board in Aug 2026 is now in effect (was 5 fish, 14-23 in).
GA DNR CRD 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Harvest and possession prohibited in the Atlantic EEZ (3–200 mi); state waters have their own rules.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Often mistaken for
Black drumHas chin barbels, no tail spot. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Georgia state record
GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Black spot (sometimes several) at the tail base, coppery-bronze back, no chin barbels. More on the red drum page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for red drum in Georgia?
slot 15-24 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many red drum can you keep in Georgia?
3 per person per day.
When is red drum season in Georgia?
Open year-round.
What is the Georgia record red drum?
46 lb 7 oz (1986).
How current is this Georgia red drum rule?
Source: GA DNR CRD 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
In the appPoint the camera at a red drum in Georgia and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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