Georgia state waters, out to 3 miles
GA DNR CRD 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Same rule
The same size, bag and season past the 3-mile line, written by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Often mistaken for
King mackerelLateral line drops sharply mid-body; spots fade with size. Tell them apart
False albacoreWavy worm-lines on the back, no spots. Tell them apartNot listed by Georgia: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Georgia state record
GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Gold-bronze spots on the flanks, no lateral-line dip, black front dorsal patch; smaller than a king. More on the Spanish mackerel page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Spanish mackerel in other states14 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for Spanish mackerel in Georgia?
12 in fork length. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many Spanish mackerel can you keep in Georgia?
15 per person per day.
When is Spanish mackerel season in Georgia?
Open year-round.
What is the Georgia record Spanish mackerel?
8 lb 4 oz (1991).
How current is this Georgia Spanish mackerel 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.
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