Bowfishing in Georgia rewards anglers who know the rules. The state offers hundreds of thousands of acres of lakes, rivers, and coastal waters, but the regulations governing what you can shoot, when, and where are specific enough that heading out without reviewing them first can land you in serious legal trouble.
Whether you are a seasoned bowfisher or picking up a bow for the first time, understanding Georgia’s bowfishing laws keeps you on the right side of the Wildlife Resources Division and protects the fisheries you depend on. This guide breaks down every major regulation category so you can get on the water with confidence.
Is Bowfishing Legal in Georgia
Yes, bowfishing is legal in Georgia. Nongame fish may be taken by bow and arrow from freshwater, and the state’s statutes also authorize the Georgia Board of Natural Resources to regulate the taking of fish from saltwater by bow and arrow. The activity is well-established and widely practiced across the state’s river systems and large reservoirs.
That said, legality comes with clear boundaries. Georgia allows you to bowfish for nongame and invasive fish species, but you cannot bowfish for game fish. Game fish — including bass, crappie, striped bass, and walleye — are strictly off-limits. If you are found with a game fish bearing an open wound while bowfishing, Georgia law treats that as evidence of illegal take.
Important Note: Georgia Code makes it clear that any game fish with an open wound in the possession of a person bowfishing is considered prima-facie evidence of taking fish illegally. Always know your target before you release an arrow.
Georgia’s bowfishing regulations sit under Georgia Code § 27-4-34 and are further detailed in the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division’s annual Hunting and Fishing Regulations and Seasons guide. The 2025–2026 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations and Seasons guide is available both online and in print, and it is worth reviewing each season since rules can be updated year to year. The 2025–2026 guide includes updated catfish regulations for bowfishing; see page 56.
What Fish Can You Bowfish for in Georgia
The core rule is straightforward: nongame fish may be taken by bow and arrow from freshwater. Nongame fish are any species not classified as a game fish under Georgia law. Common legal targets include carp (common, grass, and bighead), gar (longnose, shortnose, and spotted), buffalo, drum, bowfin, shad, and suckers.
Bowfishing is legal for certain species like carp, gar, and shad. These species are popular targets precisely because they are abundant, often invasive or rough fish, and present a genuine challenge on the water. Alligator gar, once rare in Georgia, have been making a comeback in some river systems and fall under nongame classification, though you should verify current status with the DNR before targeting them.
Pro Tip: Georgia has a state-protected species list. Know your target — the take of protected species is unlawful. If you are unsure whether a species is protected, consult the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division before shooting.
Catfish occupy a special middle ground in Georgia’s bowfishing rules. Channel catfish and flathead catfish are classified as game fish and carry bag limits, which means they are generally off-limits to bowfishers under standard rules. However, there is a notable exception tied to a specific waterway covered in the night bowfishing section below. Other catfish species — including blue catfish, bullheads, and speckled catfish — fall outside the game fish definition and may be taken by bow.
Game fish you must never target with a bow include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, white bass, crappie (black and white), bluegill and other sunfish, walleye, sauger, and trout. Any game fish with an open wound in the possession of a person fishing with a bow and arrow shall be prima-facie evidence of taking and possessing fish illegally.
Bowfishing License Requirements in Georgia
A valid fishing license is the baseline requirement for all bowfishers in Georgia. Possession of a sport fishing license is required to bowfish in Georgia. There is no separate bowfishing-specific license or stamp — your standard sport fishing license covers the activity.
Georgia law requires anglers age 16 and older to have a current Georgia fishing license in their possession while fishing in fresh or salt water in Georgia. Anglers under 16 are generally exempt from the base fishing license requirement, though you should always verify current rules with the DNR. If you are heading to saltwater, you will also need to address the Saltwater Information Program (SIP) permit, which is discussed in the saltwater section below.
| Angler Type | License Required | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Resident age 16+ | Georgia Sport Fishing License | Online, phone, or in-person agent |
| Non-resident age 16+ | Georgia Non-Resident Sport Fishing License | Online, phone, or in-person agent |
| Under age 16 | Not required (base license) | N/A |
| Saltwater bowfishing (any age 16+) | Sport Fishing License + free SIP permit | Online or authorized agents |
Licenses may be purchased online, in person at participating locations, or by phone. The Go Outdoors Georgia online portal is the fastest route, and your license is available digitally on your phone immediately after purchase. Many Georgia annual licenses are set up to run 365 days from the purchase date, so do not assume your license expires on December 31.
If you are also interested in other animal-related regulations in Georgia, you might find it useful to review wildlife removal laws in Georgia, which covers how the state manages native wildlife more broadly.
Legal Bowfishing Equipment in Georgia
Georgia’s regulations specify several equipment requirements that every bowfisher must follow. Getting your gear right before hitting the water is not just about performance — it is a legal obligation.
Arrows must be equipped with barbs or similar devices for recovering fish and must be attached to the person or bow by a line sufficient for recovering the arrow and fish. This means a standard hunting arrow without a fish point and retrieval line is not legal for bowfishing in Georgia. You need a dedicated bowfishing arrow with a barbed tip and a line system — either a reel mounted to the bow or a hand-wrap spool.
- Any draw-weight bow is acceptable (compound, recurve, or longbow)
- Crossbows are not explicitly addressed under bowfishing regulations — confirm with Georgia DNR before using one
- Arrows must have barbed tips designed to hold fish
- A retrieval line must connect the arrow to either the bow or the shooter
- Standard fishing reels, bottle reels, or hand-wrap systems all satisfy the line requirement
Two specific arrow types are explicitly prohibited. Poisonous or exploding arrowheads are illegal. These are not commonly sold in mainstream bowfishing gear, but the prohibition is absolute. Additionally, arrows cannot be discharged into the water closer than 150 feet to anyone engaged in any other means of recreation. This safety buffer protects swimmers, kayakers, conventional anglers, and anyone else sharing the water with you.
Common Mistake: Using a hunting broadhead on a bowfishing arrow without a retrieval line attached is illegal in Georgia. Always rig your bow with a proper bowfishing reel and barbed fish point before heading out.
Lights used for night bowfishing are permitted in specific situations (detailed in the night bowfishing section), and there are no restrictions on boat-mounted lighting rigs beyond the location rules that govern when night shooting is allowed. For a broader look at how Georgia regulates interactions with its wildlife, the roadkill laws in Georgia page offers useful context on how the state approaches wildlife possession generally.
Where You Can and Cannot Bowfish in Georgia
Georgia offers extensive public waters for bowfishing, but several specific closures and restrictions apply. Knowing the off-limits zones is just as important as knowing where to go.
With more than 500,000 acres of lakes, 12,000 miles of warm water streams, and 4,000 miles of trout streams, Georgia is home to excellent freshwater fishing opportunities. The vast majority of public freshwater — rivers, streams, and reservoirs — is open to bowfishing for nongame fish under statewide regulations.
However, several waterways carry specific closures that affect bowfishing:
- Flint, Chattahoochee, and Spring Creeks: The Flint River and its tributaries from the Georgia Power Co. dams at Albany to the US Hwy 84 bridge; the Chattahoochee River and its tributaries from the Columbia Lock and Dam to the GA Hwy 91 bridge; and Spring Creek and its tributaries downstream to GA Hwy 253 are closed to spear fishing from May 1 through October 31 each year. Because bowfishing falls under the broader spearing framework in some contexts, check current regulations carefully for these waterways.
- Lake Seminole fish refuges: All fishing, including spear fishing, for any species in the marked areas around five fish refuges in Lake Seminole is prohibited from May 1 through October 31 each year.
- Coosa River: The season for taking lake sturgeon from the Coosa River and its tributaries is closed. Lake sturgeon are protected — never target them.
According to statewide regulations or as otherwise posted, fishing is allowed on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). Some WMAs may have additional posted restrictions, so always check signage before bowfishing on WMA land. State Park Lakes and Public Fishing Areas (PFAs) can also carry specific restrictions — trotlines, for example, are prohibited on these waters, and similar restrictions may apply to bowfishing in certain managed areas.
Key Insight: Private land and private ponds require landowner permission before you bowfish. Georgia does not grant public access to private water bodies, and trespassing to bowfish carries both civil and criminal consequences.
If you fish near Georgia’s borders, note that waters shared with South Carolina may have different or joint regulations. Daily limits differ on certain waters shared by Georgia and South Carolina. Always verify which state’s rules apply to the specific water body you are on.
Night Bowfishing Rules in Georgia
Night bowfishing is one of the most popular ways to target carp and gar, but Georgia’s rules on after-dark shooting are more restrictive than many anglers expect. The default rule is daytime-only, with specific exceptions carved out by location and species.
Legal hours for fishing with bow and arrow are from sunrise to sunset, except that nongame fish may be taken at night while using a light in reservoirs over 500 acres in size. This means that if you want to bowfish at night, you must be on an impounded reservoir that exceeds 500 acres. Rivers, streams, small lakes, and ponds under that threshold are off-limits for after-dark bowfishing for nongame fish.
The catfish exception is the most significant update in the 2025–2026 regulations. Bowfishing for catfish is allowed at any time, day or night, with the use of a light. However, the use of a bow for harvesting any other fish species remains restricted to daytime hours. This expanded catfish rule applies specifically to channel catfish and flathead catfish in the Savannah River system.
More specifically, the taking of channel catfish and flathead catfish in the Savannah River, including its tributaries and impoundments within the Savannah River Basin, by bow and arrow shall be legal at any time of the day and at night by the use of a light. Outside of the Savannah River Basin, channel catfish and flathead catfish remain classified as game fish and are not legal bowfishing targets.
| Water Type | Nongame Fish (Night) | Catfish (Night) |
|---|---|---|
| Reservoir over 500 acres | Legal with light | Legal only in Savannah River Basin |
| Reservoir under 500 acres | Not legal | Not legal (outside Savannah River Basin) |
| Rivers and streams (general) | Not legal | Not legal (outside Savannah River Basin) |
| Savannah River and tributaries/impoundments | Legal with light (500+ acre reservoirs) | Legal at any time with light |
When night bowfishing is permitted, lights are not only allowed — they are required for the catfish exception to apply. Boat-mounted LED bars, submersible lights, and handheld spotlights are all commonly used. There is no specification on light type or wattage in the regulations, but the light must be in use when shooting at night.
Pro Tip: Always verify the acreage of a reservoir before planning a night bowfishing trip. Georgia DNR and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers publish official acreage figures for managed impoundments. When in doubt, stick to well-known large reservoirs like Lake Lanier, Lake Oconee, or West Point Lake.
Saltwater Bowfishing Rules in Georgia
Georgia’s coastline stretches roughly 100 miles along the Atlantic, with tidal marshes, estuaries, barrier islands, and nearshore waters that offer bowfishing opportunities for a different set of species. The rules governing saltwater bowfishing are distinct from freshwater regulations.
Subject to the provisions of Georgia Code § 27-4-34, and in accordance with current, sound principles of wildlife research and management, the board is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations regarding the taking of any fish from the salt waters of this state by means of bow and arrow. This means the Georgia Board of Natural Resources has broad authority to set saltwater bowfishing rules, and those rules can change.
For licensing, if you plan to fish anywhere in Georgia in 2026, you typically need a valid license if you are 16 or older — and you may also need a free Saltwater Information Program (SIP) permit for saltwater. The SIP permit is free and is required in addition to your base sport fishing license whenever you fish in Georgia’s tidal and saltwater zones. You can obtain it through the same online portal where you buy your fishing license.
Common saltwater bowfishing targets in Georgia include sheepshead, flounder, red drum (redfish), and various species of rays. However, red drum and flounder both carry size and bag limits as regulated game fish — targeting them with a bow requires the same compliance with those limits as conventional fishing. Rays, particularly cownose rays and stingrays, are popular and largely unregulated nongame targets in saltwater.
- A standard sport fishing license plus a free SIP permit is required for all saltwater bowfishing
- Game fish size and bag limits apply regardless of the method used to take them
- Protected marine species — including sea turtles, dolphins, and certain sharks — must never be targeted
- Federal waters (beyond 3 nautical miles) fall under federal jurisdiction; check NOAA regulations for offshore bowfishing
- Saltwater bowfishing from bridges and public access points is generally permitted where fishing is otherwise allowed
Important Note: Georgia’s coastal marshes and estuaries are ecologically sensitive. Some areas near wildlife refuges, national seashores, and protected nesting zones may have additional restrictions on all fishing activity. Always check for posted regulations at boat ramps and public access points before entering coastal waters.
The Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division manages saltwater fisheries separately from the Wildlife Resources Division, which handles freshwater. For the most current saltwater bowfishing rules, consult both the annual Hunting and Fishing Regulations guide and the Georgia Coastal Resources Division directly. Regulations in coastal zones can shift based on species population assessments, so checking before each season is a sound habit.
For those interested in how Georgia handles other animal-related regulations, the state takes a similarly structured approach to land-based wildlife. Topics like backyard chicken laws in Georgia, goat ownership laws in Georgia, and hedgehog ownership laws in Georgia follow the same pattern of state-level oversight through the DNR and related agencies.
Bowfishing in Georgia is a rewarding pursuit when you know the framework. Keep your sport fishing license current, stick to nongame species in the waters where bowfishing is permitted, follow the equipment rules on barbed tips and retrieval lines, and respect the daytime-only default unless you are on a qualifying large reservoir or the Savannah River system at night. When regulations update — as they did with catfish rules in the 2025–2026 season — reviewing the latest Georgia DNR guide ensures you stay compliant from your first cast of the season to your last.