An official website of the State of Georgia.
Posted Sep. 8, 2025
Coastlines Georgia | August 2025 | Vol. 8, Iss. 1
Kristen Palmrose, pictured, is CRD’s new
at-sea observer.
By Tyler Jones
Public Information Officer
The Georgia coast woke up to a quiet but consequential change this summer: a scientist stepped aboard a charter boat, clipboard in hand, to watch—not judge—how anglers fish and release reef species. It was the first day of the Coastal Resources Division’s new at-sea observer program for the for-hire fleet, a hands-on effort to understand what happens to the fish that don’t come home in the cooler.
Those discards are the story. In the South Atlantic’s reef fishery, more than half of the fish anglers catch are released because of size limits, bag limits, or closed seasons. Most survive, but not all—which means the sheer volume of releases makes “release mortality” one of the largest sources of fishing pressure on the stocks. CRD’s new program is designed to sharpen that picture with real-world data gathered aboard charter trips off Georgia.
Leading the charge on deck is Kristen Palmrose, the program’s newly hired observer. Palmrose, who holds an Masters of Science in Biology from the University of North Florida and brings nine years of field and fisheries experience, will ride along with for-hire reef-fish vessels from ports up and down the Georgia coast. On every trip, she’ll record where and how people are fishing—depth, gear, number of anglers—and, critically, what happens when a fish is released: the species, size, hook location, signs of barotrauma, and whether a descending device or venting was used. Those details help scientists estimate how many released fish survive.
CRD designed the program to mirror proven methods in the region while filling a glaring gap. Florida has long run an at-sea for-hire observer effort, but until now, there has been no comparable on-the-water look at charter behavior off Georgia’s coast. Georgia’s data will complement Florida’s and align with simultaneous efforts in South Carolina and North Carolina, creating a clearer, coast-wide picture for stock assessments.
Why does local behavior matter? Florida’s observer records have shown big differences between fleets—even within the same state—with headboats generally fishing shallower than charters, and fishing depth is closely tied to release condition and survival. Understanding the nuances in Georgia waters will make mortality estimates less “one-size-fits-all” and more accurate.
Participation is voluntary and practical. CRD draws from an existing list of eligible charter captains—those who regularly target reef species, hold the right permits, and can safely host an observer—and aims to cover roughly 100 trips a year, with priority during peak season. Charter operators are reimbursed for taking an observer. Importantly, observers are not on board as law enforcement; captains are encouraged to fish as they normally would so the data reflect reality, not an altered routine.
On the water, the protocol is simple and steady. Palmrose logs trip-level details (vessel, weather, target species), station-level conditions (latitude/longitute, depth, whether the boat is anchored or drifting, and tackle types), and fish-level outcomes (kept or released, size, hook placement, barotrauma, release method and condition). Times and places to fish, as well as gear, remain captain’s choice—again, so the science captures the fishery as it is.
Back at the dock, paper log sheets are cross-checked and entered into a secure database—a system built with neighboring states to ensure consistency. Ultimately, the data will be archived with GulfFIN or the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP), where stock-assessment scientists can put it to work.
What will Georgians gain? Faster, finer feedback loops between what anglers do and how managers set seasons and limits. By quantifying real-world release practices, including the use of descending devices required to be onboard and ready in the South Atlantic reef fishery, CRD can help refine mortality estimates that drive assessments for red snapper, gag grouper, scamp, and more.
The program also provides a platform for conversation—each trip is a chance to trade tips on best release practices that can boost survival.
And the work is immediate. Beginning this month, Palmrose will be a familiar face on Georgia’s for-hire docks, a quiet presence with a measuring board and a practiced eye. The anglers will keep fishing; the captains will keep calling the shots. But now, the moments when a fish slips back over the gunwale will carry new weight—each one a data point, each one a step toward healthier reef fish and a more resilient fishery.
