Red Drum Regulation Changes 2026

Proposal Explainer Video

The latest Red Drum stock assessment conducted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) found the southern stock, which includes Georgia, is both overfished and experiencing overfishing. This signals that the population is stressed and needs rebuilding to stay healthy for the future. There are not enough adult fish to reproduce and too many fish are being caught. Scientists believe fewer young fish are surviving to adulthood due to a mix of fishing pressure and environmental changes. The report showed that the spawning potential ratio, a key measure of the population’s health, is below safe levels.

To address this, ASMFC adopted Draft Addendum II to the Red Drum Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to reduce fishing pressure on Red Drum. Georgia’s current rules—allowing anglers to keep five fish per person per day between 14 and 23 inches long—will have to change in the future. Options include reducing the daily bag limit or changing the slot size to allow more fish to reach reproductive size. The ASMFC held a public hearing (click to see a video) on Sept. 24, 2025 in Shellman Bluff to explain the assessment and hear from anglers. CRD also made an informal presentation about potential options for future management.

Public Participation

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division (CRD) hosted two Town Hall meetings to discuss changes to recreational Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) fishing regulations in Georgia.

The meetings will took place:

• Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, at 6 p.m. (in-person or virtually)
  • College of Coastal Georgia
  • Stembler Theatre
  • One College Drive, Brunswick, GA 31520
• Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, at 6 p.m. (in-person)
  • Richmond Hill City Center
  • 520 Cedar St, Richmond Hill, GA 31324

The purpose of the Town Halls was to inform the public about upcoming changes to Red Drum recreational fishing regulations and to explain why those changes are necessary. CRD staff provided a presentation (video above) outlining the latest stock assessment, the regulatory process moving forward, and several management options aimed at achieving long-term sustainability of the species. Attendees were asked to participate in a survey to gauge opinion about various management options. The public can access and participate in the survey by clicking here (deadline: March 12). 

View a recording of the Brunswick Town Hall, held Feb. 25, 2026, here.

About the Regulation Changes

Key Findings from the 2024 Stock Assessment

• The recent assessment by the ASMFC shows that the southern red drum stock (Georgia, South Carolina, Florida) is stressed: it is both overfished (i.e. the spawning stock biomass is too low) and experiencing overfishing (i.e. fishing pressure is too high).
• The assessment used data through 2021 and looked across life stages (juveniles, subadults, adults).
• One of the metrics—spawning potential ratio (SPR)—is below the threshold of unsustainable levels (below 30 %) and below the target (40 %), indicating the stock is under significant stress.
• Juvenile recruitment (i.e. the number of young fish entering the population) has declined since the 2000s, possibly due to environmental changes, spawning challenges, or other ecological factors.
• Discard mortality and fishing removals (harvest) are contributing factors to the decline.
• Florida has made regulatory changes already which appear to have reduced catches there; Georgia and South Carolina have had more stable removals to date.

In short: the assessment signals that the Red Drum population in the southern U.S. Atlantic region needs rebuilding, and current levels of fishing are not sustainable. Learn more here.

Download the ASMFC's 2024 Red Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment Report

Regulatory Response (Addendum II)

Because of the poor stock status, the ASMFC adopted Addendum II to the Interstate Red Drum Fishery Management Plan, which Georgia (along with other states) would comply with.

Some of the proposed concepts include:

• Establishing fishing mortality limits that states may not exceed.
• A formal process for states to propose regulatory changes (bag limits, size limits, etc.) in response to new scientific data or changes in stock status.

A public hearing was held Sept. 24, 2025 at the Sapelo Saltwater Fishing Club in Shellman Bluff, where a representative from the ASMFC presented the draft Addendum II. CRD also discussed Georgia-specific management options. The meeting was livestreamed and can be viewed here.

Implications for Georgia Anglers & Fisheries

• The overall goal is to rebuild the stock, protect spawning adults, and ensure sustainability and good fishing opportunities into the future.
• Because Georgia does not allow commercial harvest of Red Drum (they are managed as a gamefish only), all removals are from recreational fishing.
• Anglers may see lower bag limits and/or different slots.

Timeline

Learn more about:

CRD presentation on Red Drum management options given during the December 2025 Finfish Advisory Panel Meeting (PDF). Presentation includes:

• Details on bag and slot limit analysis (Pages 22-27 of PDF)

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CRD Status of Research and Management of Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) in Georgia - 2022 Update

• Red Drum life history
• CRD data concerning Red Drum research, surveys, and statistics

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2022 Red Drum Town Halls and Public Hearings

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Learn about the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

• Visit the ASMFC website
• Learn about fishery management
   

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