Georgia shrimp season opens Wednesday

BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Georgia waters open for commercial and recreational harvest of shrimp Wednesday. This is the third earliest the shrimping season has opened since 1977.

Commercial food shrimp trawlers can operate in Georgia’s territorial waters open to power-drawn trawls. Commercial and recreational cast netters, as well as persons using a beach seine, can harvest food shrimp from waters open to the use of these gears. This is the third earliest the shrimping season has opened since 1977.

“The data collected through DNR’s Ecological Monitoring Trawl Survey show that Georgia shrimp numbers are in great shape this year and are higher than average at the moment,” B.J. Hilton, a marine biologist, said in a news release from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. “We feel the numbers and count size are where they need to be to open the fishery in Georgia’s state waters. The water temperature is well above what last years averages, which allowed inland waters to warm faster and speed up the growth and development of the shrimp in estuaries. In turn, the shrimp migrated to sounds and beaches earlier than normal to spawn.”

Once the season opens, commercial harvest of food shrimp with power-drawn trawls in state waters is allowed from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Federal waters (beyond three miles offshore) are open for food shrimp harvest 24 hours a day. Trawler operators must use certified Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs) and Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) while operating in both state and federal waters. Trawl fishermen should watch for further advisories on BRD and TED requirements issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

Trawler operators are also reminded there is a 1,000-foot “Boating Safety Zone” along the beaches of Tybee Island, Sea Island, St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island from May 1 through September 30.  Motorized craft, both recreational and commercial -- including personal watercraft -- are prohibited in these zones during this period.

Recreational harvesters must obtain a Georgia fishing license and free Saltwater Information Permit. Recreational licensing information is available at coastalgadnr.org/RecreationalFishing.

Commercial license applications are available at coastalgadnr.org/CommercialFishing.

The DNR is also reminding trawler operators that there is a 1,000-foot “Boating Safety Zone” at Tybee Island, Sea Island, St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island from May 1st through September 30th. 

Motorized craft, both recreational and commercial, including personal watercraft -- are prohibited in these zones during this period.