Freshwater Mussels

The following waters are open from sunrise to sunset on Monday through Friday of each week from April 1 to August 31 each year, except Memorial Day and Independence Day, to the lawful harvest of mussels:

• Fresh waters of all streams are open to the lawful harvest of mussels that will not pass through a round ring with an inside diameter of four inches; and
• Reservoirs over 500 acres in size which are not owned or operated by the Department are open to the lawful harvest of washboard mussels (Megalonaias sp.) that will not pass through a round ring with an inside diameter of four inches and to the harvest of all other mussels whose longest dimension will not pass through said ring.

It shall be unlawful to harvest mussels in fresh water by any form of dredging, brailing, pumping, any form of mechanical scooping or by dragging any material over the mussels. Any person violating this provision is subject to the civil penalty provisions of O.C.G.A. 27-1-36.