Georgia is the Black Bass Capital of the World!
“No doubt the Black Bass is the appointed successor to the Lordly Trout…that he will eventually become the leading game fish of America is my oft-expressed opinion and firm belief.” —Dr. James A. Henshall, Book of the Black Bass, 1881
Although writing primarily about the largemouth bass, Dr. Henshall’s prediction written over 125 years ago has literally been fulfilled. Today, black bass are the most sought after species in North America, with Georgia as one of the premier destinations.
The idea behind the Georgia Bass Slam is to recognize anglers with the knowledge and skill to catch five (5) different species of black bass in a variety of habitats across the state, and to stimulate interest in the conservation and management of black bass and their habitats.
What Will You Get?
Anglers that successfully catch five eligible species, and submit all required information will receive the following:
- Personalized Certificate
- Two (2) passes to the Go Fish Education Center
- Some fantastic and fun stickers (for vehicle windows/bumpers) to advertise your brag-worthy achievement
- All successful submissions for the calendar year will go into a drawing for an annual grand prize
- Anglers will be recognized on this website, at the Go Fish Education Center, and through a variety of social media platforms
Species & Location Information
Where to find each bass species
Species information:
Largemouth*
Spotted**
Smallmouth
Shoal
Suwannee
Redeye
Chattahoochee
Tallapoosa
Altamaha
Bartram’s
Some of these bass are similar in appearance, so it is important that you review the location you fish, and the characteristics and markings of each fish in order to best ensure your entry is processed correctly.
*Due to their similarities, largemouth bass and Florida largemouth bass will be considered the same species.
**Alabama bass and Kentucky bass will be considered the same species—these two are commonly known as spotted bass. These bass are similar in physical appearance and often hybridize, producing intergrades that can only be distinguished through genetic analysis.
Rules
Following are rules for qualifying for the Georgia Bass Slam:
Species
Catch five (5) of the 10 eligible Georgia black bass species.
Legal Catch
Fish must be legally caught from Georgia waters where you have permission to fish. Fish will also be accepted if they are caught on public boundary waters where a reciprocal fishing license agreement is in place with neighboring states.
Length Limits
In waters where length limits apply, the fish must be of legal size to be eligible. If there is no minimum length limit, the fish must be at least eight (8) inches long to be recognized for the Slam. Read more on length limit.
Photos
Take several quality photos. Please include at least one photo of you with the fish, one side photo of the fish on a measuring board or next to a measuring tape or ruler. Any other photos you think may help in confirming the identification of the fish.
Time Frame
Fish must be caught within the time frame of a calendar year. So, anglers who wish to get recognized for a 2020 Georgia Bass Slam must catch 5 of the 10 eligible black bass species and submit their information by midnight December 31, 2020.
Submit Information
Email the photos, along with your name, DNR Customer Number, length of the fish, weight (if available), and the county and water body in which it was caught to Georgia.BassSlam@dnr.ga.gov. If you are unsure of the bass species, you can still submit the fish and DNR will identify it from the photos and location information provided.
For more information visit: http://bassslam.com