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View trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish being reared for stocking into Georgia's public waters . Great fun for group and family day trips. |
| Locations below are listed by regions and their contact information. Check out the Georgia WRD Map that shows where these Wildlife Management Areas, Wildlife Public Fishing Areas, Natural Areas, Environmental Education Centers and Archery-Firearms Ranges are located in the state. |
Bowens Mill Fish Hatchery and District Office - 229-426-5272
Address: 1773A Bowens Mill Highway, Fitzgerald, Georgia 31750
General Hatchery Information - The hatchery raises Morone hybrid bass for stocking into public reservoirs. Largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish (shellcracker), and channel catfish are raised for stocking into private ponds. Some channel catfish are grown to catchable size for stocking into PFA's and for kids fishing events. Some largemouth bass are raised to a larger size for stocking into north Georgia reservoirs where survival of larval bass has been unsuccessful. Directions: Bowens Mill hatchery and office is located just south of the Wilcox/Ben Hill County line in Ben Hill County. It is located 10 miles north of Fitzgerald on U.S. Highway 129. |
Buford Trout Hatchery - 770-781-6888
Address: 3204 Trout Place Rd., Cumming Georgia 30041
- Hours Open: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM daily. General Hatchery Information - View up to 1,000,000 trout that are being reared for stocking into Georgia's public waters. Walk along the Hatchery Nature/Bird Trail, or take the weekly hatchery tour at 1 PM each Saturday.
Directions from Interstate 85/985: Travel west on GA Hwy 20. After you cross the Chattahoochee River you will turn right onto River Club Dr. (you will be entering a subdivision - look for the DNR hatchery sign). Travel approximately 1/2 mile on River Club Dr., turn right onto Trout Place Rd (at the 2nd hatchery sign). The hatchery is through the gate at the end of road.
Directions from GA 400: Travel east on GA Hwy 20 for approximately 4 1/2 miles, turn left onto River Club Dr. (into the subdivision) and follow the directions above. |
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Burton Trout Hatchery and District Office - 706-947-3112
Address: 3695 Highway 197 N, Clarkesville Georgia 30523
General Hatchery Information - Angler fishing special regulations section of Moccasin Creek next to Burton Trout Hatchery (at Moccasin Creek State Park). Moccasin Creek State Park where Moccasin Creek enters Lake Burton. Burton Hatchery provides stocking support for Georgia trout streams and public waters.
Directions: Located in Rabun County on Moccasin Creek next to Lake Burton. The hatchery is approximately 20 miles north of Clarkesville on GA Hwy 197 |
Chattahoochee National Forest Fish Hatchery - 706-838-4723
Address: 4730 Rock Creek Road, Suches, Georgia 30572
General Hatchery Information - The primary responsibility of Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery is to raise rainbow trout. Fun activities include fishing, camping, educational programs, fishing events and more.
Directions From Dahlonega: Travel Hwy. 60 North to Suches. From Suches, continue another 11 miles on Hwy. 60 North. Turn left on Rock Creek Road*. Hatchery is located 5 miles on right.
Directions From Atlanta: Travel I-75 North, continue on 575 to Blue Ridge. See directions above or Travel 400 North to Dahlonega.
*Rock Creek Road is also FS 69. The first mile is maintained by Fannin County and is paved. The rest of the road is maintained by the U.S. Forest Service and is unpaved. |
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Cordele Fish Hatchery - 229-276-2362
Address: 392 Fish Hatchery Road, Cordele Georgia 31015
Directions From Cordele: Travel approx. 1 mile West on Hwy 280. Turn right on Fish Hatchery Road and travel approx.1.5 miles to hatchery. Cordele hatchery is located in Crisp County. |
Dawson (Steve Cocke) Fish Hatchery and District Office - 229-995-4486
Address: 109 Hatchery Access Road, Dawson, Georgia 39842
Directions: Dawson (Steve Cocke) hatchery and office is located in Terrell County. |
McDuffie Fish Hatchery and Public Fishing Area - 706-595-1684
Address: 4695 Fish Hatchery Road SE, Dearing Georgia 30808
General Hatchery Information
Fish Species: Largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish.
Water: McDuffie offers anglers 7 ponds, varying from 5 to 37 acres. NOTE: Rod Bender Lake will be open the 1st through the 7th of each month only.
Directions from Thomson: South on Highway 17 to US Highway 278; left (east) for 5.6 miles; right on Ellington Airline Road for 2.8 miles; right on Fish Hatchery Road for 0.8 miles. McDuffie hatchery and PFA is located in McDuffie County. |
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Richmond Hill Fish Hatchery - 912-756-3691
Address: 110 Hatchery Drive, Richmond Hill Georgia 31324
General Hatchery Information - Richmond Hill Hatchery is an 87-acre facility which includes 38 fish production and rearing ponds totaling 18.8 acres of water and 3 Kids Fishing Event (KFE) ponds. Original construction of Richmond Hill Hatchery began in 1933 and was performed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The land was later donated to the State of Georgia by Henry Ford in 1936.
Egg Hatching Jars
Richmond Hill Hatchery currently raises 8 different types of fish including striped bass and hybrid striped bass. Since 1968, when the statewide striped and hybrid bass propagation program was headquartered at Richmond Hill, more than 600 million striper and hybrid striper fry have been hatched at the facility. These fish are grown out in ponds at Richmond Hill Hatchery and five other state hatcheries until they grow to about 1 inch in length. These fingerlings are then stocked into reservoirs and streams throughout the state. The whole process is actually very quick. Each spring, wild brood stock are collected from inland reservoirs and sent to Richmond Hill. At the hatchery, eggs are hand-stripped from females, fertilized with male sperm and hatched in special jars. It only takes 44 hours for the eggs to hatch. Once in the pond the fish are grown for 30 days in which time they reach the desired 1 inch length and are ready to be stocked across the state. In addition, some 6 to 8 inch stripers are raised for ongoing restoration projects on the Savannah and Altamaha Rivers.
Fish Stocked at Hatchery
Bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass, and channel catfish are also raised for stocking into privately owned ponds. Last year, more than 600,000 bream, 50,000 largemouth bass and 70,000 catfish were distributed to pond owners in order to establish fish populations in their new or renovated ponds. If you have a pond you are interested in having stocked, call the hatchery or your local Fisheries Management office.
Hatchery Nature Trail
Richmond Hill Fish Hatchery has a 1 mile long nature trail and, if you are lucky, you may see white tail deer, fox, alligators, rabbits, or even a turkey. It is also a great place for bird watching. Keep your eyes out for a pied-billed grebe, belted kingfisher, eastern bluebird, barred owl, or a bald eagle, just to name a few.
Annual Fishing Events
In June and September the hatchery hosts its annual Kids Fishing Events. There are plenty of fish to be caught and a good time is had by all who attend. Each event sees over 200 kids and their parents participating and those numbers continue to grow. The hatchery annually produces about 50,000 catfish 8 inches in length to help support the Kids Fishing Program and ensure that the children see a fish, catch a fish and touch a fish. In September 2004, the First Annual Outdoor Adventure Day was held at the hatchery allowing children to sample other outdoor sports and activities, including kayaking, archery, paintball, and wildlife exhibits.
Directions from Savannah: Take I-95 south to exit 90. Turn east (left) on Hwy 144. The hatchery will be approximately .5 miles on the left.
Directions from Brunswick: Take I-95 north to exit 90. Turn east (right) on Hwy 144. The hatchery will be approximately .5 miles on the left.
Richmond Hill Hatchery is located in Bryan County. |
Summerville Trout Hatchery and District Office - 706-857-3394
Address: 231 Fish Hatchery Rd, Summerville Georgia 30747 - Located in Chattooga County. |
Walton Fish Hatchery - 770-918-6418
Address: 2123 US Hwy 278 SE, Social Circle Georgia 30025
Directions from Interstate 20: Take exit number 101. Turn east on US Hwy 278/GA 12. Travel approximately 2 miles and hatchery is on the left. Walton hatchery is located in Walton County. |
Warm Springs Fish Hatchery - The Warm Springs NFH consists of 56 acres with 40 ponds totaling 18.23 acres of water. The hatchery's primary area of concern is Georgia but work performed benefits species throughout the 10-state Southeast Region.
Phone: (706) 655-3382 - Address: 5308 Spring Street Warm Springs, Georgia 31830 |
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GA Wildlife Areas:
 Bird Watching
Public Fishing Areas (PFA)
Horseback Riding
Fish Hatcheries
Archery & Firearms Ranges
Range Rules
License & Regulations:
PFA Hunting
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