Meet a few local fish ...
The Upper Ocmulgee River, part of the larger Altamaha River Basin, is home to approximately 66 species of fish. Below you can see fishes including migratory fishes, popular sport fishes, and small, colorful fishes unique to Georgia and the Southeastern USA.
American Eel
The only freshwater eel found in North America. These eels spend most of their lives in rivers and estuaries and migrate to the ocean to reproduce.
Atlantic Sturgeon
This species can often reach up to 14 ft in length and up to 60 years of age. The Atlantic Sturgeon spends its adult life in the oceans and migrates to rivers every couple of years to reproduce. Atlantic Sturgeon is a federally endangered species.
American Shad
These fish have incredible hearing—they have fine sensory hairs that allow them to pick up movement and vibrational clicks in the water. American Shad can be fished downstream of Juliette Dam. Like the Atlantic Sturgeon, they live in the ocean and migrate to rivers to reproduce.
Striped Bass
The Striped Bass is a prized sport fish that can reach up to 5 ft in length. This fish migrates into rivers to reproduce and spends its adult life in the ocean. Due to their popularity for fishing, striped bass are stocked in the Ocmulgee River in Lakes Jackson and Juliette.
Shoal Bass
While not native to the Ocmulgee River, this species was introduced for sport fishing. They can be found in swift flowing water, like river shoals, and reach up to 25 inches.
Altamaha Shiner
This fish can only be found in Georgia and, more specifically, only in the Oconee and Ocmulgee Rivers, part of the Altamaha River Basin. This small fish reaches up to 11cm and is a State Threatened species.
Altamaha Bass
Another fish that can only be found in Georgia! Adult Altamaha bass only reach up to 16 inches and set themselves apart from other bass species as their tail fin is streaked with orange.
Turquoise Darter
Male darters turn brightly colored during mating season to help attract females. The turquoise darter is one of five darter species found in the Upper Ocmulgee River Basin. These small fish reach up to 3 inches in length.