The shoal bass (Micropterus cataractae) is designated as the official Georgia state riverine sport fish.
(Code 1981, §50-3-90, enacted by Ga. L. 2020, p. 827, § 3-2/HB 998.)
Editor's notes.- Ga. L. 2020, p. 827, § 3-1/HB 998, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: "The General Assembly finds that:
"(1) The shoal bass has unique sporting qualities; occurs in abundance in the Flint, Chattahoochee, and Ocmulgee rivers; and is dependent upon clean, flowing water;
"(2) This unique native riverine sport fish moves dozens, and at times hundreds, of miles to complete its spawning and other life stages and is therefore dependent upon long, unobstructed segments of Georgia's rivers, in addition to high-quality shoal habitats; and
"(3) Both the hard rock formations of Georgia's piedmont region and the lime rock formations of Georgia's coastal plain are important to the shoal bass, and important fishing and tourist economies are structured around this unique native riverine sport fish."