United States of America · Spearfishing zone
Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary (Georgia)
What this zone is
Overview
How spearfishing is treated at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary (Georgia).
Spearfishing is prohibited throughout Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, a 22-square-mile hard-bottom reef about 19 miles east of Sapelo Island, Georgia. 15 CFR 922.92(a)(6) bans "Using any fishing gear within the Sanctuary except rod and reel, and handline gear", and 922.92(a)(11)(iii) allows spearfishing gear to be carried only "provided that it is stowed on a vessel, not available for immediate use, and the vessel is passing through the Sanctuary without interruption". The southern third of the sanctuary is a Research Area (appendix A to subpart I: 31.362732-31.384444 N, 80.828145-80.921200 W) where 15 CFR 922.94 additionally prohibits taking any marine organism, using or carrying unstowed fishing gear, DIVING, and even stopping a vessel. Coordinate is the sanctuary centre point.
On the coast
Location
Approximate reference point for this zone. See the full picture on the interactive map.
31.3920°N, 80.8750°W
View on the mapSource
This zone is documented in the official source below.
Before you dive
License for United States of America
Whether you need a license to spearfish here, and how to get one.
Purchase from the relevant state fish and wildlife agency online portal, license vendors, or in person. Requirements differ by state and by resident/non-resident status.
Get your licenseOpens the official portal · fisheries.noaa.gov



