Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area has reopened

HAWKINSVILLE — Anticipating up to 20,000 users each year, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division has reopened the Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area, giving boaters and anglers great access to the fishing location for the first time in half a decade.

The area, closed since fall 2012 because of a problem with a compromised lake bed, now has returned within three feet of full pool. DNR officials say the restocked fish populations are responding well to the environment.

“In anticipation of the (Oct. 27) opening, we sampled the fish population on the lake in early October,” says John Biagi, Chief of the WRD Fisheries Management Section. “While there is still a lot of growing for these fish to do, we think anglers will be pleased with good-size catches of bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and white crappie.”

Ocmulgee PFA has a 106-acre lake that is intensively managed to provide the optimum environment for anglers. Ocmulgee PFA, like other PFAs in the state, is open seven days a week, sunrise to sunset. Anglers fishing the area need a fishing license. Licenses may be purchased online at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com, at a license vendor or by calling 800-366-2661.

The repairs to Ocmulgee PFA were funded through federal Sport Fish Restoration fund dollars, state and local monies. Participating people and agencies involved included the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, Bleckley Sportsman’s Club, Peed Brothers, Inc., Southern Custom Servies, Walden, Ashworth, and Associates and Golder Associates.

To find out more information about Georgia PFAs, visit http://georgiawildlife.com/allpfas.