Beginning in January anyone who wants to fish in salt water in Georgia will need to get an additional free permit. The permit is part of an effort by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to collect timely and accurate data from saltwater anglers for use in resource management.

Saltwater anglers with a valid Georgia fishing license will have to get an annual Saltwater Information Program permit. The permit is part of an effort by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to collect timely and accurate data from saltwater anglers for use in resource management.

Other Saltwater Information Program activities include volunteer fish tagging, a fish carcass donation project, and ongoing creel surveys of anglers and fishing guides.

The permit is modeled after the free Hunter Information Program, which is required for hunting license holders who hunt migratory birds.

The new permit requirement enters into effect Jan. 1.

Tags: fishing, permit, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, saltwater fishing