Red fish protected under House bill

The red fish, or red drum, Georgia’s state saltwater fish, would be protected from commercial fishing under legislation approved Monday in the state House.

House Bill 36, sponsored by Rep. Ben Watson, R-Savannah, passed 168-0 and now goes to the Senate.

It would protect the red fish for recreational fishing by designating it a game fish.

“It does not take the red fish off your dinner plate,” Watson said. “You’ll still be able to catch the limit.”

Watson said the fish is farmed commercially in North Carolina and Texas, so it should still be available to restaurants.

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