Fish

From the Savannah River to the marshes of Cockspur and McQueen’s Islands, and even inside the moat surrounding the fort, the waters of Fort Pulaski National Monument provide important habitat for many different species of saltwater and brackish water fish. The marshlands of the park provide essential breeding ground for fish, where many species rely on the safety of the marsh to provide protection for their eggs.

 

Fishing is allowed along the banks of the Savannah River on and around Cockspur Island, including the use of the Cockspur Island Bridge after hours (fishing from the Cockspur Island Bridge during business hours is not permitted). You must possess a valid fishing license issued by the State of Georgia.

 

If you pay close attention to the waters or come fishing in the park, some of the fish that you may notice include:

Atlantic Silverside Menidia menidia	Silver Gar Ctenolucius hujeta	Bonejack, Fall Herring, Freshwater Taylor, Hickory Jack Alosa mediocris
Ladyfish Elops saurus	Alewife, Bigeye Herring, Branch Herring, Freshwater Herring Alosa pseudoharengus	Yellowfin Menhaden Brevoortia smithi
Atlantic Menhaden, Bugfish, Bunker, Fatback, Mossbunker Brevoortia tyrannus	Threadfin Shad Dorosoma petenense	Atlantic Thread Herring Opisthonema oglinum
Broad-striped Anchovy, Striped Anchovy Anchoa hepsetus	Bay Anchovy Anchoa mitchilli	Sheepshead Minnow, Sheepshead Pupfish Cyprinodon variegatus
Marsh Killifish Fundulus confluentus	Mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus	Striped Killifish Fundulus majalis
Mosquitofish, Western Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis	Eastern Mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki	Sailfin Molly Poecilia latipinna
Tarpon Megalops atlanticus	Black Mullet, Gray Mullet, Striped Mullet Mugil cephalus	Silver Mullet, White Mullet Mugil curema
Freckled Blenny Hypsoblennius ionthas	Atlantic Bumper Chloroscombrus chrysurus	Leatherjack, Leatherjacket Oligoplites saurus
Fat Sleeper Dormitator maculatus	Spotfin Mojarra Eucinostomus argenteus	Lyre Goby Evorthodus lyricus
Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix	Silver Perch Bairdiella chrysoura	Spotted Seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus
Spot Leiostomus xanthurus	Atlantic Croaker Micropogonias undulatus	Black Drum Pogonias cromis
Red Drum Sciaenops ocellatus	Atlantic Spanish Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel Scomberomorus maculatus	Black Sea Bass Centropristis striata
Southern Flounder Paralichthys lethostigma	Longnose Gar Lepisosteus osseus	Atlantic Sturgeon, Gulf Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus
Burrfish, Porcupinefish, Striped Burrfish Chilomycterus schoepfii	American Eel Anguilla rostrata	Atlantic Needlefish Strongylura marina