I think the SMB will grow in So.Georgia if you can maintain good clearer water quality with no stagnant water and no summer fish kill type conditions. Also consider HSB. The main feature to growing SMB is to keep ALL LMB out of the pond, then smallies can usually do okay if the pond is not hypereutrophic with regular bluegreen algae scumj forming blooms. If neither predators work out, you can always add LMB-BG and still have a quality fishery as the LMB-BG will usually eventually crowd out original stockers.
Your experiences will be learning experiences for all of us.
speckled sea trout or southern flounder might be cold tolerant enough in that area (S. GA), they tend to be the most cold toerant out of my salty friends. Red fish/drum can be more cold sensitive in fresh water but might be worth stocking a couple to find out.. this along with some HSB would be pretty unusual.
