Recreational Size and Creel Limits for Alabama State Waters
(Includes inshore waters and Gulf Waters out to 3 miles offshore)
THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL COPY OF THE LAWS OR REGULATIONS.THIS EXPLANATION OF THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS IS CORRECT AS OF THE DATE SPECIFIED.BEFORE TAKING PART IN THIS FISHERY PLEASE CALL 251-861-2882 OR 251-968-7576 FOR UPDATED INFORMATION.IT IS THE FISHERMAN’S RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS IN EFFECT AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
(#) Alabama state waters open and close along with federal regulations.
Click here for the NOAA Fisheries Bulletin detailing new openings and closures
* Spotted Seatrout (speckled trout) - no undersized fish allowed.** Red Drum (redfish) - 1 fish may exceed maximum size.
*** Mixed species grouper aggregate creel limit : 4 per person (only 2 red and 2 gag grouper may be included in grouper aggregate.
**** Only two Striped Bass are allowed within MRD Jurisdiction. ***** There is a twenty (20) fish aggregate creel limit for reef fish species for which there is no other bag limit. (for example, grunts, porgies, gray triggerfish, vermilion snapper (only 10 allowed vermilion snapper allowed in the 20-fish aggregate), Lane snapper, etc.
NOAA Fisheries Service announces the recreational fishing season for red snapper in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The recreational fishery will open June 1, 2009, and will close 12:01 a.m. local time August 15, 2009. The fishery will remain closed until June 1, 2010, the beginning of the 2010 federal recreational fishing season.
Click here for the NOAA Fisheries Bulletin detailing the 2009 red snapper season.
Red Snapper (#)
16" TL
2 per person in state and federal waters
Vermillon Snapper (beeliner)
10" TL
10 per person in Reef fish aggregate*****
Lane
8" TL
Reef Fish aggregate*****
Gray (mangrove, black)
12" TL
10 per person
Tarpon
60" TL
$50.00 tag required to possess, kill or harvest each tarpon.
Sharks
Atlantic Sharpnose,Bonnethead
none
1 per person per day
All Other Shark Species
54" min FL
1 per person per day
Alabama has instituted new regulations pertaining to the harvest of shark species for commercial and recreational purposes. Click here for info provided to aid anglers in the identification of common species of sharks which may occur in Alabama's coastal waters.
Prohibited Species: Goliath grouper (jewfish) (Click Here to learn more about Goliath grouper and to report sightings in Alabama waters), Nassau grouper, Atlantic angel shark, bigeye thresher, dusky, longfin mako, sand tiger, basking, whale, white, nurse, smalltail, smalltooth sawfish, largetooth sawfish, spotted eagle ray, Atlantic manta.
