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 Creel and Size LimitsRecreational Size and Creel Limits for Alabama State Waters
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SPECIES |
SIZE LIMIT |
DAILY CREEL LIMIT |
| Sheepshead | 12" min. FL | 10 per person |
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14" min. TL |
10 per person |
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| Red Drum** | 16" min. - 26" max TL | 3 per person - 1 oversized fish allowed in the 3 fish creel limit |
| Cobia (Ling) | 33" min. FL | 2 per person |
| King Mackerel | 24" min. FL | 2 per person |
| Spanish Mackerel | none | 15 per person |
| Florida Pompano | 12" min. TL | 3 per person |
| Gag Grouper*** (#) | 22" min TL | 2 per person*** |
| Red Grouper*** (#) | 20" min TL | 4 per person *** |
| Black Grouper*** (#) | 22" min TL | 4 per person *** |
| Yellowfin Grouper*** (#) | 20" min TL | 4 per person *** |
| Scamp*** (#) | 16" min TL | 4 per person *** |
| Greater Amberjack (#) | 30" min FL | 1 per person |
| Striped Bass | 16" min TL | 2 per person**** |
| Gray Triggerfish | 14" min FL | Reef Fish Aggregate***** |
| Flounder | 12" min TL | 10 per person |
| Tripletail (Blackfish) | 18" min TL | 3 per person |
| Lesser Amberjack | 14" - 22" FL | Reef Fish Aggregate***** |
| Banded Rudderfish | 14" - 22" FL | Reef Fish Aggregate***** |
| Yellowfin Tuna | 27" min CFL | No Creel Limit |
| Bigeye Tuna | 27" min CFL | No Creel Limit |
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(#) 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 (No more than 4 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 example, grunts, porgies, gray triggerfish, lane snapper, etc.) for which there is no other bag limit.
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| RED SNAPPER SEASON CURRENTLY CLOSED |
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| Red Snapper (#) | 16" min. TL | 2 per person in state and federal waters |
| Vermillon Snapper (beeliner) | 10" min. TL | Reef Fish aggregate***** |
| Lane | 8" min. TL | Reef Fish aggregate***** |
| Gray (mangrove, black) | 12" min. TL | 10 per person |
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Tarpon |
60" min. TL |
$50.00 tag required to possess, kill or harvest each tarpon. |
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Sharks
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Atlantic Sharpnose, Bonnethead |
none | 1 per person per day |
| All Other Shark Species |
54" min FL (30" dressed) |
1 per person per day |
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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. |
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| 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 Sand Tiger Shark, Bigeye Sixgill Shark, Bigeye Thresher Shark, Bignose Shark, Caribbean Reef Shark, Caribbean Sharpnose Shark, Galapogos Shark, Narrowtooth Shark, Night Shark, Sevengill Shark, Sixgill Shark, Dusky Shark, Longfin Mako Shark, Sand Tiger Shark, Basking Shark, Whale Shark, White Shark, Smalltail Shark, Smalltooth Sawfish, Largetooth Sawfish, Spotted Eagle Ray, Atlantic Manta Sandbar Shark (unless the fisherman possesses a NOAA Fisheries sandbar shark research permit). | ||
