Recreational Shrimping Regulations

Recreational Shrimping Regulations

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 215-968-7576 or explore this website for updated information. It is the fisherman's responsibility to know the laws and regulations in effect at any given time.

Definition

The taking or attempting to take shrimp for bait or any non-commercial purposes by use of a trawl, 16' (feet) or less as measured along the main top line.

License

A boat license is required.  Non-residents shall pay a license fee equal to that paid by Alabama residents or boats to shrimp in their state but no less than double the amount above.  *If taken by cast net, a recreational saltwater fishing license is required in addition to the boat license.

Season

All inside waters close to commercial and recreational shrimping from 6:00 a.m., May 1st to 6:00 a.m., June 1st of each year.

From 6:00 a.m., August 15th, until 6:00 a.m., October 1st of each year, the area in Mobile Bay from center of May Day Pier out to 1/2 nautical mile (nm) then south to the northern edge of Point Clear Channel will be open only to the use of a cast net to catch shrimp for non-commercial purposes not to exceed 1 gallon per person per day.

Legal Size

No restriction

Gallons Allowed

In areas open to commercial shrimping, five (5) gallons of shrimp with heads intact (whole shrimp including head) per person per day.  In exclusive saltwater bait areas, one (1) gallon of shrimp with heads intact (whole shrimp including head) per boat per day.  Licensed recreational shrimp boats taking crabs in waters open to commercial shrimping are limited to no more than one, five (5) gallon container of legal size crabs in possession per boat.

Individuals taking shrimp, for recreational purposes in an area open to commercial shrimping by means of a cast net and with the use of a boat, are limited to no more than five (5) gallons of shrimp with heads intact (whole shrimp including head) per person per day.

Trawl Size

Not to exceed 16 feet as measured along the main top line.  No restriction on cast nets.

Mesh Size

No restriction

Other

It is unlawful for any person to drag a net, seine, or trawl over public or private oyster reefs.  Commercially licensed boats cannot shrimp in exclusive bait areas.  It is unlawful to retain gamefish, which includes: red drum, spotted seatrout, tarpon, and striped bass caught with a trawl.  It is unlawful to discard dead fish or other dead seafood within 500 feet of any shoreline or into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico within 3 miles of the Gulf beaches (includes Pelican Bay).  The use of any trawl(s) is prohibited in waters closed to shrimping.  Little Lagoon is closed to all trawls which exceed 16 feet as measured across the cork line or main top line (Rule 220-3-.64).  The use of any trawl or trawls, or the taking of shrimp by any means, in any area closed to commercial shrimping is hereby expressly prohibited.

PERMANENTLY CLOSED AREAS

(SHRIMP TAKEN BY ANY METHOD SHALL NOT BE RETAINED)

1. All rivers*, streams, bayous, and creeks with the State (except Bayou St. John, Old River in Baldwin County and that portion of the Blakeley River designated by law as an exclusive bait shrimp area). *The mouth of the Mobile River is defined as a line running from the southernmost point of Pinto Island due west to a point of the mainland.
2. All of Portersville Bay inside a line running from Barron Point on Mon Louis Island, (30º19.110’N – 88º11.519’W), thence to the south shore of Marsh Island (30º19.201’N – 88º13.473’W) thence to the south shoreline of the Isle aux Herbes (Coffee Island) (30º19.466’N – 88º15.346’W) and then along the western shoreline of the Isle aux Herbes to a point on the mainland due north of the northern tip of the Isle aux Herbes (30º22.008’N – 88º15.543’W).
3. Heron Bay which is described as that body of water lying north of a line extending from Barry Point on Mon Louis Island (30º19.883’N - 88º08.999’W) south southeast to Cedar Point (30º18.594’N - 88º08.278’W) and that portion of Mississippi Sound north of the Intracoastal Waterway and east of a line extending from Barron Point on Mon Louis Island (30º19.110’N – 88º11.519’W), southeasterly to Range Marker "D" on the Intracoastal Waterway.
4. All of Weeks Bay.
5. Theodore Industrial Canal.
6. Bon Secour bay within 2500 feet of the mouth of Weeks Bay.
7. All waters north of the Battleship Parkway.
8. That portion of Mobile Bay and west of a line running from the intersection of the Dog River Bridge with the Dog River Channel east along the northern edge of the Dog River Channel to its intersection with the Mobile Ship Channel (MSC) then north along the west side of the MSC to the Upper Reach Rear Range (located on the north side of the Arlington Channel) then north and east of a line running southeast to the charted position of the center of May Day Pier (30 35.966'N, 87 54.851'W) to its intersection with land.  There shall be a 300-foot safety buffer along the western edge of the MSC where towing a trawl shall be allowed for turning by vessels (exception: 1 gallon of shrimp per person per day is allowed for bait or non-commercial purposes with a cast net.)
9. All waters in Mobile County north of a line beginning at the Mississippi state line running east to the eastern tip of the South Rigolets (30 21.120'N, 88 23.490'W) then northeast to the southwest tip of Point Aux Pins (30 22.271'N, 88 18.888'W) then east to the charted position of the "BC" Beacon in the Bayou La Batre Channel and then southeast to the northwest point of the middle cut that bisects Coffee Island (Isle Aux Herbes) defined as 30 20.785'N, 88 15.721'W.
10. North of Lillian Bridge in Baldwin County.
11. Little Lagoon Pass in Baldwin County.
12. Perdido Pass in Baldwin County which is defined as those waters north of Perdido Pass Channel markers #1 and #2 and south of the charted position of channel marker #12 in Terry Cove.
13. Exclusive bait areas are permanently closed to commercial shrimping.

Note:  Indian Bay and Lafitte Bay bottoms (Dauphin Island) are privately owned and may be closed to shrimping.

EXCLUSIVE BAIT AREAS (Closed to Commercial Shrimping)

BALDWIN COUNTY

1. Wolf Bay:  that area encompassing the water within the boundary from the south shore of Wolf Bay northward to Beacon #86 on the north side of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway then westward along the north side of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway to Beacon #94 then south across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway to the south shore of Wolf Bay.
2. Oyster Bay:  that area encompassing those waters of Oyster Bay except those waters north of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
3. Blakeley River:  that area encompass those waters in the mouth of the Blakeley River between the I-10 bridge and the Highway 90 (old causeway) bridge.
4. Terry Cove

MOBILE COUNTY

1. Arlington Channel
2. East Fowl River Channel:  from Beacon #5 and #6 to the mouth of the river.
3. Bayou La Batre Channel:  From Bayou La Batre Channel B.C. Beacon to the mouth of Bayou La Batre.
4. Dauphin Island Bay
5. Buchanan Bay, Confederate Pass, British Bay, Columbia Bay, Colony Bay (Colony Cove), Spanish Bay, Barcelona Bay

SEASONAL BAIT AREAS

**Areas open exclusively to the commercial and recreational taking of live saltwater bait when adjacent waters are closed.

BALDWIN COUNTY

1. Point Clear:  that area beginning at a point of land at the southern entrance of the marina at Great Point Clear (30 23.720'N, 87 56.072'W) then southwestwardly to the charted position of Point Clear light #4 then running southeastwardly to a point of land at the end of Zundel Road (30 28.416'N, 87 55.263'W).
2. Mullet Point:  beginning at Mullet Point Park ramp then running southwesterly to Tall Range "2", the southwardly to a point (30 23.720'N, 87 55.330'W), then running due east to terminate on the shore.
3. Ft. Morgan:  beginning at the shoreline east of the Gulf Shores Marina at Ft. Morgan due north one-half nautical mile, then due west for one nautical mile, then due south tho the shoreline on the west side of the Ft. Morgan boat ramp.  The area is defined by the following corner points; NW 30 14.500'N, 88 01.100'W; NE 30 14.500'N, 87 59.600'W; SW 30 13.900'N, 88 01.100'W; SE 30 13.970'N, 87 59.600'W.

RECREATIONAL TED EXEMPTION

No power or mechanical advantage trawl retrieval system allowed on board boat.  All gear must be retrieved by hand.