Saltwater Recreational Size & Creel Limits

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Alabama’s 2020 private angler red snapper season opens Friday, May 22, 2020. The season is anticipated to last for 35 days and is scheduled to close on Sunday, July 19, 2020. Weekends only (Friday-Monday).

****REMINDER****

Recreational harvest of Greater Amberjack is open May 1, 2020, through May 31, 2020. Creel limit is one per person with a 34 inch fork length.

****REMINDER****

Yellowfin Tuna now has a creel limit of 3 per person.

Regulation Changes Beginning August 1, 2019

Cobia

• 36 inches fork length

Spotted Sea Trout

• Slot Length is 15 inches total length to 22 inches total length
• 6 per person, per day with one over 22 inches total length allowed

Flounder

• 14 inches total length (recreational and commercial)
• Recreational creel limit is 5 per person 
• Commercial creel limit is 40 per person or 40 per vessel
• Closed season for flounder is November 1 through November 30 for both recreational and commercial anglers

Hook Requirements

• Anglers fishing for, retaining, possessing, or landing gulf reef fish species (as defined in Rule 220-3-.46) must use non-stainless steel circle hooks when using natural bait.
• Anglers fishing for, retaining, or possessing, or landing sharks must use non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks when using natural bait.

Beginning August 26, 2019

A Reef Fish Endorsement will be available for purchase for recreational licenses beginning August 26, 2019. Commercial license sales will begin on September 16, 2019. The Reef Fish Endorsement will be required for any person possessing, taking or attempting to take any gulf reef fish species listed in Rule 220-3-.46 (see below). This endorsement is required for all resident and non-resident anglers 16 years of age and older, and includes disabled, veterans appreciation, 65 and older, lifetime license holders, pier licenses, annual saltwater licenses, trip licenses, commercial fishermen, and charter boats.

Click here for more information about the Reef Fish Endorsement and a list of the gulf reef fish species in Rule 220-3-.46.

Recreational Size and Creel Limits - March 2020

Current Fishing Seasons and Closures (NOAA Website)

Red Snapper Season

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.

A saltwater fishing license is required for ALL PERSONS FISHING OR POSSESSING FISH IN SALTWATER AREAS OF ALABAMA.  Residents and non-residents under the age of 16 are exempt.  Residents age 65 and over are exempt.  Residents may fish from a licensed public fishing pier in the inside waters without purchasing a fishing license.  A saltwater fishing license is also required if using a cast net, gig, bow, crab trap, or spearfishing.

Alabama residents 65 or older, lifetime saltwater license holders, and those fishing from licensed public fishing piers must be registered with the Alabama Saltwater Angler Registry.

RECREATIONAL SIZE, DAILY CREEL AND POSSESSION LIMITS FOR STATE WATERS - REVISED January 2018

(#) Alabama state waters open and close along with federal regulations.

Click here   for the NOAA Fisheries Bulletin detailing new openings and closures

*** Mixed species grouper aggregate creel limit: 4 per person (No more than 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 example, grunts, porgies, gray triggerfish, lane snapper, etc.) for which there is no other bag limit.

****** Oct. 24-Dec. 31, 25 mullet per person from the shoreline or 25 per boat.  No mullet by cast net or snagging in Theodore Industrial Canal, Dog River, Fowl River, and their tributaries.

Sharks

220-3-.77  Shark Fishing

(1)  It shall be unlawful within three hundred feet of the shoreline, or on a public pier, or on a private pier where an unsafe condition is created, on or in the waters of Alabama under the jurisdiction of the Marine Resources Division as provided by rule 220-2-.42, to fish for or target sharks of any species by those methods commonly known as "chumming" or "bloodbaiting".

   (a)  For purposes of this regulation, "chumming" shall be defined as the throwing of bait or fish parts into the water to attract fish.

   (b)  For purposes of this regulation, "bloodbaiting" shall be defined as the use of blood, chemical or synthetic attractants, fish parts, chicken parts, or other animal parts to attract fish or sharks.

(2)  It shall be unlawful, on or adjacent to the waters of Alabama under the jurisdiction of the Marine Resources Division as provided by Rule 220-2-.42, for any person to surf fish for sharks, bow fish for sharks or fish for or target sharks by any other means from any pier or beach in such a manner that presents an unsafe condition to any beach goers, sun bathers, swimmers, or any other person.

Prohibited Species: Goliath Grouper (Jewfish), 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).