Alabama's Gulf Coast ... We're Your Year-Round Fishing Destination!

Alabama State Waters Regulation Size and Creel Limits
All fishing regulations are subject to change. Before going fishing check with the Marine Resources Division (Gulf Shores 251.968.7576, Dauphin Island 251.861.2882). Your OBFA Member Captain is also a knowledgeable informed resource.
TL=Total Length • FL=Fork Length • CFL=Curved Fork Length
SPECIES BEST TIME TO CATCH SIZE LIMIT DAILY CREEL LIMIT
Amberjack, Greater **** Year-Round 30" Min FL 1 per person
Amberjack, Lesser Year-Round 14"-22" FL No Creel Limit
Bull Redfish (Red Drum) Early Fall to Early Spring 16" Min TL
26" Max TL		 3 per person
1 oversized fish allowed
Cobia (Ling) Early Spring 33" Min TL 2 per person
Flounder Late Spring to Early Fall 12" Min TL 10 per person
Groupers Year-Round    
 •Grouper, Black ** **** Year-Round 22" Min TL 4 per person **
 •Grouper, Gag ** ***** Year-Round 22" Min TL 0 per person** ****
 •Grouper, Red ** **** Year-Round 20" Min TL 2 per person **
 •Grouper, Scamp ** **** Year-Round 16" Min TL 4 per person **
 •Grouper, Yellowfin ** **** Year-Round 20" Min TL 4 per person **
Marlin, Blue Late Spring to Early Fall
Marlin, White Early Fall
Mackerel, King Late Spring to Fall 24" Min TL 2 per person
Mackerel, Spanish Early Spring to Late Fall None 15 per person
Pompano, Florida Late Spring to Early Fall 12" Min TL 3 per person
Sailfish Late Spring to Late Summer
Sharks Year-Round    
 •Atlantic Sharpnose and Bonnethead Year-Round None 1 per person per day
 •All Other Shark Species Year-Round 54" Min TL (30" Dressed) 1 per person per day
Spotted Seatrout (Speckled Trout) Late Spring to Early FAll 14" Min TL 10 per person
Sheepshead Year-Round
Snappers Year-Round    
 •Red **** Year-Round 16" Min TL 2 per person
 •Gray (Mangrove, Black) Year-Round 12" Min TL 10 per person
 •Lane Year-Round 8" Min TL ***
 •Vermilion Year-Round 10" Min TL 10 per person ***
Tarpon Late Spring to Early Fall 60" Min TL $50.00 Tag Required
to harvest each Tarpon
Triggerfish, Gray Year-Round 14" Min TL ***
Tripletail (Blackfish) Mid-Spring to Fall 16" Min TL 3 per person
Tuna, Bigeye Year-Round 27" Min CFL No Creel Limit
Tuna, Yellowfin Year-Round 27" Min CFL No Creel Limit
Wahoo Late Spring to Fall (Off the Rigs)
White Trout Late Spring to Early Fall
* Only two Striped Bass are allowed within MRD Jurisdiction.
** Mixed species aggregate creel limit | 4 per person (only 2 Red Grouper may be included in Grouper aggregate)
*** Reef Fish Aggregate: There is a twenty (20) fish aggregate creel limit for reef fish species (Example: Grunts, Porgies, Gray Triggerfish,
     Lane Snapper, etc.) for which there is no other creek limit. (Only 10 Vermilion Snapper are allowed in the 20-fish aggregate).
**** Alabama State Waters open and close with Federal Regulations.
***** Gag is closed to recreational harvest until NMFS sets a season in mid-2012.
NO FISH FILLETS OF ANY SPECIES ARE ALLOWED ON ANY VESSEL.
Prohibited Species: Goliath Grouper (Jewfish), Nassau Grouper, Atlantic Angel Shark, Bigeye Sand Tiger, Bigeye Thresher, Bignose Shark, Caribbean Reef Shark, Caribbean Sharpnose Shark, Galapogos Shark, Narrowtooth Shark, Night Shark, Sevengill Shark, Sixgill Shark, Dusky Shark, Longin Mako, Sand Tiger, Basking Shark, whale Shark, White Shark, Nurse Shark, Smalltail Shark, Smalltooth Sawfish, Largetooth Sawfish, Spotted Eagle Ray, Atlantic Manta.