Alabama Fishing and Boating FYI’s

We have compiled a variety of fishing and boating information/laws to familiarize fishermen on Alabama fishing- particularly new anglers in the state. The information was collected from Alabama’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ website.

CREEL AND POSSESSION LIMITS AND SIZE LIMITS
you should notice that size limits for the various fish species are not the same on all public waters. Be sure and check this information for each body of water you plan to fish. Should you have questions, you may contact any Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division Fisheries Biologist or Conservation Enforcement Officer or call (334) 242-3471 for assistance.

USE OF BREAM FOR BAIT
All species of bream may be used as bait as long as a person does not have in his possession total bream numbers in excess of the daily creel limit, regardless of size, and they are harvested legally. Other native game fish may not be used for bait.

SALE OF GAME FISH
It is unlawful to sell or purchase any game fish from Alabama or in Alabama from another state except (1) game fish raised in hatcheries and sold for stocking ponds and lakes; (2) non-native game fish (trout, salmon, etc.) raised for human consumption or (3) largemouth bass, shellcracker, yellow perch and bluegill bream raised in farm ponds, which may be sold under permit from the Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division.

TROTLINES
It is illegal to (1) fish trotline or snag line within 25 feet of the bank unless the end of line is tied or anchored with at least six feet of 100 percent cotton line (untreated), and (2) fish a trotline, snag line, set line, commercial fishing net, slat boxes or wire baskets within one-half mile below any lock, dam or powerhouse. Nonresidents fishing trotlines are limited to 100 hooks total.

WIRE BASKETS
Wire baskets may be used only in certain counties to harvest nongame fish for personal consumption only. Persons holding a commercial fishing license may not fish with wire baskets. No fish taken in wire baskets may be sold or offered for sale. All game fish taken in the baskets must be immediately returned to the water. All baskets must be clearly marked with the valid wire basket license number and name of person using and owning the basket. It is illegal for any one person to fish with more than four wire baskets. Consult the Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Regulation Book or local Conservation Enforcement Officer to determine number of baskets and locations where wire baskets are legal.

GIGS OR GRABBLING
Commercial or nongame fish may be legally taken by gigs or by grabbling by hand by persons possessing a valid sport fishing license.

IT IS ILLEGAL TO

• Stock fish into public fishing lakes, including minnows used as legal bait
• Sell fish caught from public fishing lakes
• Use any minnow as bait except for goldfish, shiners or toughies (fatheads)
• Operate gasoline outboard motors except where permitted
• Camp (except where permitted), swim, wade or use sailboats
• Launch any boat without a permit
• Be unruly or disorderly

FILLETING FISH
It is unlawful to fillet a fish while fishing or to possess fillets of fish while on public waters, except when fish are being prepared for immediate cooking and consumption; provided, however, that the fish may be drawn or gutted with heads left attached.

SNAGGING
Unlawful to take fish by snagging on the Chattahoochee River or its impoundments, the Tennessee River or its impoundments, and State-owned public fishing lakes.

Bass
Includes combinations of largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, Alabama, shoal and those species formerly known as “redeye” bass, which are now known separately as Coosa, Warrior, Cahaba, Tallapoosa and Chattahoochee bass, based on their respective drainages. The Alabama bass was formerly known as spotted bass in the Mobile drainage. No more than 5 of the daily creel limit of 10 may be smallmouth bass. Limit 10

IMPORTANT NOTES

• The creel and possession limits provided for above shall not apply to fish held live for release by the sponsor or it’s designated agent after a bona fide fishing tournament provided they are released unharmed to the public waters from which they were taken as soon as reasonably possible on the same day they were taken. This does not obligate the sponsor or its designated agent to release dead or dying fish.
• Total length of fish measured from the front of the mouth to the tip of the tail with both mouth and tail closed.
• It is a violation of Alabama law for any person to transport more than one day’s creel limit of any species of fish beyond the boundaries of this state. It is a violation of Alabama law for any person to fillet freshwater fish while on public waters except when fish are being prepared for immediate cooking and consumption, provided however, that fish may be drawn or gutted with heads left attached.
• It shall be unlawful for any angler to fish with more than three rods and reels, or poles, or any combination thereof on Weiss.
• There is no closed season on any freshwater game fish.

Walleye
It shall be illegal to take or attempt to take walleye by any method from Sweetwater Lake located in the Talladega National Forest, Cleburne County, from White Plains Lake (also known as Whitesides Mill Lake), Calhoun County and from Shoal Creek upstream of White Plains Lake,Calhoun and Cleburne Counties. It shall also be illegal to take or attempt to take walleye by any method from Lake Mitchell on the Coosa River between Mitchell Dam and Lay Dam or from its tributary streams; Walnut Creek in Chilton County, Hatchet Creek in Coosa and Clay Counties and Weogufka Creeks in Coosa County.

White Bass — 15

Yellow Bass — 15

Saltwater Striped Bass and Hybrids or Combinations
No more than five of the 15 may exceed 22 inches in total length. See exceptions for Lewis Smith, Inland, Yates, and Thurlow reservoirs and Lake Martin. Limit 15

Crappie
It is illegal to possess any Crappie less than nine inches in total length taken from Alabama public waters, including Aliceville Reservoir and Pickwick Reservoir. Waters exempt from the nine-inch Crappie limit include impoundments less than 500 surface acres, and the reciprocal waters of the Chattahoochee River and Impoundments and their tributaries, Bear Creek Reservoir (Big Bear Lake of the B.C.D.A. Lakes), Lake Jackson at Florala and Weiss Reservoir. See exception for Weiss Reservoir. Limit 30

Catfish
It is illegal to possess more than one (1) catfish over 34 inches in total length taken from Alabama public waters. No blue or flathead catfish over 34 inches in total length may be transported live beyond the boundaries of this state unless permitted in writing by the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. This size limit shall not apply for harvest of blue catfish and flathead catfish from river basins where blue catfish and flathead catfish are not native. These river basins include the Perdido, Conecuh, Blackwater, Perdido, Conecuh, Blackwater, Yellow, Choctawhatchee, Chipola, and Chattahoochee Rivers

SIZE LIMITS
As provided for above, as posted in State and Federally owned and/or managed public fishing lakes and ponds, and as follows:

Chattahoochee River Tributaries – It is illegal to possess shoalbass in Little Uchee, Uchee, Osanippa, Halawakee and Wacoochee creeks.
Demopolis Reservoir – It is illegal to possess any black bass less than 14 inches in total length.
Guntersville Reservoir and Its Tributary of Town Creek – It is illegal to possess any largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 15 inches in total length.
Harris Reservoir – It is illegal to possess any largemouth bass between 13 inches and 16 inches in total length.
Lake Jackson at Florala – Creel limit of five black bass greater than 12 inches in total length. Only one of the five can be over 22 inches in total length.
Inland Reservoir – It is illegal to possess more than two saltwater striped bass that exceed 22 inches in total length in the daily creel limit and only one of those may exceed 30 inches in total length.
Lewis Smith Reservoir – It is illegal to possess more than two saltwater striped bass that exceed 22 inches in total length in the daily creel limit. It shall be unlawful to intentionally cull from the creel any saltwater striped bass from June 15th to October 15th. Culling is defined as removing and releasing a saltwater striped bass from the creel (live well, stringer, basket, bucket, cooler or other container) whether or not it is replaced with another striped bass.
Lewis Smith Reservoir – It is illegal to possess any black bass between 13 inches and 15 inches in total length unless permitted in writing by the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Little Bear Creek Reservoir of the B.C.D.A Lakes – It is illegal to possess largemouth bass between 13 inches and 16 inches in total length.
Lake Martin – It is illegal to possess more than two saltwater striped bass that exceed 22 inches in total length in the daily creel limit. It shall be unlawful to intentionally cull from the creel any saltwater striped bass from June 15th to October 15th. Culling is defined as removing and releasing a saltwater striped bass from the creel (live well, stringer, basket, bucket, cooler or other container) whether or not it is replaced with another striped bass.
Pickwick Reservoir – It is illegal to possess any smallmouth bass less than 15 inches in total length.
Thurlow Reservoir – It is illegal to possess more than two saltwater striped bass that exceed 22 inches in total length in the daily creel limit and only one of those may exceed 30 inches in total length.
Walter F. George Reservoir (Lake Eufaula) and its Tributaries
It is illegal to possess any largemouth bass less than 14 inches in total length.
Weiss Reservoir – It is illegal to possess crappie less than 10 inches in total length.
West Point Reservoir and its Tributaries – It is illegal to possess any largemouth bass less than 14 inches in total length.
Wheeler Reservoir – It is illegal to possess any smallmouth bass less than 15 inches in total length.
Wilson Reservoir and Its Tributaries of Big Nance and Town Creeks – It is illegal to possess any smallmouth bass less than 15 inches in total length (Actually all of the Tennessee River lakes in Alabama).
Yates Reservoir – It is illegal to possess more than two saltwater striped bass that exceed 22 inches in total length in the daily creel limit and only one of those may exceed 30 inches in total length.

Licenses and Fees- License Descriptions & Fees—Fishing

Records- SPECIES WEIGHT, DATE, LOCATION, ANGLER/HOMETOWN
Bass, Largemouth-16 lbs., 8 oz. 11/3/87 Mountain View Lake, Shelby Co. Thomas (T.M.) Burgin/B’ham
Bass, Redeye (b)- 3 lbs., 2 oz. 3/8/00 Choccolocco Creek William Terry Johnson/Oxford
Bass, Rock -1 lb., 6 oz. 5/6/95 Paint Rock River James R. Stewart/Scottsboro
Bass, Shoal– 6 lbs., 11oz. 2/25/96 Halawakee Creek Darrell Trawick/Salem
Bass, Smallmouth– (c) 10 lbs., 8 oz. 10/8/50 Wheeler Dam Tailwater Owen F. Smith/Fairfield
Bass, Spotted– (b) 8 lbs., 15 oz. 3/18/78 Lewis Smith Reservoir Phillip C. Terry/Decatur
Bass, Striped– (a) 69 lbs., 9 oz. 2/28/13 Bankhead Reservoir James Bramlett, Dora
Bass, Striped Hybrid– 25 lbs., 15 oz. 9/13/96 Sipsey Fork (Warrior River) E. H. Hodges/Chelsea
Bass, White– 4 lbs., 9 oz. 2/14/87 Warrior River Ben DeMott/Bessemer
Bass, Yellow– (a) 2 lb., 8 oz. 4/12/00 Guntersville Reservoir, Jackson Co. Dennis M. Woebbeking/Pisgah
Bowfin– 18 lbs., 6 oz. 7/31/05 Lake Tuscaloosa Nelson Ray Sansing/Sawyerville
Buffalo– 57 lbs. 4/13/90 Guntersville Reservoir Ralph B. Lowery/Albertville
Bullhead– 3 lbs., 13 oz. 4/8/84 Private Pond/Montgomery Co. Charles A. Lane/Montgomery
Carp– 35 lbs. 4/19/80 Bear Creek, Colbert Co. Darrin Jackson/Double Springs
Carp, Grass (White Amur)- 73 lbs. 4/10/12 Guntersville Reservoir Bradley D. Bridges Sr./Bryant
Catfish, Blue -120 lbs., 4 oz. 3/9/12 Holt Reservoir John Paul Nichols/Northport
Catfish, Channel- 40 lbs. 6/17/67 Inland Lake Donald R. Cox/Oneonta
Catfish, Flathead– 80 lbs. 6/22/86 Alabama River, Selma Rick Conner/Selma
Catfish, White– 10 lbs., 5 oz. 4/3/81 Chambers Co. Public Fishing Lake Roy T. Britton/Opelika
Crappie, Black (tie)-
4 lbs., 5 oz. 3/27/07 Ft. Payne Reservoir Shelley Meadows/Mentone
4 lbs., 5 oz. 6/2/97 Private Pond/Jefferson Co. William D. Webb/Birmingham
4 lbs., 4 oz. 3/18/84 Paint Creek Sherril Harris/Sylacauga
Crappie, White (tie)-
4 lbs., 9 oz. 5/8/00 Lake Martin, Tallapoosa Co. Jeremy S. White/Alexander City
4 lbs., 8 oz. 4/4/74 Guntersville Reservoir Jack Grant/Altoona
Drum, Freshwater– (b) 41 lbs., 8 oz. 7/24/49 Wilson Reservoir Wilson Brock/Birmingham
Eel, American– 5 lbs., 8 oz. 5/11/89 Lake Shechi, Chilton Co. Tod A. Groover/Montevallo
Gar, Alligator-
151 lbs., 9 oz. 8/13/09 Tensaw River Richard Johnson/Bay Minette
151 lbs., 5 oz. 8/13/04 Tensaw River Michael Houseknecht/Mobile
Gar, Longnose– 32 lbs., 14 oz. 4/18/85 Jordan Reservoir Gary Smyth/Pelham
Gar, Spotted– 8 lbs., 12 oz. 8/26/87 Cotaco Creek Winston Baker/Alexander City
Herring, Skipjack– 3 lb., 4 oz. 5/2/12 Mulberry Fork Bobby Lee Davis/Bessemer
Muskellunge– 19 lbs., 8 oz. 12/31/72 Wilson Dam Tailwater Steve Leatherwood/Haleyville
Paddlefish– 52 lbs., 12 oz. 3/18/82 Wilson Dam Tailwater Susan Holland/Muscle Shoals
Perch, Yellow- 1 lb., 15 oz. 2/26/00 Wheeler Reservoir, Limestone Co. Matthew K. Patterson/Decatur
Pickerel, Chain- 6 lbs., 6 oz. 6/24/76 Dyas Creek, Baldwin Co. Michael P. Ryan/Bay Minette
Pickerel, Redfin- 0 lbs., 11 oz. 8/24/10 Armstrong Creek/Washington Co. Frank Lambert Dickey/Chatom
Redhorse, Silver- (a) 14 lbs., 14 oz. 4/24/95 Wilson Dam Tailwater Chris Stephenson/Birmingham
Sauger- 5 lbs., 2 oz. 3/5/72 Wilson Dam Tailwater William F. Huntley/Athens
Sunfish, Bluegill- (a) 4 lbs., 12 oz. 4/9/50 Ketona Lake, Birmingham T. S. Hudson/Birmingham
Sunfish, Green- 1 lb., 9 oz. 8/10/05 McLamore Pond, Walker County Caleb Miller/Parrish
Sunfish, Longear- 8 oz. 5/12/90 Yellow River Jerry Jones/Ozark
Sunfish, Redbreast- 1 lb., 4 oz. 6/12/10 Choctawhatchee River Archie Russ/Brantley
Sunfish, Redear- (b) 4 lbs., 4 oz. 5/5/62 Chattahoochee State Park Jeff Lashley/Gordon
Trout, Rainbow- 9 lbs., 1 oz. 4/22/06 Mud Creek, Tannehill State Park Otha G. Hamm/Alexandria
Walleye- 10 lbs., 14 oz. 6/24/80 Weiss Reservoir Julia Hurley/Cedar Bluff
Warmouth- 1 lb., 12 oz. 4/25/86 Farm Pond Jimmy A. Barfield/Dothan a World Record

b- Previous World Record — Rod and Reel
c- Previous World Record — Any Method
Revised on March 20, 2013.

LIFE JACKET REQUIREMENTS BELOW DAMS
It is unlawful for any person to operate any vessel on the waters of Alabama within 800 feet below a hydroelectric dam and/or navigation lock and dam unless each person aboard, including the operator, is wearing a securely fastened U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device Type I, II, III or V.

PUBLIC BOATING ACCESS AREAS
Public access areas include state-owned and/or operated boat launching ramps, associated parking lots, piers and any real or personal property within the boundaries of such areas. Such public access areas are for the uses of pleasure boating, hunting and fishing. Picnicking is allowed only where tables are provided.

The following is a synopsis of regulations for use of such areas, and is intended as a general guide for the boating public. Please refer to the Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Regulation Book for specific interpretation.

AT PUBLIC BOATING ACCESS AREAS, IT IS ILLEGAL TO:
Litter, Camp or build fires, Loiter, Discharge firearms, except as otherwise provided by law, Consume alcoholic beverages, Swim, dive, jump or sunbathe within 50 yards of any ramp or pier, Block ramp, pier or the approach with vehicles or trailers, Operate any unlicensed vehicle such as ATVs, except those driven by mobility impaired persons in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Solicit, sell, advertise or install signs, Destroy, damage, cut or remove any tree, bush, shrub, plant or flower, Operate commercial, industrial or construction equipment such as barges without written approval obtained from the Fisheries Section, 64 N. Union St., Suite 551, Montgomery, AL 36104.

BOATING OPERATOR LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
The Roberson-Archer Act and The Boating Safety Enhancement Act of 2001 mandates that no one under the age of 12 may operate a motorized vessel, and that every vessel operator be licensed and have the license in possession at the time of operation.

BOATING LICENSE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALABAMA RESIDENTS
Must be 12 years old or older, but cannot operate alone until the age of 14. Operators 12 or 13 years old, after obtaining the vessel.

 

Boating Safety Regulations

LIGHTS
Operators of all vessels must comply with the requirements for the type and use of lights when anchored or underway from sunset to sunrise, or during times of limited visibility.

PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES (LIFE PRESERVERS)
Vessels less than 16 feet in length will have aboard a Type I, II, IIIor V personal flotation device for each person. Vessels 16 feet and over in length shall have aboard a U. S. Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III or V personal flotation device for each personand at least one Type IV on board as a throwable device. The Type V personal flotation device must be worn to be acceptable. All persons under eight years of age, on any vessel, must, at all times, wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotationdevice that must be strapped, snapped or zipped securely in  place; except, no personal flotation device is required when inside an enclosed cabin or enclosed sleeping space.

EMERGENCY ENGINE CUT-OFF SWITCH
No person shall operate or give permission to operate any vessel less than 24 feet in length, having an open cockpit and havingmore than 50 horsepower, unless said vessel is equipped with an emergency engine or motor shut-off switch. The cut-off switch must be a lanyard-type and must be attached to the person, clothing or personal flotation device of the operator.

PROHIBITED OPERATIONS

1. Operating a vessel or personal watercraft under the age of 12 (check 2001 changes). Operators 12 or 13 years old, after obtaining a vessel operator’s license, can only operate if someone 21 years old or older, with a vessel operator’s license in possession, is on board and seated in a position to take immediate control of the vessel if necessary. Operators 14 years old or older, after obtaining a vessel operator’s license, may legally operate without supervision.

2. Operating a vessel in such a manner and at a rate of speed as will create a hazardous wash or wake when approaching or passing another vessel or when entering or leaving a harbor or marina area.

3. Operating a vessel towing a person or persons on water skis, or an aquaplane or similar device unless there is in the vessel a person, in addition to the operator, who is at least 12 years of age and is observing and is capable of communicating to the operator the progress of the person being towed or unless the vessel is equipped with a wide-angle mirror with a viewing surface of at least 78 square inches and a field of vision of at least 170 degrees.

4. Motor boats generally yield right-of-way to non-motor powered boats.

5. Vessels yielding right-of-way shall reduce speed, stop, reverse alter course to avoid collision.

6. Vessel with right-of-way shall hold course and speed. If there is danger of collision, all vessels will slow down, stop or reverse until danger is averted.

7. Vessels approaching or passing another vessel must be operated in such manner and at such rate of speed as will not create a hazardous wash or wake.

8. All vessels must be operated at reasonable speeds for given situations and must be under the complete control of the operator at all times.

RECKLESS OPERATION
It is unlawful to operate a vessel in a reckless manner upon the waters of this state. A person is guilty of reckless operation when he operates any vessel or manipulates any water skis or any other marine transportation device upon the waters of this state in a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property at a speed or in a manner to endanger or likely to endanger life or limb or property or cause injury to any person.

CARELESS OPERATION
It is unlawful to operate a vessel in a careless manner upon the waters of this State. Careless operation is the endangerment of life, limb or property through negligence, carelessness or inattention of the operator.

OPERATOR LICENSE
The Roberson-Archer Act and The Boating Safety Enhancement Act of 2001 mandates that no one under the age of 12 may operate a motorized vessel, and that every vessel operator be licensed and have the license in possession at the time of operation. For more  information on operator license requirements, see page 53. Any person who was age 40 or older on April 28, 1994 is exempt from taking an approved boating course and/or the written exam. Persons who are age exempt are still required to obtain a boat operator’s license.

HOW AND WHERE TO GET YOUR LICENSE

• Applicants may go to the Department of Public Safety Driver’s License Examining Office in their county of residence, where they must successfully complete a written/oral exam or show proof of exemption (certificate of completion), answer medical questions, and pay application and license fees.

• Minors (under 21) must furnish a certified birth certificate and social security card.

• All applicants will fill out the proper forms and pay a one-time application fee of $5 CASH to the Dept. of Public Safety. Upon successful completion of all requirements and payment of the $23.50 license renewal fee, the “V” class will be added to the applicant’s Alabama driver’s license. Non-residents or non drivers will pay a $28.50 fee ($5 application fee and $23.50 fee) to generate a vessel only card which will expire four years from date of issuance.

• Applicants may also take an approved on-line course (www. boat-ed.com or www.boaterexam.com) or classroom course andpresent the certificate of completion to the Driver’s License Examiner’soffice in lieu of taking the exam there. Any fees chargedfor the on-line course are in addition to the license renewal fees.

• Failure to have a license in possession when operating a vessel can result in the issuance of a citation, with average fine and court costs of $200.

 OBSTRUCTION OF OPERATOR’S VIEW PROHIBITED
It shall be unlawful for the operator of a vessel, when the vessel is operated at or above plane speed, to position or allow the positioning of, persons or equipment, including but not limited to, seats, coolers, tackle, ski and tubing devices, in a manner that would obstruct the operator’s view, or would otherwise impair, the safe operation of the vessel while operating on the waters of the stat.

Information compiled by Southern Fishing News 11-13-2014