Alabama Fishing Regulations
Managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Summary below verified 2026-07-27.
⚠️ This is a planning summary, not the law. Rules change mid-season and many waters carry special regulations. Verify with the official Alabama rules before keeping fish.
License fees
Separate freshwater and saltwater licenses. Residents 65+ exempt with ID; under 16 exempt.
| Resident freshwater annual | ≈$15 |
| Resident saltwater annual | ≈$29 |
| Non-resident freshwater annual | ≈$58 |
Fees approximate as of 2026-07-27; agency fees pages have exact current pricing.
Season, size & bag limits — popular species
| Species | Waters | Season | Daily bag | Size limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) | Freshwater | Open year-round | 10 combined | None statewide | Slot/length limits on many reservoirs |
| Crappie | Freshwater | Open year-round | 30 | 9" minimum on most public waters | |
| Bream (bluegill, shellcracker) | Freshwater | Open year-round | 50 | None | |
| Catfish | Freshwater | Open year-round | No statewide limit; one over 34" | — | |
| Red drum | Saltwater | Open year-round | 3 | 16–26" slot | One oversize allowed |
| Spotted seatrout | Saltwater | Open year-round | 6 | 15–22" slot, one over 22" | Verify current slot with ADCNR |
Red snapper and other Gulf reef fish run on short federal/state seasons announced each year — check Outdoor Alabama before offshore trips.
Plan your Alabama trip
Check today's bite forecast: