Alabama Saltwater Fishing Limits
Alabama saltwater limits: 35 MRD rows from redfish and speckled trout to red snapper and sharks, the license line, state-water boundaries and the no-take list.
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What every Alabama saltwater angler needs to know
A saltwater fishing license is required for all persons fishing or possessing fish in saltwater areas of Alabama; residents and nonresidents under 16 exempt; residents 65 and over exempt; residents may fish from a licensed public fishing pier in inside waters without a license; also required for cast net, gig, bow, crab trap or spearfishing.
Saltwater anglers 16 and older carry an Alabama saltwater license ($30.90 resident, $66.80 nonresident for 2026-27), plus the $10 Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement to keep reef fish such as red snapper.
Gulf reef fish: state waters extend 9 nautical miles from the beach (including Pelican/Sand Island); all other species: 3 nautical miles (MRD 2026 sheet).
Where an Alabama saltwater license starts to apply
Beginning at the Mississippi state line, a Saltwater Fishing License is required in those waters south of a meandering line following U.S. Highway 90 eastwardly to its junction with State Highway 188; State Highway 188 eastwardly to its junction with State Highway 193; /State Highway 193 northwardly (all of Theodore Industrial Canal is in Marine Resources Div. jurisdiction) to its junction with State Highway 163; /State Highway 163 northwardly to its intersection with Interstate Highway 10; Interstate Highway 10 eastbound lane (exc. that portion of Interstate 10 which lies north of U.S. Highway 90 Battleship Parkway) to Interstate Highway 10’s intersection with U.S. 98; U.S. Highway 98 southwardly and easterly to its intersection with State Highway 59; State Highway 59 southwardly to its intersection with Baldwin Co. Highway 20; Baldwin Co. Highway 20 eastwardly to its intersection with
ADCNR MRD limits sheet, read November 1, 2026.
Alabama inshore and nearshore limits in state waters
| Species | Creel and size | Waters |
|---|---|---|
| Sheepshead | 8 per person; 12" min. FL | state waters |
| Spotted Seatrout | 6 per person – one fish is allowed to be over; 15" min. TL – 22" max TL | state waters |
| Red Drum (Redfish) | 3 per person; 16" min. – 26" max TL | state waters |
| Cobia (Ling) | 1 per person, not to exceed 2 per vessel; 36" min. FL | state waters |
| Spanish Mackerel | 15 per person; no size limit | state waters |
| Florida Pompano | 3 per person; 12" min. TL | state waters |
| Striped Bass | 2 per person; 16" min TL | state waters |
| Flounder | 5 per person (Closed Season for the month of November); 14" min TL | state waters |
| Tripletail (Blackfish) | 3 per person; 18" min TL | state waters |
| Snook | 1 per person; 28" min TL | state waters |
| Atlantic Sharpnose | 1 per person per day; no size limit | state waters |
| Great Hammerhead | 1 per person per day; 78" min. FL | state waters |
| Smooth Hammerhead | 1 per person per day; 78" min. FL | state waters |
| Scalloped Hammerhead | 1 per person per day; 78" min. FL | state waters |
| Mullet | 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.; no siz | state waters |
Limits as printed by the ADCNR Marine Resources Division recreational size, creel and possession limits for state waters (MRD limits page), read November 1, 2026.
Alabama reef fish limits in state waters
| Species | Creel and size | Waters |
|---|---|---|
| Gag Grouper | 2 per person; 24" min TL | state waters; see seasons |
| Red Grouper | 2 per person; 20" min TL | state waters; see seasons |
| Black Grouper | 4 per person; 24" min TL | state waters; see seasons |
| Yellowfin Grouper | 4 per person; 20" min TL | state waters; see seasons |
| Scamp | 4 per person; 16" min TL | state waters; see seasons |
| Greater Amberjack | 1 per person; 34" min FL | state waters; see seasons |
| Gray Triggerfish | 1 per person; 15" min FL | state waters; see seasons |
| Lesser Amberjack | Reef Fish Aggregate; 14" – 22" FL | state waters |
| Banded Rudderfish | Reef Fish Aggregate; 14" – 22" FL | state waters |
| Red Snapper | 2 per person in state and federal waters; 16" min. TL | state waters; see seasons |
| Vermilion Snapper (beeliner) | 10 per person; 10" min. TL | state waters; see seasons |
| Lane Snapper | Reef Fish aggregate; 10" min. TL | state waters; see seasons |
| Gray Snapper (mangrove, black) | 10 per person; 12" min. TL | state waters; see seasons |
Limits as printed by the ADCNR Marine Resources Division recreational size, creel and possession limits for state waters (MRD limits page), read November 1, 2026.
Alabama tunas, king mackerel and tarpon limits in state waters
| Species | Creel and size | Waters |
|---|---|---|
| King Mackerel | 3 per person; 24" min. FL | state waters |
| Yellowfin Tuna | 3 per person; 27" min CFL | state waters |
| Bigeye Tuna | No Creel Limit; 27" min CFL | state waters |
| Tarpon | $67.00 tag required to possess, kill or harvest each tarpon.; 60" min. TL | state waters |
Limits as printed by the ADCNR Marine Resources Division recreational size, creel and possession limits for state waters (MRD limits page), read November 1, 2026.
Alabama sharks, skates and rays limits in state waters
| Species | Creel and size | Waters |
|---|---|---|
| Bonnethead | 1 per person per day; no size limit | state waters |
| All Other Shark Species | 1 per person per day; 54" min. FL | state waters |
| Skates and Rays | 3 per person; no size limit | state waters |
Limits as printed by the ADCNR Marine Resources Division recreational size, creel and possession limits for state waters (MRD limits page), read November 1, 2026.
Notes that sit under the Alabama saltwater table
- Alabama state waters open and close along with federal regulations.MRD note
- Mixed species grouper aggregate creel limit: 4 per person (No more than 2 red and 2 gag grouper may be included in grouper aggregate.)MRD note
- Only two Striped Bass are allowed within MRD Jurisdiction.MRD note
- 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.MRD note
Alabama saltwater seasons and closures in 2026
| Season | Opens | Closes | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red snapper (private anglers, shore, state-licensed charter) | May 22, 2026 | not set (quota) | Open 7 days a week until the end of the year or when Alabama's quota has been met; 2 per person per day, 16 inches TL minimum; 2026 private angler quota 664,552 pounds; report through Snapper Check. |
| Red snapper (federally permitted for-hire vessels) | June 1, 2026 | October 26, 2026 | Opens 12:01 a.m. local time June 1, 2026, closes 12:01 a.m. local time October 26, 2026 (147 days in federal waters). |
| Gray triggerfish | when federal waters open | not set (quota) | Open in state waters when federal waters are open; 1 per person, 15 inches minimum fork length; closed annually January/February and June/July. |
| Greater amberjack | when federal waters open | not set (quota) | Open in state waters when federal waters are open; 1 per person, 34 inches fork length. |
| Gag grouper | when federal waters open | not set (quota) | Open in Alabama state waters when federal waters are open. |
| Flounder | when federal waters open | not set (quota) | Closed season for the month of November (14 inches TL minimum, 5 per person). |
ADCNR MRD closures and notices, read November 1, 2026.
Alabama saltwater fish on the MRD no-take list
- Goliath Grouper (Jewfish)prohibited
- Nassau Grouperprohibited
- Atlantic Angel Sharkprohibited
- Bigeye Sand Tiger Sharkprohibited
- Bigeye Sixgill Sharkprohibited
- Bigeye Thresher Sharkprohibited
- Bignose Sharkprohibited
- Caribbean Reef Sharkprohibited
- Caribbean Sharpnose Sharkprohibited
- Galapogos Sharkprohibited
- Narrowtooth Sharkprohibited
- Night Sharkprohibited
- Sevengill Sharkprohibited
- Sixgill Sharkprohibited
- Dusky Sharkprohibited
- Longfin Mako Sharkprohibited
- Shortfin Mako Sharkprohibited
- Sand Tiger Sharkprohibited
- Basking Sharkprohibited
- Whale Sharkprohibited
- White Sharkprohibited
- Smalltail Sharkprohibited
- Smalltooth Sawfishprohibited
- Largetooth Sawfishprohibited
- Spotted Eagle Rayprohibited
- Atlantic Manta Sandbar Shark (unless the fisherman possesses a NOAA Fisheries sandbar shark research permit)prohibited
A picture guide to fish in Alabama Saltwater Fishing Limits
Photo: Dominic, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Challiyan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Albert kok, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: q phia, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: GabrielEstevesGonçalves, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Frédéric Mahé, Public domain
Alabama salt water: the questions inshore and offshore anglers ask
When does an Alabama saltwater license apply?
South of the saltwater line ADCNR describes, for anyone fishing or keeping fish there. Saltwater anglers 16 and older carry an Alabama saltwater license ($30.90 resident, $66.80 nonresident for 2026-27), plus the $10 Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement to keep reef fish such as red snapper.
How many redfish may an Alabama angler keep?
3 per person; 16" min. – 26" max TL.
How many speckled trout may I keep in Alabama?
6 per person – one fish is allowed to be over; 15" min. TL – 22" max TL.
When is flounder closed in Alabama?
All of November; the rest of the year 5 per person (Closed Season for the month of November); 14" min TL.
What is the Alabama cobia rule?
1 per person, not to exceed 2 per vessel; 36" min. FL.
How far out do Alabama state waters reach?
Gulf reef fish: state waters extend 9 nautical miles from the beach (including Pelican/Sand Island); all other species: 3 nautical miles (MRD 2026 sheet).
Is a tarpon ever legal to keep in Alabama waters?
Only with a tag: $67.00 tag required to possess, kill or harvest each tarpon.; 60" min. TL
May an Alabama angler keep a goliath grouper?
No; goliath and Nassau grouper are on the Alabama no-take list with a long list of protected sharks.
More Alabama rule pages beyond salt water
- Alabama Red Snapper Seasonthe 2026 private and for-hire seasons
- Alabama Water Exceptionsthe 26 digest entries with their own rule
- Alabama Border WatersGeorgia, Mississippi and Tennessee agreements
- Alabama license and regulationsprices, exemptions and freshwater rows