Spotted Bass in Alabama
Alabama spotted bass: creel, season and waters.
- 10 a daycreel
- 8 lbs., 15 oz.record
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The Alabama picture for spotted bass
For spotted bass, the governing freshwater line reads "Black Bass". The row sets 10 a day, and its season is open all year. Fish in that group are added up together against one number. Its scientific name, per ADCNR, is Micropterus punctulatus.
Phillip C. Terry set the Alabama mark of 8 lbs., 15 oz. in 1978, at Lewis Smith Reservoir. It appears on 12 lake, river or Gulf pages, Wheeler Lake, Lewis Smith Lake and Millers Ferry Reservoir among them. Check Duck River Reservoir and Lake Jackson at Florala: 3 waters carry their own rule.
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| Row as printed | Waters | Creel and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bass | Public fresh waters statewide | 10 a day | open all year |
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 five of the daily creel limit of 10 may be smallmouth bass. See exceptions fo
Limits as printed in the Official 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest (ADCNR, eRegulations edition) (limits page; digest PDF), read November 1, 2026.
The spotted bass rule, water by water
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Duck River Reservoir | Black bass | It is illegal to possess any black bass between 14 inches and 22 inches in total length. Only one of the ten fish can be over 22 inches in total. |
| Lake Jackson at Florala | Black bass | 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. |
| Lewis Smith Reservoir | Largemouth bass, Alabama bass, Spotted bass | It is illegal to possess any largemouth bass, Alabama bass or spotted bass between 13 inches and 15 inches in total length. |
Size and creel exceptions as printed in the Official 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest (ADCNR, eRegulations edition), limits page, read November 1, 2026.
Record spotted bass certified in Alabama
| List | Weight | Angler | Water | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| freshwater | 8 lbs., 15 oz. | Phillip C. Terry | Lewis Smith Reservoir | March 18, 1978 |
ADCNR (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division for freshwater; Marine Resources Division State Record Fish Committee for saltwater); freshwater list, saltwater list, read November 1, 2026.
Alabama water that holds spotted bass
Impoundments holding spotted bass
- Wheeler Lake57,278 acres
- Lewis Smith Lake21,200 acres
- Millers Ferry Reservoir17,200 acres
- Logan Martin Lake15,263 acres
- Lay Lake12,000 acres
- Neely Henry Lake11,235 acres
- Lake Jordan6,800 acres
- Cedar Creek Reservoir4,200 acres
- Holt Lake3,296 acres
- Yates Lake1,980 acres
- Thurlow Lake585 acres
- Claiborne LakeMonroe County
ADCNR reservoir, river and public fishing lake species lists, the record waters and the MRD inshore species; largest waters first.
Other Alabama fish beside spotted bass
- Alabama Bassfreshwater
- Largemouth Bassfreshwater
- Redeye Bassfreshwater
- Shoal Bassfreshwater
- Smallmouth Bassfreshwater
- Hybrid Striped Bassfreshwater
- Striped Bassboth
- White Bassfreshwater
- Yellow Bassfreshwater
Before targeting spotted bass in the Heart of Dixie: questions
What bag does Alabama set for spotted bass?
Per the row, 10 a day; open open all year.
When was the Alabama spotted bass record set?
8 lbs., 15 oz., by Phillip C. Terry, 1978 (Lewis Smith Reservoir).
What Alabama water should I try for spotted bass?
Start at Wheeler Lake, Lewis Smith Lake and Millers Ferry Reservoir; 12 pages carry it.
Is the spotted bass limit different on some Alabama waters?
It changes on 3 waters, Duck River Reservoir among them.
Can I keep spotted bass all year in Alabama?
It reads open all year.
What does it cost to fish for spotted bass in Alabama?
Freshwater anglers need an Alabama fishing license from 16 on ($17.45 resident, $68.20 nonresident for 2026-27); residents 65 and older are exempt.
Where do I send an Alabama spotted bass record?
Certified scales, two witnesses, a biologist identification and the official form within three months.
What do Alabama anglers call spotted bass?
ADCNR lists it as Spotted Bass (Micropterus punctulatus).
Line up a day on Alabama spotted bass
Every water listed above has ramps and limits on its own page.