Fishing near Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa County, population 99,600.
- 1 mileto nearest paged water
- 3listed ramps nearby
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Where Tuscaloosa anglers point the truck
Tuscaloosa is a city of Tuscaloosa County with 99,600 residents in the 2020 Census. Point the truck east for about 1 mile to reach Oliver Lake, the nearest paged water. By mapped size Warrior Lake wins, near 8,580 acres. The shortest tow on the ADCNR lists is under a mile to Riverview Access on Oliver Lake.
For bank or pier fishing, Riverview Boat Ramp on Oliver Lake sits under a mile away. Fayette County Public Fishing Lake, an ADCNR State Public Fishing Lake, is about 31 miles away.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Tuscaloosa; miles are straight lines.
Impoundments ringing Tuscaloosa
| Lake | Distance | Acres (source) | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver Lake | 1 mile east | 663 (NHD outline) | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir | 1 | |
| Lake Harris | 4 miles northeast | 139 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Lake Nicol | 6 miles northeast | 311 (NHD outline) | lake | 0 | |
| Lake Tuscaloosa | 8 miles north | 5,076 (NHD outline) | City of Tuscaloosa reservoir | 1 | bowfin |
| Holt Lake | 10 miles northeast | 3,296 (ADCNR) | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir | 0 | largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass |
| Warrior Lake | 20 miles southwest | 8,580 (ADCNR) | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir | 2 | largemouth bass, striped bass, hybrid striped bass |
USGS NHD lake outlines, ADCNR reservoir pages and the ADCNR WFF ramp list; read November 1, 2026.
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- Black Warrior River9 miles, ADCNR river page, 168 mi of NHD channel inside Alabama
USGS gauges near Tuscaloosa
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Black Warrior River At Northport Al | 1,180 cfs, 123.59 ft gage height | Nov 11 11:30 pm |
| Black Warrior R Bl Oliver L&d Near Tuscaloosa, Al. | 96.05 ft gage height | Nov 11 11:30 pm |
| Cribbs Mill Creek At Ww Plant At Tuscaloosa, Al. | 7 cfs, -0.70 ft gage height | Nov 11 11:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 12:34 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USGS NHD flowlines, ADCNR river pages, ADCNR ramp lists and USGS gauges; read November 1, 2026.
Ramps and bank spots around Tuscaloosa, mapped
- Riverview Access on Oliver LakeOliver Lake, under a mile
- Foster's Ferry boat ramp on Warrior LakeWarrior Lake, 11 miles
- Binion Creek boat ramp on Lake TuscaloosaLake Tuscaloosa, 12 miles
Fishing from land near Tuscaloosa
- Riverview Boat Ramp on Oliver Lakebank access, ADCNR, under a mile
- Lake Harris fishing pierfishing pier, City of Tuscaloosa, 4 miles
- Oliver Fishing Pier on Warrior Lakefishing pier, US Army Corps of Engineers, 4 miles
- Van De Graaff Park and Arboretumfishing pier, Tuscaloosa County, 4 miles
- Mill Creek Boat Ramp on Warrior Lakebank access, US Army Corps of Engineers, 4 miles
- Holt Hydroelectric Plant Pier on Oliver Lakefishing pier, Alabama Power Company, 5 miles
ADCNR WFF boat ramp list, coastal boating access and fish-from-the-bank map; read November 1, 2026.
Public fishing lakes by Tuscaloosa
| Lake | Details | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Fayette County Public Fishing Lake | 60 acres (ADCNR); Open sunrise to sunset during the following dates.; Open year-round five days each week: Thursdays through Mondays; Clos | 31 miles |
ADCNR manages these lakes; check hours before driving out.
ADCNR State Public Fishing Lakes page, outdooralabama.com, read November 1, 2026.
Tackle stops and guides for Tuscaloosa
The closest listed shops to Tuscaloosa
- Dick's Sporting Goods Tuscaloosasporting goods store, Tuscaloosa, 2 miles
- Shark's Fish and Chickenbait and tackle shop, Tuscaloosa, 3 miles
- Blue Heron Marinamarina, Northport, 4 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Tuscaloosasporting goods store, Tuscaloosa, 5 miles
- Hide-A-Way Harbor Marinamarina, Cottondale, 5 miles
- Bob's Campground & Marina LLCmarina, Northport, 9 miles
Captains working out of Tuscaloosa
- Alabama Guide Servicesfishing guide, (205) 454-7313
Yellow Pages listings (miles only for shops with an exact point) and guide or charter business pages; read November 1, 2026.
Big-fish entries close to Tuscaloosa
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowfin | 18 lbs., 6 oz. | Lake Tuscaloosa | 7/31/05 |
| Blue catfish | 120 lbs., 4 oz. | Holt Lake | 3/9/12 |
| Striped bass | 69 lbs., 9 oz. | Bankhead Lake | 2/28/13 |
Alabama state record lists kept by ADCNR (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division for freshwater; Marine Resources Division State Record Fish Committee for saltwater) (freshwater, saltwater), read November 1, 2026. Waters within 40 miles.
Alabama limits for Tuscaloosa visitors
The digest fee table lists the annual freshwater license at $17.45 resident and $68.20 nonresident.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bass | 10 a day | open all year |
| Walleye | 2 a day | open all year |
| Sauger | 5 a day; 15 inches TL minimum | open all year |
| White Bass | 15 a day | open all year |
| Yellow Bass | 15 a day | open all year |
| Saltwater Striped Bass and Hybrids or Combinations | 15 a day | open all year |
| Crappie | 30 a day; 9 inches TL (exemptions apply) minimum | open all year |
| Yellow Perch | No daily limit | open all year |
| Catfish (under 34 inches) | No daily limit | open all year |
| Catfish (over 34 inches) | 1 a day | open all year |
| Bream | 50 a day | open all year |
| Rainbow Trout | 5 a day | open all year |
| Alligator Gar | 1 a day | open all year |
| Sturgeon | Closed Season | Closed season (immediate release) |
| Paddlefish or Spoonbill | Closed Season | Closed season (immediate release) |
| Skipjack Herring | 50 a day | open all year |
Limits as printed in the Official 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest (ADCNR, eRegulations edition) (limits page; digest PDF), read November 1, 2026. Lake, river and coastal pages print any water exception.
Minutes from Tuscaloosa
Neighbour towns of Tuscaloosa
- Holt3 miles
- Northport4 miles
- Cottondale5 miles
- Coaling11 miles
- Brookwood11 miles
County water near Tuscaloosa
- Tuscaloosa Countyseat: Tuscaloosa
A Piscifun setup to pack for Tuscaloosa
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Fish to recognise before a trip to Tuscaloosa
Photo: robposse, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0
Making Tuscaloosa the home base: what anglers ask
Which lake page is next to Tuscaloosa?
Oliver Lake, 1 mile east.
Which listed ramp comes up first leaving Tuscaloosa?
Riverview Access on Oliver Lake, under a mile.
Where can Tuscaloosa anglers fish from the bank?
Closest: Riverview Boat Ramp on Oliver Lake, under a mile.
Which tackle counter is the first stop on the way out of Tuscaloosa?
Dick's Sporting Goods Tuscaloosa, 2 miles away.
Which county page lists Tuscaloosa?
It lies in Tuscaloosa County.
What does ADCNR charge a nonresident staying in Tuscaloosa?
A nonresident buys a year of freshwater fishing for $68.20.
Which large reservoir is in range of Tuscaloosa?
Warrior Lake, about 8,580 acres, 20 miles away.
Which other towns lie close to Tuscaloosa?
Nearby towns are Holt (3 miles), Northport (4 miles) and Cottondale (5 miles).
Where can Tuscaloosa families fish a state-run lake?
Fayette County Public Fishing Lake, 31 miles away (60 acres (ADCNR); Open sunrise to sunset during the following dates.; Open year-round five days each week: Thursdays through Mondays; Clos).
Was an Alabama record caught near Tuscaloosa?
Bowfin, 18 lbs., 6 oz., from Lake Tuscaloosa.
Base an Alabama fishing trip in Tuscaloosa
Lake pages show ADCNR ramps, species and limits.