Alabama Saltwater Bag and Creel Limits Updated for 2025

June 27. 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - The Marine Resources Division (MRD) of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) has made the following changes to the state's saltwater fish creel, bag, possession and size limits (regulation 220-3-.30). These regulation changes were approved by the Conservation Advisory Board at their May meeting and signed by ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship on June 17, 2025.

"The changes were made to balance the need to conserve our saltwater resources with our commitment to provide anglers with abundant access to fishing opportunities in Alabama's coastal waters," said Scott Bannon, MRD Director. "Additional regulations regarding increased commercial shark fishing opportunities have been proposed and should go into effect later this year."

Sheepshead have experienced increased fishing pressure in recent years. From 2019 to 2023, the number of recreational anglers fishing in Alabama's coastal waters significantly increased from about 140,000 to more than 214,000. Due to the increased fishing pressure, the recreational bag limit for sheepshead has been reduced from 10 fish to eight (8).

To mirror regulations in adjacent federal waters, the minimum size limit for lane snapper was increased to 10 inches total length and the possession of shortfin mako sharks is now prohibited in Alabama waters.

Anglers will no longer be allowed to possess red drum over the slot limit of 16-26 inches total length. The bag limit will remain three (3) per person. Many anglers requested the change to protect the brood stock which is vital to the health of the population. The harvest of redfish is already prohibited in federal waters. MRD expects this change will protect the red drum spawning population in Alabama waters and improve this fishery over the long term.

Skates and stingrays taken by bow, spear or gig will be required to be kept with a bag limit of three (3) per person. The regulation change also makes it unlawful to remove the tail from any released stingray or skate.

"Skates and rays have relatively low reproductive rates," Director Bannon said. "They are targeted in large numbers by anglers using gigs or bows and are often released with their tails removed. That is not a good conservation practice. The bag limit has been established to ensure anglers have the opportunity to harvest them responsibly."

The common snook is a saltwater species unfamiliar to Alabama waters until recently. Snook have been caught in Alabama waters for the past couple of years, but there were no regulations for the fish until now. The new bag limit for common snook is one (1) per person with a minimum size limit of 28 inches total length.

The flounder population along Alabama's Gulf Coast has rebounded in recent years which has allowed for an increase in the daily harvest limit for commercial fishermen who target the species. The flounder bag limit for commercial fishermen has been increased from 40 fish per day to 80 per day (per person or per vessel). This increase was made possible through MRD's flounder conservation efforts that began in 2019.

At the request of several commercial party boat license holders, the captain and crew of a state licensed Alabama commercial party boat will no longer be allowed to possess a limit of any species harvested in state waters.

"Previously the captains and their crews were allowed to have their limit one time per day," Director Bannon said. "However, they would often give their fish to the clients. Many party boat license holders felt that giving away their limit was not a positive conservation practice, so it was at their request we made the change."

For more information about Alabama's saltwater bag and creel limits, visit http://www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/saltwater-recreational-size-creel-limits.

ADCNR promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through four divisions: Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. Learn more at http://www.outdooralabama.com.