Fishing

DAILY CREEL LIMITS, POSSESSION LIMITS AND SIZE LIMITS

The creel and possession limits for game fish in all public waters of this state, except as otherwise provided for certain State and Federally owned and/or managed fishing lakes and ponds, shall be as follows:

Black Bass, All Species or Combinations...........................10
(Includes largemouth, smallmouth, spotted and redeye or coosa bass only. The take or harvest of Shoal Bass, which occupy tributary waters of the Chattahoochee River drainage is prohibited.)

Walleye...........................................................2

Sauger.........................................................10
(There is a 14 inch minimum length limit on Sauger with an exception of allowing three fish less than 13 inches in total length.)

White Bass, Yellow Bass, Saltwater Striped Bass, and Hybrids or Combinations..........................30
(No more than six of the 30 can exceed 16 inches in total length and no more than 6 max can be saltwater striped bass. See exceptions for Weiss Reservoir; and further restrictions for Lewis Smith Reservoir and Lake Martin.)

Crappie.......................................................... 30
(It is illegal to possess any Crappie less than nine inches in total length taken from Alabama public waters, including Aliceville Reservoir and Pickwick Reservoir. Waters exempt from the nine-inch Crappie limit include impoundments less than 500 surface acres, and the reciprocal waters of the Chattahoochee River and Impoundments and their tributaries, Bear Creek Reservoir (Big Bear Lake of the B.C.D.A. Lakes), Lake Jackson at Florala and Weiss Reservoir. See exception for Weiss Reservoir.

Catfish..........................................................
(It is illegal to possess more than one (1) catfish over 34 inches in total length taken from Alabama public waters. No blue or flathead catfish over 34 inches in total length may be transported live beyond the boundaries of this State unless permitted in writing by the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.)

Bream............................................................ 50

Rainbow Trout.....................................................5

Alligator Gar.....................................................1

The creel and possession limits provided for above shall not apply to fish held live for release by the sponsor or its designated agent after a bona fide fishing tournament provided they are released unharmed to the public waters from which they were taken as soon as reasonably possible on the same day they were taken.

NOTE: Total length of fish measured from the front of the mouth to the tip of the tail with both mouth and tail closed.

NOTE: It is a violation of Alabama law for any person to transport more than one day's creel limit of any species of game fish beyond the boundaries of this state. It is a violation of Alabama law for any person to fillet freshwater fish while on public waters except when fish are being prepared for immediate cooking and consumption, provided however, that fish may be drawn or gutted with heads left attached.

NOTE: IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY ANGLER TO FISH WITH MORE THAN THREE RODS AND REELS, OR POLES, OR ANY COMBINATION THEREOF ON WEISS RESERVOIR OR NEELY HENRY LAKE AT ANY TIME.
THERE IS NO CLOSED SEASON ON ANY FRESHWATER GAME FISH.

SIZE LIMITS
As provided for above, as posted in State and Federally owned and/or managed public fishing lakes and ponds, and as follows:

1. Demopolis Reservoir - It is illegal to possess any Black Bass less than 14 inches in total length.

2. Guntersville Reservoir - It is illegal to possess any Black Bass less than 15 inches in total length.

3. Harris Reservoir - It is illegal to possess any Black Bass between 13 inches and 16 inches in total length.

4. Lake Jackson at Florala - 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.

5. Lewis Smith Reservoir and Lake Martin - It is illegal to possess more than two White Bass, Yellow Bass, Saltwater Striped Bass and hybrids or combinations that are over 16 inches in total length in the daily creel limit.

6. Lewis Smith Reservoir - It is illegal to possess any Black Bass between 13 inches and 15 inches in total length.

7. Pickwick Reservoir - It is illegal to possess any Smallmouth Bass less than 14 inches in total length or any Crappie less than 9 inches in total length.

8. Walter F. George Reservoir (Lake Eufaula) and its Tributaries - It is illegal to possess any Largemouth Bass less than 14 inches in total length.

9. Weiss Reservoir - It is illegal to possess Crappie less than 10 inches in total length. It is legal to possess 30 White Bass, Yellow Bass, Saltwater Striped Bass and hybrids or combinations of any size.

10. West Point Reservoir and its Tributaries - It is illegal to possess any Largemouth Bass less than 14 inches in total length.

11. Wilson Reservoir - It is illegal to possess any Black Bass less than 14 inches in total length.

12. Little Bear Creek Reservoir of the B.C.D.A Lakes - It is illegal to possess Largemouth Bass between 13 inches and 16 inches in total length.

SPECIAL CREEL LIMITS APPLY ON THE RECIPROCAL WATERS OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER AND IMPOUNDMENTS AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES-CHECK LOCALLY.

FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES
Fish from almost all waters in Alabama are safe for human consumption. For those few locations of concern, fish consumption advisories are provided by the Alabama Dept. of Public Health. For a current list of advisories call: 1-800-201-8208 or www.adph.org/risk/.

NONNATIVE AQUATICS PLANTS
NOTE: It is prohibited to introduce, place or cause the introduction or placement of any nonnative aquatic plant into any public waters of the State. For further information, contact the Aquatic Plant Management Supervisor at P.O. Box 247, Daphne, AL 36526, (251)626-5153.

Procedures for the Certification of Alabama State Record Freshwater Fish
1. Fish must be caught in Alabama waters by legal means.
2. Fish must be identified by Alabama Fisheries Section biologist or other certified fisheries biologist.
3. Fish must be weighed on certified scales.
4. Weighing must be witnessed by two people.
5. Application must be submitted on an official application form within three months of the catch (request a form by dialing 1-334-242-3471).
6. Application form must be notarized.

BOATING SAFETY REGULATIONS

LIGHTS:
Operators of all vessels must comply with the requirements for the type and use of lights when anchored or underway from sunset to sunrise, or during times of limited visibility.

PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES (Life Preservers):
Vessels less than 16 feet in length will have aboard a type I, II, III or V personal flotation device for each person. Vessels 16 feet and over in length shall have aboard a type I, II, III or V personal flotation device for each person and at least one type IV on board as a throwable device. The type V personal flotation device must be worn to be acceptable.
All persons under eight years of age, on any vessel, must, at all times, wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device that must be strapped, snapped or zipped securely in place; except, no personal flotation device is required when inside an enclosed cabin or enclosed sleeping space.

EMERGENCY ENGINE CUT-OFF SWITCH:
No person shall operate or give permission to operate any vessel less than 24 feet in length, having an open cockpit and having more than 50 horsepower, unless said vessel is equipped with an emergency engine or motor shut-off switch. The cut-off switch must be a lanyard-type and must be attached to the person, clothing or personal flotation device of the operator.

PROHIBITED OPERATIONS:
1. Operating a vessel or personal watercraft under the age of 12 (check 2001 changes).
2. Operating a vessel in such a manner and at a rate of speed as will create a hazardous wash or wake when approaching or passing another vessel or when entering or leaving a harbor or marina area.
3. Operating a vessel towing a person or persons on water skis, or an aquaplane or similar device unless there is in the vessel a person, in addition to the operator, who is at least 12 years of age and is observing and is capable of communicating to the operator the progress of the person being towed or unless the vessel is equipped with a wide-angle mirror with a viewing surface of at least 78 square inches and a field of vision of at least 170 degrees.
4. Motor boats generally yield right-of-way to non-motor powered boats.
5. Vessels yielding right-of-way shall reduce speed, stop, reverse or alter course to avoid collision.
6. Vessel with right-of-way shall hold course and speed. If there is danger of collision, all vessels will slow down, stop or reverse until danger is averted.
7. Vessels approaching or passing another vessel must be operated in such manner and at such rate of speed as will not create a hazardous wash or wake.
8. All vessels must be operated at reasonable speeds for given situations and must be under the complete control of the operator at all times.

RECKLESS OPERATION:
It is unlawful to operate a vessel in a reckless manner upon the waters of this state. A person is guilty of reckless operation when he operates any vessel or manipulates any water skis or any other marine transportation device upon the waters of this state in a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property at a speed or in a manner to endanger or likely to endanger life or limb or property or cause injury to any person.

CARELESS OPERATION:
It is unlawful to operate a vessel in a careless manner upon the waters of this State. Careless operation is the endangerment of life, limb or property through negligence, carelessness or inattention of the operator.

BOATING SAFETY:
The Roberson-Archer Act of 1994 mandates that every operator of a motorized vessel, age 12 or older, must be licensed. The boating Safety Enhancement Act of 2001 mandates that anyone who turned 12 years old after January 1, 2002, may, after obtaining a vessel license, operate a vessel only if an adult 21 years old or older with a boating license, is onboard and in a position to take immediate control of the vessel. A licensed operator, 14 years old or older, may operate alone. Possession of a certificate validating successful completion of a state-approved boating course is not the same thing as an operator’s license.

Any person who was age 40 or older on April 28, 1994, is exempt from taking an approved boating course and/or the written exam given by the Department of Public Safety Driver’s License Examiners. Persons who are exempt due to age are still required to obtain a boat operator’s license.

HOW AND WHERE TO GET YOUR LICENSE:
1. All applicants must first go to the Department of Public Safety Driver’s License Examining Office in their county of residence, where they must successfully complete a written/oral exam or show proof of exemption (certificate of completion), answer medical questions, and pay application fee.
2. Minors (under 21) must furnish a certified birth certificate and social security card.
3. All applicants pay a one-time fee of $5 CASH if they are renewing a current Alabama Driver’s License. Non-residents or non-drivers pay $28 fee ($5 application and $23 to generate a card). This expires four years from date of issuance.
4. Upon successful completion of all the requirements, the applicant will be given the proper forms to be taken and presented to the Probate Judge or License Commissioner’s Office which will authorize the placement of the letter “V” on the driver’s license.
5. Applicants may also take an approved on-line course (www.boat-ed.com or ww.boaterex-am.com) or classroom course and present the certificate of completion to the Driver's License Examiner's office in lieu of taking the exam there.
Failure to have a license in possession when operating a vessel can result in the issuance of a citation, with average fine and court costs of $200.

OBSTRUCTION OF OPERATOR’S VIEW PROHIBITED:
It shall be unlawful for the operator of a vessel, when the vessel is operated at or above plane speed, to position or allow the positioning of, persons or equipment, including but not limited to, seats, coolers, tackle, ski and tubing devices, in a manner that would obstruct the operator’s view, or would otherwise impair, the safe operation of the vessel while operating on the waters of the state. Sailboats and auxiliary sailboats are exempt from this section.

For more information on boating safety law and regulations, call the Marine Police Division at (334) 242-3673 or visit www.outdooralabama.com and click on Boating.

2006-07 Hunting and Fishing Digest (Pages 1-23)
(File Size 3.2 meg)
2006-07 Hunting and Fishing Digest (Pages 24-56)
(File Size 1.5 meg)