Fishing in Alabama

Alabama has a rich history and diversity of freshwater and saltwater sport fishing opportunities within its extensive rivers systems, farm ponds and the inshore and offshore saltwater of the Gulf of Mexico.,[1][2] The Bass Angler's Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), the leading promoter of competitive bass fishing was founded by Ray Scott in 1967 in Montgomery, Alabama.[3] Alabama hosts numerous local, regional and national fishing tournaments every year.

Alabama supports 11 million angler fishing days with expenditures of three-quarters of a billion dollars, so join in the fun![2]

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A typical bait shop, found throughout the state near fishable waters

Alabama hosts 47 reservoirs larger than 500 acres (2.0 km2) that cover 551,220 acres (2,230.7 km2), 23 Alabama State Public Fishing Lakes, and 77,000 miles (124,000 km) of perennial rivers, streams and the Mobile Delta as well as over 60 miles (97 km) of shoreline along the Gulf Coast that provide fresh and saltwater fishing opportunity.

Freshwater fishing

The Official Freshwater Fish of Alabama is the Largemouth Bass.[4] In general, Alabama freshwater fishing is a warmwater fishery, although stocked trout are available in several locations. The most targeted species are largemouth and smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, brim (bluegill, shellcracker, etc.), stripe (white bass, striped bass and hybrids) as well as catfish. There are limited fisheries for shoal bass, walleye and sauger. Big rivers and reservoirs dominate the freshwater fishing landscape in Alabama[5] but there is also an abundance of small streams, creeks and ponds available. The Tennessee Valley Authority, US Army Corps of Engineers, Alabama Power, and the Alabama Department of Natural Resources all maintain and promote freshwater fishing access on the waters they oversee.

State Freshwater Records

Below is a table of state freshwater fishing records.[6]

SpeciesWeightDateLocation
Bass, Largemouth16 lb 8 oz11/3/1987Mtn. View Lake, Shelby Co
Bass, Redeye (b)3 lb 2 oz3/8/2000Choccolocco Creek
Bass, Rock1 lb 6 oz5/6/1995Paint Rock River
Bass, Shoal (now protected in Alabama, release when captured)6 lb 11 oz2/25/1996Halawakee Creek
Bass, Smallmouth (c)10 lb 8 oz10/8/1950Wheeler Dam tailwater
Bass, Spotted (b)8 lb 15 oz3/18/1978Lewis Smith
Bass, Striped55 lb1955Tallapoosa River
Bass, Striped Hybrid25 lb 15 oz9/13/1996Sipsey Fork
Bass, White4 lb 9 oz2/14/1987Warrior River
Bass, Yellow (a)2 lb 8 oz4/12/2000Guntersville Reservoir, Jackson Co.
Bowfin18 lb 6 oz (8.3 kg)7/31/2005Lake Tuscaloosa
Buffalo57 lb4/13/1990Guntersville Reservoir
Bullhead3 lb 13 oz4/8/1984Private Pond, Montgomery. Co.
Carp, Common35 lb4/19/1980Bear Creek, Colbert County
Carp, Grass73 lb4/10/2012Guntersville Reservoir
Catfish, Blue (b)120 lb 4 oz3/9/2012Holt Reservoir
Catfish, Channel40 lb6/17/1967Inland Lake
Catfish, Flathead80 lb6/22/1986Alabama River, Selma
Catfish, White10 lb 5 oz4/3/1981Chambers Co. Public Lake
Crappie, Black (tie)4 lb 5 oz6/2/1997private pond in Jefferson Co.
Crappie, White4 lb 9 oz5/8/2000Lake Martin, Tallapoosa Co.
Drum, Freshwater (b)41 lb 8 oz7/24/1949Wilson Reservoir
Eel, American5 lb 8 oz5/11/1989Lake Shechi, Chilton Co.
Gar, Alligator151 lb 5 oz8/13/2004Tensaw River
Gar, Longnose32 lb 14oz4/18/1985Jordan Reservoir
Gar, Spotted8 lb 12 oz8/26/1987Cotaco Creek
Herring, Skipjack3 lb 4 oz5/2/2012Mulberry Fork
Muskellunge19 lb 8 oz12/31/1972Wilson Dam tailwater
Paddlefish52 lb 12 oz3/18/1982Wilson Dam tailwater
Perch, Yellow1 lb 15 oz2/26/2000Wheeler Reservoir, Limestone Co.
Pickerel, Chain6 lb 6 oz6/24/1976Dyas Creek, Baldwin County
Pickerel, Redfin0 lb 11 oz8/24/2010Armstrong Creek, Wash. Co.
Redhorse, Silver (a)14 lb 14 oz4/24/1995Wilson Dam tailwater
Sauger5 lb 2 oz3/5/1972Wilson Dam tailwater
Sunfish, Bluegill (a)4 lb 12 oz4/9/1950Ketona Lake, Birmingham
Sunfish, Green1 lb 9 oz8/10/2005McLamore Pond, Walker County
Sunfish, Longear8 oz5/12/1990Yellow River
Sunfish, Redbreast1 lb 4 oz6/12/2010Choctawhatchee River
Sunfish, Redear (b)4 lb 4 oz5/5/1962Chattahoochee State Park
Trout, Rainbow9 lb 1 oz4/22/2006Mud Creek, Tannehill State Park
Walleye10 lb 14 oz6/24/1980Weiss Reservoir
Warmouth1 lb 12 oz4/25/1986Farm Pond
(a) World Record, Rod And Reel (b) Previous World Record, Rod and Reel (c) Previous World Record, Any Method

Saltwater fishing
Deep Sea Fishing In Gulf of Mexico

Alabama has excellent access to the offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico from Mobile and Perdio Bays. Inshore and estuarial fishing opportunities are extensive in both upper and lower Mobile Bay, but extend from Grand Bay in the Mississippi Sound on the West to the western shores of Peridio Bay near Orange Beach, Alabama.

The Official Saltwater Fish of Alabama is the Tarpon.[7]

State Saltwater Records[8]
SpeciesWeightDate
Amberjack, Greater127 lb12oz06/19/81
Angelfish, Blue2 lb3z04/29/01
Barracuda, Great52 lb4oz07/15/05
Barrelfish12 lb 0 Oz07/07/06
Bass, Longtail5 lb 10 Oz07/15/06
Bass, Striped55 lb 0 Oz06/22/76
Bigeye3 lb 2 Oz06/28/06
Bluefish17 lb 4 Oz06/05/04
Bonito, Atlantic5 lb 5 Oz12/31/94
Brotula, Bearded19 lb 8 Oz08/09/97
Catfish, Gafftopsail8 lb 13 Oz07/11/92
Catfish, Sea3 lb 1 oz5/2/2012
Chub, Bermuda10 lb 5 Oz6/17/2006
Chub, Yellow7 lb 4 Oz10/22/2002
Cobia117 lb 7 Oz4/18/1995
Creolefish0 lb 13 Oz1/28/2004
Crevalle Jack39 lb 4 Oz8/20/1994
Cubbyhu2 lb 3 oz7/13/2013
Croaker, Atlantic4 lb 0 Oz9/3/1994
Doctorfish1 lb 4 Oz9/13/2007
Dolphinfish, Common60 lb 0 Oz5/27/1989
Dolphinfish, Pompano4 lb 2 oz6/30/2012
Drum, Black61 lb 0 Oz4/20/2002
Drum, Red45 lb 9 oz7/9/2013
Escolar62 lb 7 Oz04/27/03
Filefish8 lb 8 Oz10/12/1991
Flounder, Southern13 lb 3 Oz10/15/1975
Grouper, Black106 lb 3.2 Oz8/11/2012
Grouper, Gag74 lb 8 Oz1963
Grouper, Red34 lb 10 Oz3/23/2002
Grouper, Scamp29 lb 10 Oz07/22/00
Grouper, Snowy52 lb 9 Oz07/07/06
Grouper, Warsaw226 lb 0 Oz07/18/88
Grouper, Yellowedge46 lb 9.2 oz (21.13 kg)6/30/2012
Hake, Southern3 lb 4.5 oz (1.49 kg)4/23/2006
Hind, Red2 lb 14 Oz07/17/87
Hind, Rock3 lb 7.2 oz7/17/2012
Hind, Speckled39 lb 13 oz5/28/2011
Jack, Almaco47 lb 8 Oz05/11/02
Jack, Horse-eye15 lb 5 oz7/10/2007
Kingfish, Gulf/Southern2 lb 15 Oz09/04/01
Ladyfish4 lb 8 Oz07/28/06
Little Tunny21 lb 0 Oz1956
Lookdown2 lb 2 Oz08/24/97
Mackerel, King69 lb 10 oz5/6/2012
Mackerel, Spanish8 lb 12 Oz10/19/93
Marlin, Blue845 lb 13 oz7/12/2013
Marlin, White98 lb 13 Oz05/24/97
Moonfish, Atlantic1 lb 0 Oz08/12/03
Mullet, Striped1 lb 2 Oz06/14/03
Pinfish3 lb 2 Oz05/15/01
Pompano, African39 lb 7 Oz09/09/89
Pompano, Florida (Tie)5 lb 8 Oz11/11/99 & 10/21/03
Porgy, Red7 lb 6 Oz06/16/91
Porgy, Whitebone5 lb 10 oz7/17/2011
Puffer, Smooth10 lb 3 oz4/2/2013
Rosefish, Blackbelly4 lb 13 Oz07/13/12
Runner, Rainbow19 lb 9 Oz09/10/06
Runner, Blue11 lb 2 Oz06/28/97
Sailfish, Atlantic81 lb 0 Oz1974
Seabass, Black3 lb 2 Oz07/31/00
Searobin, Blackwing1 lb (0.45 kg) 13 Oz04/24/05
Seatrout, Sand/Silver6 lb (2.7 kg) 11 Oz07/12/97
Seatrout, Spotted12 lb (5.4 kg) 4 Oz05/06/80
Shark, Atl.Sharpnose16 lb (7.3 kg) 3 Oz05/12/06
Shark, Bull336 lb (152 kg) 8 Oz8/3/2012
Shark, Lemon278 lb (126 kg) 8 Oz07/21/95
Shark, Mako737 lb (334 kg) 0 Oz08/20/78
Shark, Tiger988 lb (448 kg) 8 Oz06/24/90
Sharksucker4 lb (1.8 kg) 7 Oz05/12/04
Sheepshead12 lb (5.4 kg) 15 Oz11/20/01
Slimehead, Darwins4 lb 0 oz6/30/2012
Snapper, Cubera52 lb (24 kg) 0 Oz05/20/88
Snapper, Dog13 lb 4 Oz7/16/2004
Snapper, Gray15 lb 11 Oz7/3/2003
Snapper, Lane8 lb 1 oz7/15/2011
Snapper, Mutton20 lb 12 Oz6/25/2006
Snapper, Red44 lb 12 Oz6/1/2002
Snapper, Silk6 lb 3 Oz5/27/2006
Snapper, Vermilion7 lb 3 Oz6/6/1987
Snapper, Yellowtail6 lb 15 oz7/5/2011
Spadefish, Atlantic6 lb 12 Oz4/14/2003
Spearfish, Longbill53 lb 0 Oz5/29/1905
Squirrelfish1 lb 1 Oz8/4/2006
Stargazer, Southern6 lb 4.5 Oz4/13/2006
Stingray, Roughtail160 lb 0 Oz8/6/2000
Stingray, Southern125 lb 0 Oz8/20/1998
Swordfish448 lb 0 Oz9/16/2006
Tarpon203 lb 0 oz8/15/1992
Tilefish, Atlantic Golden5 lb 0 oz5/16/2012
Tilefish, Blue Line6 lb 12 oz5/29/2006
Tilefish, Great Northern29 lb 4 oz5/12/2007
Tilefish, Sand2 lb 1 oz7/24/2012
Triggerfish, Gray13 lb 8 oz5/31/1993
Triggerfish, Ocean7 lb 10 oz8/10/2013
Triggerfish, Queen7 lb 8 oz7/6/1999
Tripletail37 lb 5 oz1979
Tuna, Big Eye107 lb 1 oz8/2/2012
Tuna, Blackfin35 lb 2 oz7/1/2008
Tuna, Bluefin829 lb 6 oz6/3/2006
Tuna, Skipjack32 b 6 oz8/31/2013
Tuna, Yellowfin22 1b 7.2 oz6/3/2006
Wahoo123 lb 6 oz5/6/2006
Wreckfish68 lb 6 oz5/6/2006

See also

References
  • Bolton, Mike (1990). The Complete Alabama Fisherman. Birmingham, AL: Seacoast Books Publishers.
  • Boschung, Herbert T.; Richard L. Mayden (2004). Fishes of Alabama. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 1-58834-004-X.
  • Mettee, Maurice F.; O'Neil, Patrick E.; Pierson, J. Malcolm (1996). Fishes of Alabama and the Mobile Basin. Birmingham, AL: Oxmoor House. ISBN 0-8487-1485-7.

Notes
  1. Jackson, Harvey H. III (1995). Rivers of History - Life on the Coosa, Tallapoosa, Cahaba and Alabama. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: The University of Alabama Press. ISBN 0-8173-0771-0.
  2. Official Web site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
  3. About B.A.S.S.
  4. Official Freshwater Fish of Alabama Archived February 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Rivers of Alabama". Archived from the original on 2007-05-18. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  6. "Official Web site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources". Archived from the original on 2007-04-27. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  7. "Official Saltwater Fish of Alabama". Archived from the original on 2017-05-31. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  8. "Alabama Saltwater Records". Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
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