Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations - Gulf States Marine ...

waters of Mississippi Sound and the Gulf of
Mexico as described: “Mississippi Sound and
the Gulf of Mexico west of a line extending
from the southernmost tip of Point aux Pines to
Bayou La Batre Channel Marker 17, then to the
southernmost point of the Isle aux Herbes
(Coffee Island), thence eastward to the
easternmost point of Marsh Island, then
southward to Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Range
Beacon “C,” thence southward into the Gulf of
Mexico for a distance of three (3) miles, except
those waters lying within a radius of one (1)
mile from the western point of Dauphin Island.”
Gill nets must be marked every 100’ with a
color-contrasting float and every 300’ with the
fisherman’s permit number. Recreational nets
must be marked with the licensee’s name and
license number. The allowable depth
commercial gill nets, trammel nets, and other
entangling nets may vary by area. The
minimum mesh size in the inside waters is 1½”
(knot to knot).
Except as otherwise noted, gill nets, trammel
nets, and other entangling nets used to catch any
fish in Gulf waters in Alabama’s territorial
jurisdiction must have a minimum mesh size of
1 1/2 ” bar (knot to knot). A minimum mesh size
of 2” bar is required for such nets used to take
mullet in the Gulf & during the period from
October 24 thru December 31 of each year for
all Alabama coastal waters under the jurisdiction
of the MRD, and only strike nets may be used in
certain waters of Bon Secour Bay during this
period. Any person using a 2” or larger bar
mesh during the period October 24 through
December 31 of each year must have a roe
mullet permit. The minimum mesh for nets used
in these excepted areas shall be generally the
same as previously described by season for other
coastal waters.
The use of purse seines to catch mullet is
prohibited. Commercial and recreational gill net
fishermen may use only one net at any time;
however, commercial fishermen may possess
more than one such net. No hook and line
device may contain more than five (5) hooks
when used in Alabama waters under the
jurisdiction of the MRD except from January 1
through April 30, when trotlines may be used to
take legal species other than saltwater game fish
east of Mobile Ship Channel and north of the
line from MS#78 to Blakely R. Ch. #2 and due
east to the shoreline. These trotlines cannot
exceed 300’ and 50 hooks.
Gill nets, trammel nets, seines, purse seines, and
other entangling nets are prohibited in any
marked navigational channel, Theodore
Industrial Canal, Little Lagoon Pass, or any
man-made canal; within 300’ of any man-made
canal or the mouth of any river, stream, bayou,
or creek; and within 300’ of any pier, marina,
dock, boat launching ramp, or certain “relic”
piers. Recreational gill nets may not be used
beyond 300’ of the shoreline. It is unlawful to
use any seine or net in any manner so as to block
ingress or egress from any of the aforementioned
structures. It is illegal to use recreational gill
nets in Gulf waters and Pelican Bay.
It shall be unlawful to use or possess a gill net,
trammel net or other entangling net or seine in
the Gulf of Mexico, including Pelican Bay, from
March 15 through the day after Labor Day each
year from 12:00 noon each Friday through 7:00
p.m. each Sunday.
Year round, gill nets, trammel nets, seines, haul
seines, and other entangling nets are prohibited
in Gulf waters within ¼ mile of shore, except
(and subject to other provisions) waters east of
longitude 87º47’826”(Old Little Lagoon Pass)
which will be open from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Monday through Thursday, 12:00 midnight. to
12:00 noon on Friday and from 7:00 pm. to
from March 15 through May 12:00 midnight on
Sunday 15. From October 2 through December
31, the waters east of Old Little Lagoon Pass to
the Florida line are open 24 hours a day. From
the day after Labor Day through March 14, Gulf
waters within ¼ mile of shore will be open to
netting west of Old Little Lagoon Pass in Mobile
and Baldwin Counties, , except from March 15
through Labor Day in waters west of Old Little
Lagoon Pass. in Mobile and Baldwin Counties,
waters shall be open from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Monday through Thursday, 12:00 midnight to
12:00 noon on Friday and from 7:00 pm. to
12:00 midnight on Sunday. West of Old Little
Lagoon Pass to the last house on Dauphin
9