Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations - Gulf States Marine ...

vessel will be docked or stored, shall not possess
or attempt to possess or attempt to use a trawl,
shall make a vessel immediately available for
inspection. Such vessel shall have the words
“Live Bait – For Sale” in letters at least six (6)
inches high on both sides of the vessel.
Season
No closed season, but areas may be closed by
regulation. Prohibited in permanently closed
areas. Designated exclusive bait areas are open
to live bait dealers year around from 4:00 a.m.
until 10:00 p.m.
Gear
One trawl per boat. Trawl shall not exceed fifty
feet (50’) as measured across main top line
except when in an area temporarily closed to
commercial shrimping or in a designated live
bait area the trawl shall not exceed sixteen feet
(16’). No mesh restrictions. Boats shall display
the words “LIVE BAIT” in letters no smaller
than six inches (6”) high on each side of the boat
and shall have a tank with a spray system
operated by a pump or commercial fish aerator
or a live well with forced water exchange.
Trucks must have a wooden or fabricated
transport tank with water recirculation or
commercial fish aerator and shall display the
words “LIVE BAIT” no smaller than six inches
(6”) high on each side of the truck. Boats and
Trucks licensed under a Vessel Place of
Business Excluding Shrimp shall not possess or
transport live or dead shrimp. These boats and
trucks shall meet the same requirements as listed
above except the words in six (6) inch high
letters on each side of the boat or truck shall be
“Live Bait – No Shrimp”
Bull minnow traps in possession onboard a boat
on the waters of the state of Alabama or in use
by a licensed live bait dealer shall be marked
with the Alabama boat registration number.
Legal Size
No restrictions.
Pounds Allowed
Possession of no more than two standard shrimp
baskets of shrimp (live or dead) per boat or
truck. Possession of no more than four standard
shrimp baskets of shrimp (live or dead) per place
of business.
Restrictions
Drags shall not exceed 20 consecutive minutes
before retrieving trawl and sorting boat shrimp
into the live tank. Shrimp can be sold alive or
dead. Dead shrimp must have heads attached
and be packaged and sold in lots no greater than
five pounds.
SHELLFISH – OYSTERS
License Requirements
All licenses expire September 30 of each year.
Persons are allowed to take up to 100 oysters for
personal consumption without a Catcher’s
License.
Commercial Oyster Catcher - $26.00
(Required by all persons, must be in
possession, taking oysters for commercial
purposes.)
Oyster Dredge - $26.00
(Required before an oyster dredge can be
used along with evidence that a $1,000.00
bond has been secured.)
Seasons
The Alabama Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources (ADCNR) and the Alabama
Department of Public Health are authorized to
open and close areas during all or parts of the
year. Taking oysters from a closed area for any
reason is a misdemeanor. Taking oysters from
open areas before or after time as set by
regulation is prohibited. Transporting oysters at
night through closed areas is prohibited.
Gear
Oysters may be taken from public reefs and
water bottoms by hand or oyster tongs. Oyster
dredges may be used by owners or lessees of
private oyster reefs or in areas designated by the
Director only after purchasing an oyster dredge
license and receiving written authorization from
the ADCNR.
Size Limits
Oysters taken for either commercial or personal
consumption must be at least three inches (3”) in
length (5% undersize tolerance). Oysters must
be culled on the reef where they are taken.
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