Fishing in Alabama
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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 saltwaters 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]
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[6]
| SPECIES | WEIGHT | DATE | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass, Largemouth | 16 lb 8 oz | 11/3/1987 | Mtn. View Lake, Shelby Co |
| Bass, Redeye (b) | 3 lb 2 oz | 3/8/2000 | Choccolocco Creek |
| Bass, Rock | 1 lb 6 oz | 5/6/1995 | Paint Rock River |
| Bass, Shoal (now protected in Alabama, release when captured) | 6 lb 11 oz | 2/25/1996 | Halawakee Creek |
| Bass, Smallmouth (c) | 10 lb 8 oz | 10/8/1950 | Wheeler Dam tailwater |
| Bass, Spotted (b) | 8 lb 15 oz | 3/18/1978 | Lewis Smith |
| Bass, Striped | 55 lb | 1955 | Tallapoosa River |
| Bass, Striped Hybrid | 25 lb 15 oz | 9/13/1996 | Sipsey Fork |
| Bass, White | 4 lb 9 oz | 2/14/1987 | Warrior River |
| Bass, Yellow (a) | 2 lb 8 oz | 4/12/2000 | Guntersville Reservoir, Jackson Co. |
| Bowfin | 18 lb 6 oz (8.3 kg) | 7/31/2005 | Lake Tuscaloosa |
| Buffalo | 57 lb | 4/13/1990 | Guntersville Reservoir |
| Bullhead | 3 lb 13 oz | 4/8/1984 | Private Pond, Montgomery. Co. |
| Carp, Common | 35 lb | 4/19/1980 | Bear Creek, Colbert County |
| Carp, Grass | 73 lb | 4/10/2012 | Guntersville Reservoir |
| Catfish, Blue (b) | 120 lb 4 oz | 3/9/2012 | Holt Reservoir |
| Catfish, Channel | 40 lb | 6/17/1967 | Inland Lake |
| Catfish, Flathead | 80 lb | 6/22/1986 | Alabama River, Selma |
| Catfish, White | 10 lb 5 oz | 4/3/1981 | Chambers Co. Public Lake |
| Crappie, Black (tie) | 4 lb 5 oz | 6/2/1997 | private pond in Jefferson Co. |
| Crappie, White | 4 lb 9 oz | 5/8/2000 | Lake Martin, Tallapoosa Co. |
| Drum, Freshwater (b) | 41 lb 8 oz | 7/24/1949 | Wilson Reservoir |
| Eel, American | 5 lb 8 oz | 5/11/1989 | Lake Shechi, Chilton Co. |
| Gar, Alligator | 151 lb 5 oz | 8/13/2004 | Tensaw River |
| Gar, Longnose | 32 lb 14oz | 4/18/1985 | Jordan Reservoir |
| Gar, Spotted | 8 lb 12 oz | 8/26/1987 | Cotaco Creek |
| Herring, Skipjack | 3 lb 4 oz | 5/2/2012 | Mulberry Fork |
| Muskellunge | 19 lb 8 oz | 12/31/1972 | Wilson Dam tailwater |
| Paddlefish | 52 lb 12 oz | 3/18/1982 | Wilson Dam tailwater |
| Perch, Yellow | 1 lb 15 oz | 2/26/2000 | Wheeler Reservoir, Limestone Co. |
| Pickerel, Chain | 6 lb 6 oz | 6/24/1976 | Dyas Creek, Baldwin County |
| Pickerel, Redfin | 0 lb 11 oz | 8/24/2010 | Armstrong Creek, Wash. Co. |
| Redhorse, Silver (a) | 14 lb 14 oz | 4/24/1995 | Wilson Dam tailwater |
| Sauger | 5 lb 2 oz | 3/5/1972 | Wilson Dam tailwater |
| Sunfish, Bluegill (a) | 4 lb 12 oz | 4/9/1950 | Ketona Lake, Birmingham |
| Sunfish, Green | 1 lb 9 oz | 8/10/2005 | McLamore Pond, Walker County |
| Sunfish, Longear | 8 oz | 5/12/1990 | Yellow River |
| Sunfish, Redbreast | 1 lb 4 oz | 6/12/2010 | Choctawhatchee River |
| Sunfish, Redear (b) | 4 lb 4 oz | 5/5/1962 | Chattahoochee State Park |
| Trout, Rainbow | 9 lb 1 oz | 4/22/2006 | Mud Creek, Tannehill State Park |
| Walleye | 10 lb 14 oz | 6/24/1980 | Weiss Reservoir |
| Warmouth | 1 lb 12 oz | 4/25/1986 | Farm Pond |
| (a) World Record, Rod And Reel (b) Previous World Record, Rod and Reel (c) Previous World Record, Any Method | |||
Saltwater Fishing
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]
| SPECIES | WEIGHT | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Amberjack, Greater | 127 lb12oz | 06/19/81 |
| Angelfish, Blue | 2 lb3z | 04/29/01 |
| Barracuda, Great | 52 lb4oz | 07/15/05 |
| Barrelfish | 12 lb 0 Oz | 07/07/06 |
| Bass, Longtail | 5 lb 10 Oz | 07/15/06 |
| Bass, Striped | 55 lb 0 Oz | 06/22/76 |
| Bigeye | 3 lb 2 Oz | 06/28/06 |
| Bluefish | 17 lb 4 Oz | 06/05/04 |
| Bonito, Atlantic | 5 lb 5 Oz | 12/31/94 |
| Brotula, Bearded | 19 lb 8 Oz | 08/09/97 |
| Catfish, Gafftopsail | 8 lb 13 Oz | 07/11/92 |
| Catfish, Sea | 3 lb 1 oz | 5/2/2012 |
| Chub, Bermuda | 10 lb 5 Oz | 6/17/2006 |
| Chub, Yellow | 7 lb 4 Oz | 10/22/2002 |
| Cobia | 117 lb 7 Oz | 4/18/1995 |
| Creolefish | 0 lb 13 Oz | 1/28/2004 |
| Crevalle Jack | 39 lb 4 Oz | 8/20/1994 |
| Cubbyhu | 2 lb 3 oz | 7/13/2013 |
| Croaker, Atlantic | 4 lb 0 Oz | 9/3/1994 |
| Doctorfish | 1 lb 4 Oz | 9/13/2007 |
| Dolphinfish, Common | 60 lb 0 Oz | 5/27/1989 |
| Dolphinfish, Pompano | 4 lb 2 oz | 6/30/2012 |
| Drum, Black | 61 lb 0 Oz | 4/20/2002 |
| Drum, Red | 45 lb 9 oz | 7/9/2013 |
| Escolar | 62 lb 7 Oz | 04/27/03 |
| Filefish | 8 lb 8 Oz | 10/12/1991 |
| Flounder, Southern | 13 lb 3 Oz | 10/15/1975 |
| Grouper, Black | 106 lb 3.2 Oz | 8/11/2012 |
| Grouper, Gag | 74 lb 8 Oz | 1963 |
| Grouper, Red | 34 lb 10 Oz | 3/23/2002 |
| Grouper, Scamp | 29 lb 10 Oz | 07/22/00 |
| Grouper, Snowy | 52 lb 9 Oz | 07/07/06 |
| Grouper, Warsaw | 226 lb 0 Oz | 07/18/88 |
| Grouper, Yellowedge | 46 lb 9.2 oz (21.13 kg) | 6/30/2012 |
| Hake, Southern | 3 lb 4.5 oz (1.49 kg) | 4/23/2006 |
| Hind, Red | 2 lb 14 Oz | 07/17/87 |
| Hind, Rock | 3 lb 7.2 oz | 7/17/2012 |
| Hind, Speckled | 39 lb 13 oz | 5/28/2011 |
| Jack, Almaco | 47 lb 8 Oz | 05/11/02 |
| Jack, Horse-eye | 15 lb 5 oz | 7/10/2007 |
| Kingfish, Gulf/Southern | 2 lb 15 Oz | 09/04/01 |
| Ladyfish | 4 lb 8 Oz | 07/28/06 |
| Little Tunny | 21 lb 0 Oz | 1956 |
| Lookdown | 2 lb 2 Oz | 08/24/97 |
| Mackerel, King | 69 lb 10 oz | 5/6/2012 |
| Mackerel, Spanish | 8 lb 12 Oz | 10/19/93 |
| Marlin, Blue | 845 lb 13 oz | 7/12/2013 |
| Marlin, White | 98 lb 13 Oz | 05/24/97 |
| Moonfish, Atlantic | 1 lb 0 Oz | 08/12/03 |
| Mullet, Striped | 1 lb 2 Oz | 06/14/03 |
| Pinfish | 3 lb 2 Oz | 05/15/01 |
| Pompano, African | 39 lb 7 Oz | 09/09/89 |
| Pompano, Florida (Tie) | 5 lb 8 Oz | 11/11/99 & 10/21/03 |
| Porgy, Red | 7 lb 6 Oz | 06/16/91 |
| Porgy, Whitebone | 5 lb 10 oz | 7/17/2011 |
| Puffer, Smooth | 10 lb 3 oz | 4/2/2013 |
| Rosefish, Blackbelly | 4 lb 13 Oz | 07/13/12 |
| Runner, Rainbow | 19 lb 9 Oz | 09/10/06 |
| Runner, Blue | 11 lb 2 Oz | 06/28/97 |
| Sailfish, Atlantic | 81 lb 0 Oz | 1974 |
| Seabass, Black | 3 lb 2 Oz | 07/31/00 |
| Searobin, Blackwing | 1 lb (0.45 kg) 13 Oz | 04/24/05 |
| Seatrout, Sand/Silver | 6 lb (2.7 kg) 11 Oz | 07/12/97 |
| Seatrout, Spotted | 12 lb (5.4 kg) 4 Oz | 05/06/80 |
| Shark, Atl.Sharpnose | 16 lb (7.3 kg) 3 Oz | 05/12/06 |
| Shark, Bull | 336 lb (152 kg) 8 Oz | 8/3/2012 |
| Shark, Lemon | 278 lb (126 kg) 8 Oz | 07/21/95 |
| Shark, Mako | 737 lb (334 kg) 0 Oz | 08/20/78 |
| Shark, Tiger | 988 lb (448 kg) 8 Oz | 06/24/90 |
| Sharksucker | 4 lb (1.8 kg) 7 Oz | 05/12/04 |
| Sheepshead | 12 lb (5.4 kg) 15 Oz | 11/20/01 |
| Slimehead, Darwins | 4 lb 0 oz | 6/30/2012 |
| Snapper, Cubera | 52 lb (24 kg) 0 Oz | 05/20/88 |
| Snapper, Dog | 13 lb 4 Oz | 7/16/2004 |
| Snapper, Gray | 15 lb 11 Oz | 7/3/2003 |
| Snapper, Lane | 8 lb 1 oz | 7/15/2011 |
| Snapper, Mutton | 20 lb 12 Oz | 6/25/2006 |
| Snapper, Red | 44 lb 12 Oz | 6/1/2002 |
| Snapper, Silk | 6 lb 3 Oz | 5/27/2006 |
| Snapper, Vermilion | 7 lb 3 Oz | 6/6/1987 |
| Snapper, Yellowtail | 6 lb 15 oz | 7/5/2011 |
| Spadefish, Atlantic | 6 lb 12 Oz | 4/14/2003 |
| Spearfish, Longbill | 53 lb 0 Oz | 5/29/1905 |
| Squirrelfish | 1 lb 1 Oz | 8/4/2006 |
| Stargazer, Southern | 6 lb 4.5 Oz | 4/13/2006 |
| Stingray, Roughtail | 160 lb 0 Oz | 8/6/2000 |
| Stingray, Southern | 125 lb 0 Oz | 8/20/1998 |
| Swordfish | 448 lb 0 Oz | 9/16/2006 |
| Tarpon | 203 lb 0 oz | 8/15/1192 |
| Tilefish, Atlantic Golden | 5 lb 0 oz | 5/16/2012 |
| Tilefish, Blue Line | 6 lb 12 oz | 5/29/2006 |
| Tilefish, Great Northern | 29 lb 4 oz | 5/12/2007 |
| Tilefish, Sand | 2 lb 1 oz | 7/24/2012 |
| Triggerfish, Gray | 13 lb 8 oz | 5/31/1993 |
| Triggerfish, Ocean | 7 lb 10 oz | 8/10/2013 |
| Triggerfish, Queen | 7 lb 8 oz | 7/6/1999 |
| Tripletail | 37 lb 5 oz | 1979 |
| Tuna, Big Eye | 107 lb 1 oz | 8/2/2012 |
| Tuna, Blackfin | 35 lb 2 oz | 7/1/2008 |
| Tuna, Bluefin | 829 lb 6 oz | 6/3/2006 |
| Tuna, Skipjack | 32 b 6 oz | 8/31/2013 |
| Tuna, Yellowfin | 22 1b 7.2 oz | 6/3/2006 |
| Wahoo | 123 lb 6 oz | 5/6/2006 |
| Wreckfish | 68 lb 6 oz | 5/6/2006 |
See also
- List of rivers in Alabama
- List of lakes in Alabama
- US Army Corps of Engineers - Lakes Gateway - Alabama
- Tennessee Valley Authority - Reservoir Sport Fishing
- Alabama Power Lake Recreation Information
- Bear Creek Lakes Recreation Area
- Alabama River Fishing
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
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Official Web site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- ^ About B.A.S.S.
- ^ Official Freshwater Fish of Alabama
- ^ Rivers of Alabama
- ^ Official Web site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- ^ Official Saltwater Fish of Alabama
- ^ Alabama Saltwater Records
