Photo : Forest Service - Northern Region, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Alabama

State, United States. Authority : Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division.
2025 rules, checked on 23 September 2026.

Buy my licence2025 season calendarWhere to fish
Licence
US$75.42Non-Resident Freshwater Fishing (Mississippi residents)
Next opening
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Minimum sizes
35.6 cmLargemouth bass

Useful gear for this area

Chosen from the species and size limits regulated in this area.

  • T-shaped digital hanging scale with LCD screen and strapResponsible gear
    Digital Hanging Scale 50 kg

    To check the minimum size: Largemouth bass 35.6 cm here.

    €30.90£16.90Not shipped to the United States
  • 8 cm two-tone soft shads with T-shaped tails
    Soft Paddle-Tail Shads 8 cm, Pack of 30

    For : european perch, zander, walleye · soft plastic lure fishing

    €25.90£12.90Not shipped to the United States
  • Black lure box worn on a waist strap
    Waist-Mounted Lure Box

    For : brown trout, rainbow trout, european perch · fly fishing (dry fly and nymph)

    €33.90£16.90Not shipped to the United States

Where to fish

© OpenStreetMap

2025 season calendar

Not published by the authority: check with Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division.

Minimum sizes

SpeciesMinimum size0–60 cm
Sauger4
statewide		38.1 cm
Crappie4
public waters, with listed exceptions		22.9 cm
Largemouth bass4
Walter F. George (Eufaula) and West Point reservoirs only; no statewide minimum size		35.6 cm

To check the minimum size: Largemouth bass 35.6 cm here. Digital Hanging Scale 50 kg €30.90£16.90Not shipped to the United States

Bag limits

SpeciesFish you may keep
Black bass (combined)4
no more than 5 may be smallmouth bass		10 per day
Walleye4
closed (no take) in several listed waters (Sweetwater Lake, White Plains Lake, Lake Mitchell and tributaries, Mulberry/Sipsey Fork…)		2 per day
Sauger4
15 in minimum		5 per day
Rainbow trout4
statewide		5 per day
Crappie4
9 in minimum		30 per day

Licence

LicenceDurationPrice
Resident Freshwater Fishing (annual)1annual (expires Aug 31)US$17
Resident Freshwater Fishing1annualUS$17
Resident Public Fishing Lakes Daily (state-owned county PFLs only)11-dayUS$7.65
Optional Senior Lifetime (residents 65+)1lifetimeUS$35
Non-Resident Freshwater Fishing (residents of most states, except LA and MS)2annualUS$66.25
Non-Resident Freshwater Fishing (Louisiana residents)2annualUS$70.55
Non-Resident Freshwater Fishing (Mississippi residents)2annualUS$75.42
Non-Resident Freshwater 7-Day Trip27-dayUS$37
Non-Resident Family 3-Day Trip (up to 4 immediate family)23-dayUS$37
Non-Resident Public Fishing Lakes Daily21-dayUS$9

Buy the licence on myoutdooralabama.com

Ages and exemptions3
Residents under 16 and residents 65 and over are exempt from the freshwater fishing license. Non-residents 16+ need a license; no exemption for non-residents over 65. Residents may also fish from the bank in their county of residence with ordinary hook and line without a license.

Good to know

License year Sept 1 – Aug 31. Black bass 10/day combined (max 5 smallmouth), no statewide bass size limit but slot/minimums on Harris (13-16 in protected), Lewis Smith (13-15 in protected), Eufaula and West Point (14 in min). Walleye 2/day, closed in several waters. Northern pike not listed in Alabama regulations.

What the authority does not publish

Points we could not find in the official texts: check with the authority.

  • License pages show no explicit year: prices noted as current license year 2026-27 (valid Sept 1 – Aug 31) at consultation date
  • No resident trip/1-day general freshwater license found (only Public Fishing Lakes daily)
  • No non-resident 1-day general freshwater license (7-day trip is the shortest)
  • Creel/size page references the 2025-2026 digest; 2026-27 digest not confirmed
  • No trout season stated on the official creel page (no closed season found; not asserted as year-round)
  • Northern pike: no regulation listed

Rules change every year and can be amended during the season. Before fishing, check the text in force with the authority listed.

Where to fish

Fishing places listed in the official sources.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a fishing licence in Alabama in 2025?

The “Non-Resident Freshwater Fishing (Mississippi residents)” licence costs US$75.42 (annual). Other options and prices are in the table above, with the official source.

What is the minimum size for largemouth bass in Alabama?

Largemouth bass: 35.6 cm. Any smaller fish must be released immediately.

Official sources

  1. Freshwater Fishing Recreational Licenses – Resident (accessed on 23 September 2026)
  2. Freshwater Fishing Recreational Licenses – Non-Resident (accessed on 23 September 2026)
  3. Who is Exempt from Purchasing Recreational Licenses? (accessed on 23 September 2026)
  4. Freshwater Fishing Creel and Size Limits (accessed on 23 September 2026)
  5. License Information (accessed on 23 September 2026)

Last checked : 23 September 2026.

Other areas in the United States

Fishing regulations in the United States