Spearfishing Laws in Alabama: What You Need to Know Before You Dive
June 30, 2026
Alabama gives spearfishers access to some genuinely productive water — from the Gulf Coast reefs off Gulf Shores and Orange Beach to the rivers and reservoirs that cut across the northern half of the state. But the sport comes with a clear legal framework, and the rules differ sharply depending on whether you’re diving in salt or fresh water.
Before you load a speargun or pull on a wetsuit, you need to understand what Alabama law allows, which species are off-limits, what licenses you must carry, and where you are simply not allowed to dive. This guide covers all of it using the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) regulations in effect as of the 2025–2026 regulation cycle.
Pro Tip: Regulations change. Always verify current rules directly at Outdoor Alabama or by calling the Marine Resources Division at 251-861-2882 before any trip.
Is Spearfishing Legal in Alabama?
Yes — spearfishing is legal in Alabama, but it comes with a hard requirement that many divers overlook. The spearing of nongame or commercial fish solely for the purpose of sport in all waters of the state, both fresh and salt, is legal, provided that the person engaged in the act of spearing is completely submerged and possesses the appropriate sport fishing and spearfishing licenses.
That “completely submerged” requirement is not a technicality — it is the law. You cannot legally spear fish while standing in the shallows, floating at the surface, or leaning over the side of a boat. You must be fully underwater at the moment of the shot.
The law also restricts spearfishing to nongame and commercial fish. The following are named and designated as game fish in Alabama: rainbow trout, all members of the sunfish family including largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, shoal, and redeye bass species; those fish commonly referred to as bream; black and white crappie; all members of the temperate bass family; and others. None of these game fish may be taken by spear under any circumstances.
If you want to compare how neighboring states handle the same activity, see how spearfishing laws in Florida and spearfishing laws in Texas differ from Alabama’s approach.
Freshwater vs. Saltwater Spearfishing Rules in Alabama
Alabama divides its fishing jurisdiction between two agencies: the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) governs inland waters, and the Marine Resources Division (MRD) governs coastal and saltwater areas. Each has its own licensing structure and enforcement priorities, so the rules you follow depend entirely on where you are diving.
Freshwater Spearfishing
In freshwater, spearfishing is permitted for nongame and commercial fish species. Alabama’s extensive river systems — including the Tennessee, Coosa, Tombigbee, and Alabama rivers — hold species like carp, buffalo, gar, and drum that are legal spearfishing targets. Game fish like bass, crappie, and bream remain off-limits by spear in all freshwater bodies.
Commercial or nongame fish may be legally taken by gigs or hand grabbling by persons possessing a valid sport fishing license. It is illegal to use any treble hook or any barbed hook for gigging or grabbling, and only a single barbless hook may be used. This hook rule applies to gigging methods; for spearfishing, the spear itself is the mechanism, but the broader principle of no barbed hooks for nongame fish applies to associated gear.
Saltwater Spearfishing
Alabama’s saltwater jurisdiction runs along the Gulf Coast and includes Mobile Bay, the Mississippi Sound, and the waters around Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. A saltwater fishing license is also required if using a cast net, gig, bow, crab trap, or spearfishing. The MRD enforces size limits, bag limits, and species protections that are stricter in saltwater than in freshwater, partly because Gulf Coast species face more fishing pressure.
Beginning at the Mississippi state line, a saltwater fishing license is required in those waters south of a meandering line following U.S. Highway 90 eastwardly to its junction with State Highway 188; State Highway 188 eastwardly — this boundary defines where MRD rules take over from WFF rules. If you are diving in any water south of that line, saltwater regulations apply.
Key Insight: Farm ponds and freshwater lakes located within the MRD geographic boundary still fall under WFF rules for licensing and limits. Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries laws, regulations, and licensing requirements apply to all freshwater lakes (farm ponds, etc.) within Marine Resources Division jurisdiction.
License and Permit Requirements for Spearfishing in Alabama
Alabama requires a separate spearfishing license on top of your standard fishing license — this is not optional and applies to both residents and nonresidents. Under Section 9-11-170 of the Code of Alabama, the spearing of commercial or nongame fish solely for the purpose of sport in all waters of the state, both fresh and salt, is permitted under specific conditions. Each person engaged in the spearing of commercial or nongame fish shall, in addition to all other Alabama fishing licenses, have a commercial or nongame spearfishing license.
The commercial or nongame spearfishing license must be kept in the boat or other base of operations while you are in the water. You do not need to physically carry it on your person underwater, but it must be accessible and present at your point of entry.
A spearfishing trip license is valid for 7 consecutive days. This license is issued by the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, Marine Resources Division, and online. You can also pick one up at most sporting goods and bait-and-tackle shops across the state.
Saltwater-Specific Requirements
A saltwater fishing license is required for all persons fishing or possessing fish in saltwater areas of Alabama. Residents and non-residents under the age of 16 are exempt. Residents age 65 and over are exempt.
If you plan to spearfish for Gulf reef fish species — which include red snapper, grouper, and others listed under Rule 220-3-.46 — you also need a Reef Fish Endorsement. The Reef Fish Endorsement is required for any person possessing, taking, or attempting to take any gulf reef fish species listed in Rule 220-3-.46. This endorsement is required for all resident and non-resident anglers 16 years of age and older, and includes disabled, veterans appreciation, 65 and older, and lifetime license holders.
For more context on how Alabama’s multi-license structure compares to other states, check out spearfishing laws in Virginia and spearfishing laws in Ohio.
Legal Species and Prohibited Species for Spearfishing in Alabama
Alabama divides its fish into game fish and nongame/commercial fish. Only nongame and commercial fish are open to spearfishing. Game fish — bass, crappie, bream, trout, and similar species — are fully protected from spears in all waters of the state.
Legal Saltwater Targets
In saltwater, common legal spearfishing targets include flounder, sheepshead, mullet, Spanish mackerel, amberjack, and various reef fish species where bag and size limits permit. Rays and skates may also be taken, but when using bow, spear, or gig, full retention is required, and it is unlawful to remove the tail from any released skate or ray. This means if you spear a ray, you must keep it — you cannot release it after removing the tail.
Fully Prohibited Species
Several species are completely off-limits for recreational and commercial harvest in Alabama waters, including by spear. Recreational and commercial harvest of the following species is prohibited: Atlantic angel shark, Atlantic manta, basking shark, bigeye sand tiger shark, bigeye sixgill shark, bigeye thresher shark, bignose shark, Caribbean reef shark, Caribbean sharpnose shark, dusky shark, Galapagos shark, largetooth sawfish, longfin mako shark, narrowtooth shark, night shark, sand tiger shark, smalltooth sawfish, smalltail shark, sevengill shark, sixgill shark, spotted eagle ray, whale shark, white shark, Nassau grouper, and goliath grouper.
Shortfin mako sharks: possession of shortfin mako sharks is now prohibited in Alabama waters as of the 2025 regulation updates. If you encounter any of these species while diving, you must leave them alone regardless of circumstances.
Important Note: Goliath grouper and Nassau grouper are two of the most common species encountered by Gulf Coast divers on reef structures. Both are fully protected — targeting or harassing either species is a violation, even if you do not spear one.
Gear Restrictions for Spearfishing in Alabama
Alabama law is specific about what equipment is and is not legal for spearfishing. The core rule is that you must be completely submerged — no surface shooting, no shooting from a boat or pier, and no shooting from the bank. Beyond that, the gear rules break down by method.
| Gear Type | Legal Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Speargun (pneumatic or band-powered) | Legal | Diver must be fully submerged |
| Pole spear / Hawaiian sling | Legal | Diver must be fully submerged |
| Gig (freshwater nongame fish) | Legal with sport fishing license | Single barbless hook only; no treble hooks |
| Bowfishing | Legal (separate from spearfishing) | Barbed arrows attached by line; sport fishing license required |
| Spearing from boat or pier | Illegal | Violates the “completely submerged” requirement |
| Scuba-assisted spearfishing | Not addressed by state rule; check MRD | Confirm with MRD before diving with tanks |
Bowfishing with any longbow, recurve bow, compound bow, or crossbow using barbed arrows attached by line to the bow, float, vessel, or shooter is legal for the taking of commercial or nongame fish. A sport fishing license is required. Note that bowfishing is a distinct activity from spearfishing and does not require the diver to be submerged — but it also requires its own compliance with the nongame-fish-only rule.
Hook rules also apply to associated gear: it is illegal to use any treble hook or any barbed hook for gigging or grabbling, and only a single barbless hook may be used.
Off-Limits Areas and No-Spearfishing Zones in Alabama
Even where spearfishing is generally legal, certain locations are closed or restricted. Knowing these boundaries before you enter the water is essential — enforcement officers patrol both freshwater and coastal areas.
Freshwater Restricted Areas
It is unlawful to take fish by snagging on the Chattahoochee River or its impoundments, the Tennessee River or its impoundments, and state-owned public fishing lakes. While this rule specifically addresses snagging, it reflects the broader principle that certain high-pressure public waters carry additional restrictions. Always check WFF rules for the specific body of water you plan to dive.
It is illegal to fish in public waters on or from posted private land without the owner’s permission. It is illegal to fish in private waters without permission from the owners. This applies to spearfishing just as it does to rod-and-reel fishing — trespassing to access water is a separate legal violation on top of any fishing violation.
Saltwater Restricted Areas
Alabama’s Marine Resources Division maintains several area-specific closures. Alabama waters east of Little Lagoon Pass (87° 44.4′ W) are closed to certain commercial shark fishing operations, and similar area-specific rules apply to other gear types and species. When federal waters adjacent to Alabama close for reef fish, state waters close as well. When adjoining federal waters are closed, state waters are also closed to the taking of gulf reef fish, king mackerel, and sharks.
Pier and beach areas carry additional restrictions. It is unlawful within three hundred feet of the shoreline, or on a public pier, or on a private pier where an unsafe condition is created, on or in the waters of Alabama under the jurisdiction of the Marine Resources Division, to fish for or target sharks of any species by chumming or bloodbaiting. Spearing sharks near crowded beach areas would similarly create unsafe conditions and is inadvisable regardless of species status.
Pro Tip: Before diving near any artificial reef, offshore platform, or state-designated reef structure in Gulf waters, confirm whether that area is subject to special harvest restrictions. Some structures are protected as fish havens rather than harvest zones.
Bag Limits and Size Limits for Spearfishing in Alabama
Alabama’s bag and size limits for spearfishing mirror those that apply to rod-and-reel anglers for the same species — the method of take does not give you a different quota. The limits below reflect the 2025 regulation updates published by the ADCNR Marine Resources Division.
| Species | Bag Limit (per person/day) | Minimum Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Drum | 3 | 16 inches (slot: 16–26 in.) | Slot limit protects spawning fish |
| Sheepshead | 8 | — | Reduced from 10 as of 2025 |
| Lane Snapper | — | 10 inches | Size increased to align with federal rules |
| Flounder | 10 (recreational) | — | Closed November 1–30 each year |
| Spotted Seatrout | 6 | — | One fish may exceed maximum size |
| Mixed Reef Fish (aggregate) | 20 (aggregate) | Varies by species | Applies to species with no individual bag limit |
| Goliath Grouper | 0 — Prohibited | N/A | Fully protected; no harvest allowed |
| Nassau Grouper | 0 — Prohibited | N/A | Fully protected; no harvest allowed |
Red drum now carries a slot limit of 16–26 inches, with a bag limit of 3 fish per person. This change aims to protect the spawning population. Sheepshead bag limit was reduced from 10 fish to 8 due to increased fishing pressure.
Possessing, taking, or attempting to take flounder harvested in the waters of Alabama for commercial or recreational purposes from November 1 through November 30 of each year is prohibited. If you plan a fall dive trip along the coast, check the calendar — November flounder dives are a violation regardless of method.
There is a 20-fish aggregate bag limit for reef fish species for which there is no other individual bag limit. This catch-all limit prevents divers from stacking up large numbers of small reef fish that lack their own specific quota.
For freshwater spearfishing, game fish bag limits are irrelevant because you cannot spear game fish at all. Nongame and commercial species in freshwater generally do not carry bag limits, but confirm with WFF for any water-specific rules before you dive. You can also review how neighboring states handle limits — see spearfishing laws in Michigan and spearfishing laws in Indiana for comparison.
Penalties for Spearfishing Violations in Alabama
Alabama treats spearfishing violations as criminal offenses, not just civil infractions. The specific penalty depends on the nature of the violation, but the consequences can include fines, license revocation, and in more serious cases, misdemeanor convictions.
License Violations
Fishing — including spearfishing — without the required license carries set fines under Alabama’s judicial penalty schedule. Fishing without a saltwater license as a resident carries a fine of $50, while fishing without a saltwater license as a nonresident carries a fine of $100. These are baseline fines for the license offense alone; additional violations (wrong species, wrong gear, closed area) stack on top.
Any person who violates the provisions of the fishing license section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $25.00 and no more than $100.00. Borrowing or altering a license is treated more seriously: a fishing license is not transferable, and it is unlawful to borrow, lend, or alter any fishing license. A violation of this subsection constitutes a Class B misdemeanor punishable as provided by law.
Violations Under the Spearfishing Article
Alabama’s spearfishing regulations are promulgated under the authority of Title 9 of the Code of Alabama 1975. Any person violating or attempting to violate any of these regulations shall, upon conviction, be subject to the penalty or penalties as provided for by the Code of Alabama, 1975, Section 9-1-4, or as otherwise specifically provided for by the laws of the State of Alabama.
The Code of Alabama’s Article 5 on spearfishing includes a dedicated penalty section. Section 9-11-175 addresses possession of a spear as evidence of spearfishing, and Section 9-11-176 sets out the penalty for violations. Carrying a speargun in waters where you lack the proper license can itself be treated as evidence of illegal spearfishing activity.
Other Consequences
It is a violation of Alabama law for any person to transport more than one day’s creel limit of any species of fish beyond the boundaries of this state. If you spear fish in Alabama and drive home to another state with more than a day’s limit in your cooler, you have committed an additional violation. Conservation officers can and do check coolers at boat ramps and weigh stations near state lines.
It is unlawful to fillet a fish or remove heads while fishing or to possess fillets of fish while on public waters, except when fish are being prepared for immediate cooking and consumption; provided, however, that the fish may be drawn or gutted with heads left intact. Keep your catch whole until you are off the water.
Important Note: Alabama’s ADCNR fine schedule is updated periodically. Fines listed here reflect the schedule published by the Alabama Judicial System. Always check current ADCNR guidance for the most accurate penalty information before your trip.
Understanding Alabama’s outdoor regulations goes beyond spearfishing. If you spend time outdoors in the state, you may also want to review bow hunting laws in Alabama or check how other animal-related rules work, such as dog leash laws in Alabama. For divers exploring other states, see how the rules compare with spearfishing laws in New Jersey and spearfishing laws in Pennsylvania.
Alabama offers real opportunity for spearfishers willing to follow the rules — Gulf reef structures, coastal flats, and inland rivers all hold legal targets. The state’s framework is straightforward once you understand the submerged-diver requirement, the nongame-only restriction, and the dual-license structure for saltwater diving. Get your licenses squared away before you enter the water, know your species, and check for any area closures that apply to your dive site. The Outdoor Alabama website and the eRegulations Alabama fishing page are the two most reliable places to confirm current rules before any trip.