Fishing in Alabama

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A typical bait shop, found throughout the state near fishable waters UbiquitousBaitShop.jpg
A typical bait shop, found throughout the state near fishable waters

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 saltwater 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.

Contents

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

Below is a table of state freshwater fishing records. [6]

SpeciesWeightDateLocation
Bass, Largemouth 16 lb 8 oz11/3/1987Mtn. View Lake, Shelby Co
Bass, Redeye (b)3 lb 2 oz3/8/2000 Choccolocco Creek
Bass, Rock 1 lb 6 oz5/6/1995 Paint Rock River
Bass, Shoal (now protected in Alabama, release when captured)6 lb 11 oz2/25/1996Halawakee Creek
Bass, Smallmouth (c)10 lb 8 oz10/8/1950 Wheeler Dam tailwater
Bass, Spotted (b)8 lb 15 oz3/18/1978 Lewis Smith
Bass, Striped 55 lb1955 Tallapoosa River
Bass, Striped Hybrid 25 lb 15 oz9/13/1996 Sipsey Fork
Bass, White 4 lb 9 oz2/14/1987 Warrior River
Bass, Yellow (a)2 lb 8 oz4/12/2000 Guntersville Reservoir, Jackson Co.
Bowfin 18 lb 6 oz (8.3 kg)7/31/2005Lake Tuscaloosa
Buffalo 57 lb4/13/1990Guntersville Reservoir
Bullhead 3 lb 13 oz4/8/1984Private Pond, Montgomery. Co.
Carp, Common 35 lb4/19/1980 Bear Creek, Colbert County
Carp, Grass 73 lb4/10/2012Guntersville Reservoir
Catfish, Blue (b) 120 lb 4 oz3/9/2012Holt Reservoir
Catfish, Channel 40 lb6/17/1967Inland Lake
Catfish, Flathead 80 lb6/22/1986 Alabama River, Selma
Catfish, White 10 lb 5 oz4/3/1981Chambers Co. Public Lake
Crappie, Black (tie) 4 lb 5 oz6/2/1997private pond in Jefferson Co.
Crappie, White 4 lb 9 oz5/8/2000Lake Martin, Tallapoosa Co.
Drum, Freshwater (b) 41 lb 8 oz7/24/1949 Wilson Reservoir
Eel, American 5 lb 8 oz5/11/1989Lake Shechi, Chilton Co.
Gar, Alligator 151 lb 5 oz8/13/2004Tensaw River
Gar, Longnose 32 lb 14oz4/18/1985Jordan Reservoir
Gar, Spotted 8 lb 12 oz8/26/1987Cotaco Creek
Herring, Skipjack3 lb 4 oz5/2/2012Mulberry Fork
Muskellunge 19 lb 8 oz12/31/1972 Wilson Dam tailwater
Paddlefish 52 lb 12 oz3/18/1982Wilson Dam tailwater
Perch, Yellow 1 lb 15 oz2/26/2000Wheeler Reservoir, Limestone Co.
Pickerel, Chain 6 lb 6 oz6/24/1976Dyas Creek, Baldwin County
Pickerel, Redfin 0 lb 11 oz8/24/2010Armstrong Creek, Wash. Co.
Redhorse, Silver (a)14 lb 14 oz4/24/1995Wilson Dam tailwater
Sauger 5 lb 2 oz3/5/1972Wilson Dam tailwater
Sunfish, Bluegill (a) 4 lb 12 oz4/9/1950Ketona Lake, Birmingham
Sunfish, Green 1 lb 9 oz8/10/2005McLamore Pond, Walker County
Sunfish, Longear 8 oz5/12/1990Yellow River
Sunfish, Redbreast 1 lb 4 oz6/12/2010Choctawhatchee River
Sunfish, Redear (b)4 lb 4 oz5/5/1962Chattahoochee State Park
Trout, Rainbow 9 lb 1 oz4/22/2006Mud Creek, Tannehill State Park
Walleye 10 lb 14 oz6/24/1980Weiss Reservoir
Warmouth 1 lb 12 oz4/25/1986Farm Pond
(a) World Record, Rod And Reel (b) Previous World Record, Rod and Reel (c) Previous World Record, Any Method

Saltwater fishing

Deep Sea Fishing In Gulf of Mexico Deepsea.JPG
Deep Sea Fishing In Gulf of Mexico

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

Species [8] WeightDate
Amberjack, Greater 127 lb12oz06/19/81
Angelfish, Blue2 lb3z04/29/01
Barracuda, Great 52 lb4oz07/15/05
Barrelfish12 lb 0 Oz07/07/06
Bass, Longtail5 lb 10 Oz07/15/06
Bass, Striped55 lb 0 Oz06/22/76
Bigeye3 lb 2 Oz06/28/06
Bluefish 17 lb 4 Oz06/05/04
Bonito, Atlantic 5 lb 5 Oz12/31/94
Brotula, Bearded19 lb 8 Oz08/09/97
Catfish, Gafftopsail 8 lb 13 Oz07/11/92
Catfish, Sea 3 lb 1 oz5/2/2012
Chub, Bermuda 10 lb 5 Oz6/17/2006
Chub, Yellow7 lb 4 Oz10/22/2002
Cobia 117 lb 7 Oz4/18/1995
Creolefish0 lb 13 Oz1/28/2004
Crevalle Jack 39 lb 4 Oz8/20/1994
Cubbyhu 2 lb 3 oz7/13/2013
Croaker, Atlantic 4 lb 0 Oz9/3/1994
Doctorfish 1 lb 4 Oz9/13/2007
Dolphinfish, Common 60 lb 0 Oz5/27/1989
Dolphinfish, Pompano 4 lb 2 oz6/30/2012
Drum, Black 61 lb 0 Oz4/20/2002
Drum, Red 45 lb 9 oz7/9/2013
Escolar 62 lb 7 Oz04/27/03
Filefish 8 lb 8 Oz10/12/1991
Flounder, Southern 13 lb 3 Oz10/15/1975
Grouper, Black 106 lb 3.2 Oz8/11/2012
Grouper, Gag 74 lb 8 Oz1963
Grouper, Red 34 lb 10 Oz3/23/2002
Grouper, Scamp 29 lb 10 Oz07/22/00
Grouper, Snowy 52 lb 9 Oz07/07/06
Grouper, Warsaw 226 lb 0 Oz07/18/88
Grouper, Yellowedge46 lb 9.2 oz (21.13 kg)6/30/2012
Hake, Southern3 lb 4.5 oz (1.49 kg)4/23/2006
Hind, Red2 lb 14 Oz07/17/87
Hind, Rock3 lb 7.2 oz7/17/2012
Hind, Speckled39 lb 13 oz5/28/2011
Jack, Almaco 47 lb 8 Oz05/11/02
Jack, Horse-eye 15 lb 5 oz7/10/2007
Kingfish, Gulf/Southern 2 lb 15 Oz09/04/01
Ladyfish 4 lb 8 Oz07/28/06
Little Tunny 21 lb 0 Oz1956
Lookdown 2 lb 2 Oz08/24/97
Mackerel, King 69 lb 10 oz5/6/2012
Mackerel, Spanish 8 lb 12 Oz10/19/93
Marlin, Blue 845 lb 13 oz7/12/2013
Marlin, White 98 lb 13 Oz05/24/97
Moonfish, Atlantic1 lb 0 Oz08/12/03
Mullet, Striped 1 lb 2 Oz06/14/03
Pinfish 3 lb 2 Oz05/15/01
Pompano, African 39 lb 7 Oz09/09/89
Pompano, Florida (Tie) 5 lb 8 Oz11/11/99 & 10/21/03
Porgy, Red 7 lb 6 Oz06/16/91
Porgy, Whitebone5 lb 10 oz7/17/2011
Puffer, Smooth10 lb 3 oz4/2/2013
Rosefish, Blackbelly 4 lb 13 Oz07/13/12
Runner, Rainbow 19 lb 9 Oz09/10/06
Runner, Blue 11 lb 2 Oz06/28/97
Sailfish, Atlantic 81 lb 0 Oz1974
Seabass, Black 3 lb 2 Oz07/31/00
Searobin, Blackwing1 lb (0.45 kg) 13 Oz04/24/05
Seatrout, Sand/Silver 6 lb (2.7 kg) 11 Oz07/12/97
Seatrout, Spotted 12 lb (5.4 kg) 4 Oz05/06/80
Shark, Atl.Sharpnose 16 lb (7.3 kg) 3 Oz05/12/06
Shark, Bull 336 lb (152 kg) 8 Oz8/3/2012
Shark, Lemon 278 lb (126 kg) 8 Oz07/21/95
Shark, Mako 737 lb (334 kg) 0 Oz08/20/78
Shark, Tiger 988 lb (448 kg) 8 Oz06/24/90
Sharksucker 4 lb (1.8 kg) 7 Oz05/12/04
Sheepshead 12 lb (5.4 kg) 15 Oz11/20/01
Slimehead, Darwins 4 lb 0 oz6/30/2012
Snapper, Cubera 52 lb (24 kg) 0 Oz05/20/88
Snapper, Dog 13 lb 4 Oz7/16/2004
Snapper, Gray 15 lb 11 Oz7/3/2003
Snapper, Lane 8 lb 1 oz7/15/2011
Snapper, Mutton 20 lb 12 Oz6/25/2006
Snapper, Red 44 lb 12 Oz6/1/2002
Snapper, Silk6 lb 3 Oz5/27/2006
Snapper, Vermilion 7 lb 3 Oz6/6/1987
Snapper, Yellowtail 6 lb 15 oz7/5/2011
Spadefish, Atlantic 6 lb 12 Oz4/14/2003
Spearfish, Longbill 53 lb 0 Oz5/29/1905
Squirrelfish 1 lb 1 Oz8/4/2006
Stargazer, Southern6 lb 4.5 Oz4/13/2006
Stingray, Roughtail 160 lb 0 Oz8/6/2000
Stingray, Southern 125 lb 0 Oz8/20/1998
Swordfish 448 lb 0 Oz9/16/2006
Tarpon 203 lb 0 oz8/15/1992
Tilefish, Atlantic Golden5 lb 0 oz5/16/2012
Tilefish, Blue Line6 lb 12 oz5/29/2006
Tilefish, Great Northern 29 lb 4 oz5/12/2007
Tilefish, Sand 2 lb 1 oz7/24/2012
Triggerfish, Gray 13 lb 8 oz5/31/1993
Triggerfish, Ocean 7 lb 10 oz8/10/2013
Triggerfish, Queen 7 lb 8 oz7/6/1999
Tripletail 37 lb 5 oz1979
Tuna, Big Eye 107 lb 1 oz8/2/2012
Tuna, Blackfin 35 lb 2 oz7/1/2008
Tuna, Bluefin 829 lb 6 oz6/3/2006
Tuna, Skipjack 32 b 6 oz8/31/2013
Tuna, Yellowfin 22 1b 7.2 oz6/3/2006
Wahoo 123 lb 6 oz5/6/2006
Wreckfish 68 lb 6 oz5/6/2006

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted bass</span> Species of fish

The spotted bass, also called spotty, or spots in various fishing communities, is a species of North American freshwater fish belonging to the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of the order Perciformes. It is noted for the rows of dark spots below the lateral line, which give it its common name. One of the black basses, it is native to the Mississippi River basin and across the Gulf states, from central Texas through the Florida panhandle. Its native range extends into the western Mid-Atlantic states and it has been introduced into western North Carolina and Virginia. It has also been introduced to southern Africa, where it has become established in some isolated waters as an invasive species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Striped bass</span> Species of fish

The striped bass, also called the Atlantic striped bass, striper, linesider, rock, or rockfish, is an anadromous perciform fish of the family Moronidae found primarily along the Atlantic coast of North America. It has also been widely introduced into inland recreational fisheries across the United States. Striped bass found in the Gulf of Mexico are a separate strain referred to as Gulf Coast striped bass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Largemouth bass</span> Species of black bass

The largemouth bass is a carnivorous freshwater ray-finned fish in the Centrarchidae (sunfish) family, native to the eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada and northern Mexico. It is known by a variety of regional names, such as the widemouth bass, bigmouth bass, black bass, bucketmouth, largie, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, bucketmouth bass, green trout, Gilsdorf bass, Oswego bass, LMB, and southern largemouth and northern largemouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bass fishing</span> Recreational activity targeting North American black bass species

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mimic shiner</span> Species of fish

The mimic shiner is a species of North American cyprinid freshwater fish in the genus Notropis. The genus Notropis is commonly known as the eastern shiners. It is native to areas of the Hudson Bay drainage, Great Lakes drainage, much of the Mississippi River basin including areas of Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, and regions of the Gulf of Mexico extending from Mobile Bay to the drainage of Texas. However, this particular species can be found in other places such as the Atlantic Coast drainage in Connecticut and Housatonic rivers. This genus is usually characterized by almost all having a complete lateral line, 8 dorsal fin rays, a premaxillae protactile, and a silvery or speckled peritoneum. As the common name indicates, this species is difficult to classify in the wild because it looks similar to many other shiners. In fact, some even hypothesize that this species is actually a complexity of many cryptic species. While this is the case, it is important to take more caution to not misidentify this species and to understand its impact on introduced areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishing industry in Pakistan</span> Overview of fishing in Pakistan

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Piney Run Park is a nature park in Sykesville, located in Carroll County, Maryland. It is Carroll County's oldest developed park and hosts thousands of visitors annually. The park encompasses 550 acres of fields, forest and open spaces, features over 15 miles of hiking trails, a 300-acre lake and many sports and recreational facilities. Prior to being a park, this land was a private farm.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Powerton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area</span> State park in Illinois, USA

Powerton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area is a 1,426-acre (577 ha) area of semi-protected habitat on the Illinois River southwest of to the city of Pekin, Illinois within Tazewell County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The parcel is a cooling reservoir owned by NRG Energy, an electric power generating firm, and is operated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). The lake is used for fishing, with an emphasis on blue catfish. In addition, IDNR states that approximately 60% of the cooling pond is used for duck and goose hunting during legal hunting seasons. The remaining 40% of the pond is maintained as a waterfowl refuge on a year-round basis.

References

Notes

  1. 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.
  2. 1 2 Official Web site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
  3. About B.A.S.S.
  4. Official Freshwater Fish of Alabama Archived February 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Rivers of Alabama". Archived from the original on 2007-05-18. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  6. "Official Web site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources". Archived from the original on 2007-04-27. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  7. "Official Saltwater Fish of Alabama". Archived from the original on 2017-05-31. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  8. "Alabama Saltwater Records". Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2014-07-23.