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FISHING CALENDAR · ALABAMA
Alabama Fishing Calendar
Alabama fishing runs from Mobile Bay, the Delta and the Gulf beaches at Gulf Shores and Orange Beach out to the artificial reef zones, plus big reservoirs and rivers inland. Seasons and closures come from ADCNR Marine Resources Division and NOAA 2026 rules. Saltwater good months come from the official Gulf Shores & Orange Beach tourism fishing-season page; freshwater months come from ADCNR's spring fishing tips.
Government fish & wildlife updates
- Outdoor Alabama News (ADCNR) — ADCNR press releases: snapper, seasons, fishing news
- MRD Season Closures, Notices and Updates — Current red snapper, triggerfish, amberjack, grouper status
Month by month
| Fish | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater | |||||||||||||
| Largemouth bass | ADCNR: bigger bass come early (March–April); May is the best month in reservoirs. Spawns April to late May. 10 black bass/day combined.[8][10][7] | ||||||||||||
| Alabama bass (spotted bass) | Spawns April–May in creek mouths. Counts in the 10 black bass/day limit. No official best months found.[11][7][12] | ||||||||||||
| Crappie | ADCNR: early season (February) can be very productive; best before and after the spawn (April into May). 30/day; 9 in. minimum on most public waters.[8][9][7][12] | ||||||||||||
| Bluegill (bream) | ADCNR: spawn monthly May–October, especially on full moons; feed well at midday. 50/day.[8][7][13] | ||||||||||||
| Striped bass and hybrids | 15/day combined, no more than 5 over 22 in. (lake exceptions apply). No official best months found.[7][12] | ||||||||||||
| Catfish (blue, channel, flathead) | No limit under 34 in.; only 1 over 34 in. per day. No official best months found.[7][12] | ||||||||||||
| Inshore saltwater (Mobile Bay, beaches, piers) | |||||||||||||
| Redfish (red drum) | Tourism page: spring and fall inshore; October is the best month (bigger, hungrier fish). 16–26 in., 3/day.[5][1] | ||||||||||||
| Speckled trout (spotted seatrout) | Tourism page: spring inshore and still biting in winter. 15–22 in., 6/day (1 may be over 22 in.).[5][1][14] | ||||||||||||
| Flounder | Tourism page: spring surf, fall inshore and pier, and winter. Closed all of November. 14 in., 5/day.[5][1][15] | ||||||||||||
| Sheepshead | Tourism page: spring surf and winter. 12 in. FL, 8/day.[5][1][16] | ||||||||||||
| Black drum | Tourism page: spring inshore.[5][17] | ||||||||||||
| Florida pompano | Tourism page: spring and winter surf fishing. 12 in., 3/day.[5][1][18] | ||||||||||||
| Whiting (Gulf kingfish) | Tourism page: winter surf fishing.[5][19] | ||||||||||||
| Tripletail | Tourism page: summer. 18 in., 3/day.[5][1][20] | ||||||||||||
| Cobia (ling) | Tourism: spring through early fall around nearshore structure. 36 in. FL, 1/person, 2 per vessel.[6][1][12] | ||||||||||||
| Spanish mackerel | Tourism page: fall at Gulf State Park Pier. No size limit, 15/day.[5][1][21] | ||||||||||||
| Jack crevalle | Tourism page: fall inshore.[5][22] | ||||||||||||
| Offshore (Gulf) | |||||||||||||
| Red snapper | 2026 private/state charter season opened May 22, 7 days a week until Dec 31 or quota met. Federal for-hire boats: Jun 1–Oct 25. 16 in., 2/day. Reef Fish Endorsement and Snapper Check report required. No official best months found.[3][2][1][12] | ||||||||||||
| Gray triggerfish | Closed every Jan–Feb and Jun–Jul; 2026 open Mar 1–May 31 and from Aug 1. Tourism page: fall is a good time. 15 in. FL, 1/day.[2][5][1] | ||||||||||||
| Greater amberjack | 2026 season Sep 1–Oct 13 only; tourism page lists amberjack as a fall fish. 34 in. FL, 1/day. Report in Snapper Check.[4][2][5][1] | ||||||||||||
| Gag grouper | 2026 private recreational season Sep 1–Oct 1. 24 in., 2/day within 4 grouper aggregate. No official best months found.[5][2][1] | ||||||||||||
| King mackerel | Tourism page: fall, including from the Gulf State Park Pier. 24 in. FL, 3/day.[5][1][21] | ||||||||||||
| Mahi-mahi (dolphin) | Tourism page: summer offshore.[5][23] | ||||||||||||
| Wahoo | Tourism page: summer offshore.[5][23] | ||||||||||||
| Yellowfin tuna | Tourism page: fall offshore. 27 in. curved fork length, 3/day. HMS permit needed.[5][1] | ||||||||||||
| Vermilion snapper (beeliner) | 10 in., 10/day; opens and closes with federal rules. No official best months found.[1][18] | ||||||||||||
| Gray (mangrove) snapper | 12 in., 10/day. No official best months found.[1] | ||||||||||||
Never keep: Never keep: goliath grouper, Nassau grouper, smalltooth and largetooth sawfish, spotted eagle ray, Atlantic manta, and prohibited sharks (sand tiger, bigeye sand tiger, dusky, sandbar, shortfin and longfin mako, white, whale, basking, night, Galapagos, Caribbean reef, sixgill, sevengill and others). Red snapper may not be kept in state waters when Alabama's season is closed.[1][3]
Bait & rig for each fish
Largemouth bass
Bait: Live wild shiners.
Lures: Plastic worms, swimbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater frogs and crankbaits.
Rig: Float rig, Carolina/bottom rig, jig head or simple lure setup depending on depth and species.
Leader: Often 6–15 lb mono/fluoro; heavier leader is useful around abrasive cover or toothy fish.
Crappie
Bait: Live minnows (shiners).
Lures: Small 1/32–1/16 oz jigs with curly or minnow tails.
Leader: None needed.
Bluegill (bream)
Bait: Texas Parks & Wildlife lists worms, crickets and mealworms as preferred bluegill baits.
Lures: Tiny jigs, beetle spins and small popping bugs.
Rig: Float rig, Carolina/bottom rig, jig head or simple lure setup depending on depth and species.
Leader: Often 6–15 lb mono/fluoro; heavier leader is useful around abrasive cover or toothy fish.
Striped bass and hybrids
Bait: Live shad and shiners.
Lures: Bucktail jigs, swimbaits and topwater plugs.
Leader: Usually none; add a short fluorocarbon leader with braid.
Catfish (blue, channel, flathead)
Bait: Fresh cut shad, skipjack herring or other oily fish.
Lures: —
Leader: 25–50 lb mono, 18–24 in.
Redfish (red drum)
Bait: Live or cut mullet, pinfish, blue crab pieces, and live or fresh dead shrimp.
Lures: Gold spoons, paddle-tail soft plastics on a 1/8–1/4 oz jig head, topwater walking baits, and shrimp imitations.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Speckled trout (spotted seatrout)
Bait: Live shrimp under a popping cork, live pilchards or pinfish.
Lures: Soft-plastic jerkbaits and paddle tails, suspending twitchbaits, and topwater walking baits at dawn.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Flounder
Bait: Live mud minnows, finger mullet and shrimp.
Lures: Soft plastics on a jig head dragged slowly on the bottom; Gulp! swimming mullet.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Sheepshead
Bait: Fiddler crabs, live shrimp, sand fleas, oysters and barnacles.
Lures: Rarely; a small jig tipped with shrimp or fiddler.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Black drum
Bait: Texas Parks & Wildlife documents cut fish, squid and shrimp, with peeled shrimp tails especially common.
Lures: Rarely; a slow jig tipped with shrimp.
Rig: A conventional bottom rig with a sinker and one or more single-hook drops is documented; a single drop with little or no weight is also described.
Leader: 10–30 lb fluorocarbon/mono is a common flats/inshore start; move to 40–80 lb around abrasive mouths, structure or large tarpon/snook.
Florida pompano
Bait: Sand fleas (mole crabs), clams and shrimp; Fishbites.
Lures: Small pompano jigs (doc's goofy jigs) bounced on the bottom.
Rig: A light two-hook/high-low or Carolina-style sand-bottom rig is a common starting setup where legal.
Leader: 10–30 lb fluorocarbon/mono is a common flats/inshore start; move to 40–80 lb around abrasive mouths, structure or large tarpon/snook.
Whiting (Gulf kingfish)
Bait: Sand fleas (mole crabs), shrimp and clam.
Lures: Fishbites sand flea or shrimp flavor.
Leader: 15–20 lb mono or fluorocarbon.
Tripletail
Bait: Live shrimp under a cork.
Lures: Small jigs and shrimp imitations.
Leader: 30–40 lb fluorocarbon (add light wire for mackerel and bluefish).
Cobia (ling)
Bait: Live eels, pinfish, croakers, crabs and menhaden.
Lures: Big bucktail jigs (1–3 oz) with a long soft-plastic tail, and large soft eels.
Leader: 30–40 lb fluorocarbon (add light wire for mackerel and bluefish).
Spanish mackerel
Bait: Live shiners, pilchards and glass minnows.
Lures: Gotcha plugs, small silver spoons, Clarkspoons trolled and small jigs.
Leader: 30–40 lb fluorocarbon (add light wire for mackerel and bluefish).
Jack crevalle
Bait: Live mullet, pilchards and pinfish.
Lures: Topwater poppers, spoons and swimbaits.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.
Red snapper
Bait: Cut bait, squid and live pinfish or cigar minnows.
Lures: Vertical jigs.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.
Gray triggerfish
Bait: Florida FWC documents squid or cut bait for gray triggerfish.
Lures: Small jigs, soft plastics, spoons or micro-jigs are common choices; use the smallest lure that reaches the zone.
Rig: Simple dropper, knocker or light jig rig; keep hardware small and use only enough weight to maintain contact.
Leader: 12–30 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common start.
Greater amberjack
Bait: Live blue runners, pinfish and large baitfish.
Lures: Heavy vertical jigs and big poppers.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.
Gag grouper
Bait: Live pinfish, grunts, sardines; big cut baits.
Lures: Deep-diving plugs trolled over ledges; heavy jigs.
Leader: 50–80 lb fluorocarbon.
King mackerel
Bait: Live blue runners, goggle-eyes, menhaden and threadfin herring; frozen cigar minnows.
Lures: Spoons, diving plugs and duster-rigged baits.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: Wire or monofilament leader is documented; material choice, strength and length are not universally established.
Mahi-mahi (dolphin)
Bait: Ballyhoo, flying fish, squid and cut bait to keep a school near the boat.
Lures: Skirted trolling lures, small feathers and bucktail jigs.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 30–60 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common mahi start; increase for abrasion or mixed wahoo water.
Wahoo
Bait: Rigged ballyhoo and live baits on wire.
Lures: High-speed trolling lures and lipped diving plugs on wire.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: Use heavy abrasion/bite leader; many wahoo anglers add short wire or cable because of the teeth.
Yellowfin tuna
Bait: Live baits (blue runners, bonito) and chunks.
Lures: Spreader bars, skirted lures, poppers and stick baits.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; toothy species may need heavier abrasion-resistant or wire bite protection.
Vermilion snapper (beeliner)
Bait: Squid and cut bait on small hooks.
Lures: Small jigs and sabikis.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.
Gray (mangrove) snapper
Bait: Live shrimp, pilchards, pinfish and cut bait.
Lures: Small jigs and soft plastics worked near structure.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.
Local fishing reports — what’s biting now
- Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report (Great Days Outdoors) — Weekly podcast: Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Mobile Bay, offshore, with local tackle shops and captains
- Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report (Great Days Outdoors) — Weekly report: Delta bass, crappie, Causeway redfish and flounder
- Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Fishing Newsletter — Official tourism sign-up for what's biting and fishing events
Sources
- ADCNR Marine Resources – Saltwater Recreational Size & Creel Limits
- ADCNR Marine Resources – Saltwater Season Closures, Notices and Updates
- ADCNR – Red Snapper Season Opens 7 Days a Week Starting May 22 (2026)
- NOAA Fisheries – 2026 Gulf greater amberjack recreational season
- Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism – Fishing Seasons
- Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism – Cobia fishing
- ADCNR – Freshwater Fishing Creel and Size Limits
- ADCNR – Freshwater Spring Fishing Tips
- ADCNR – Black crappie
- ADCNR – Largemouth bass
- ADCNR – Spotted bass / Alabama bass
- Alabama 2016 Fishing Calendar (Game & Fish)
- Best Bets for Alabama Fishing in 2012 (Game & Fish)
- Get Your Hooks (and Forks) Ready for Alabama's Spring Fish (Alabama Dept. of Agriculture & Industries)
- What's Biting: Fall Pier Fishing (Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism)
- Now is the Time to Target Sheepshead in Coastal Waters (Outdoor Alabama / ADCNR)
- Things to Do in Gulf Shores in March (Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism)
- Alabama Fishing Calendar 2019 (Game & Fish)
- Whiting Fishing (Great Days Outdoors)
- What's Funny Looking and a Blast to Catch? Alabama's Tripletail (Great Days Outdoors)
- Fall Fishing Migration (Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism)
- Jack Crevalle Fishing on Alabama's Beaches (Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism)
- Alabama's Hush-Hush Hotspot (Marlin Magazine)
Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every month on this calendar comes from the sources above. Empty boxes mean no official source gives those months. Rules change — check the agency page before you keep a fish.
On the bay, in the mangroves or on the ocean, the everyday struggles get left at the dock — for those few hours it’s just you, the water and peace.