Marine Sportfish

By: Rachel McGuire

Alabama has approximately 57 miles of Gulf Coast beachfront and just over 600 miles of estuary and tidal coastline, providing plenty of opportunities for marine sportfishing. A hotspot for saltwater fishing is in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach that is known as the “Red Snapper capital of the World.” Fort Morgan is known for its premiere redfish fishery.

Permits, Regulations, and Seasons

A saltwater fishing license is required for all persons fishing of possessing fish in saltwater areas of Alabama including the Intracoastal Waterway and the back bays. A few exemptions are residents and non-residents under the age of 16, residents over the age of 65, and residents fishing from a licensed public fishing pier in the inside waters.  A saltwater fishing license is also required if using a cast net, gig, bow, crab trap, or spearfishing. A responsible Alabama angler follows regulations for saltwater recreation size and creel limits as well as federal fishing regulations and seasonal closures for the Gulf of Mexico and Alabama saltwater season closures, notices, and updates. Reef Fish and Shark Angling have some additional regulations to follow.

State Jurisdiction extends into the Gulf of Mexico from the coastline to three (3) nautical miles offshore for all fisheries and out to nine (9) nautical miles for gulf reef fish only.

Now we’ll highlight some of the many marine sportfish of Alabama!

Red Snapper

Perhaps the most commonly caught fish off the coast of Alabama, the red snapper can weigh over 30 pounds, but averages 3 pounds (about 16-18 inches long) for most offshore excursions. These fish are called snappers for their large canine teeth. This species is long-lived with the oldest reported in the Gulf of Mexico as 57 years old! Red snappers are found in waters 30-620 feet deep, usually near hard structures such as coral reefs, artificial reefs, ledges, or caves. The Gulf of Mexico stock is currently rebuilding to target levels.

Gray Triggerfish

Triggerfish are a common catch of deep sea fishing. This tasty fish is a hard fighter that grows up to 13 pounds and 28 inches in fork length (FL). The season is early and short compared to most Gulf Coast deep sea fish – from March to early May. Adults can change colors, especially during the spawning season – with females turning a white and black pattern and males turning dark charcoal gray. Adults live on coral reefs, artificial reefs, and ledges in waters 80-300 feet deep.

Greater Amberjack

Also called a “sea donkey” because of how hard the species fights on the line, the greater amberjack is another common catch while deep sea fishing in Alabama. The season is typically August to October, with catches averaging up to 40 pounds; however, the species can grow to 200 pounds and 6 feet long. This species schools in the open ocean as juveniles, but loses the schooling behavior in adulthood where they shift to bottom-dwelling near reefs and rocky outcrops from depths of 50-240 feet.

Mackerel

The king mackerel is a tasty fish that shows up in Alabama from early to mid-June until late October. Younger fish between 24-30 inches in fork length are best for human consumption. The Spanish mackerel is a smaller species that closely resembles the Kings.

The Spanish mackerel retains yellow elliptical spots on its sides into adulthood, while the pattern fades to black or a more leopard-like pattern in the Kings. Both species prefer warm waters not dipping below 68 degrees Fahrenheit and are found in the open water near the coast.

Vermilion Snapper

Also called “beeliners,” vermilion snappers are a common deep sea fishing catch found on natural bottoms between 60-400 feet deep. Vermilions are small with streamlined bodies, growing up to 2 feet long and 7 pounds that live 15+ years. This species schools and consumes fish, shrimp, crab, worms, and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates. This fishery is not subject to overfishing based on recent catch data.

Grouper

Several species of grouper can be caught offshore, year-round in Alabama including gag grouper, red grouper, black grouper, yellowfin grouper, and scamp. Grouper can grow quite large (up to 8 feet and hundreds of pounds) but are rarely found that large in the Gulf of Mexico. Most groupers are hermaphroditic, beginning life as males and becoming females after a few years. Adults typically travel solo unless actively reproducing. These fish are easy to hook, but can be hard to land. There mild-tasting meat is popular, even amongst those that don’t typically like eating fish.

Drum

Black drum and red drum can be found in Alabama. Red drum, also known as redfish, are fast-growing and easily reach 20-30 pounds in their first couple of years. They, along with black drum, are found in the more shallow water of backwaters and bays. Recent, strict regulations that stopped the fishery have lead to a recent recovery of redfish. Black drum spawn earlier in the year (late spring to early summer) while redfish spawn in the fall. Both are considered tasty fish with similar flavor, but smaller fish have a better taste.

Mahi-Mahi (Dolphinfish)

Mahi-Mahi are migratory fish that can be caught during the late summer and early fall in Alabama found near the surface, similar to yellowfin tuna. Their bright color fades immediately after it is harvested. Juveniles swim in schools, while adults are typically found alone. This fish only lives up to 5 years (capable of reproducing as young as 4 months old) and reaches up to 7 feet long and nearly 90 pounds.

Tarpon

Tarpon, also called the silver king, is the saltwater state fish of Alabama. This migratory species arrives off the waters of Alabama as early as mid-March, peaks in July, and recedes by October. This is perhaps Alabama’s most underrated fishery as most anglers think of the Florida keys or Puerto Rico as the premiere tarpon destination. This is a bony fish not preferred for eating, but is a thrill to fish, especially in tournaments.

Flounder

The flounder is a recognizable fish for its flat appearance with both eyes on one side of its body. The two flounder species found in Alabama are the Gulf flounder and the Southern flounder. The Gulf flounder is smaller (around 2 pounds and up to 14 inches) with a more rounded tail and more vivid coloring and spots. Alternatively, the Southern flounder can reach up to 13 pounds! These fish are found inshore on sandy or muddy bottoms. Flounder are known for their white, flaky, and “non-fishy” taste.

Tuna

Although several species of tuna are found in Gulf of Mexico waters, the most popular is the yellowfin tuna, oftentimes listed on a menu as “ahi tuna.” This colorful fish can grow up to 400 pounds and is relatively short-lived – only living to 7 years. Tuna are predators of fish, squid, and crustaceans and are only considered as prey to top predators such as large fish and sharks. Yellowfin are highly migratory and juveniles will school with skipjack and bigeye tuna. These fish are found near the water’s surface.

Cobia

Also known as ling or lemon fish, cobia are migratory fish that are found in Alabama marine waters in the late spring. These large fish are tough fighters and good-tasting. This species is often mistaken for a shark or remora. Cobia are, in fact, closely related to remoras. They can grow up to 6 feet and 100 pounds and are fierce predators of crustaceans, fish, and squid. The adults travel solo or in small groups and are found near structures in the water such as shipwrecks, artificial reefs, debris, or buoys.

Mullet

Largely considered a bait fish, we can’t go without mentioning the mullet. Mullet can withstand waters with both a great range of temperature as well salinity and can often be found in brackish and freshwater near the coast. They grow to an average of 8-12 inches and feed on detritus. This species demonstrate captivating schooling behavior to avoid predators. The popular Flora-Bama Mullet Toss is held annually in late April to benefit local youth charities where competitors see how far they can toss a dead mullet acorns the Florida-Alabama state line.

Lionfish (Invasive)

Lionfish are an invasive species native to the Indo-Pacific. They have venomous spines (no touchy!) and are wreaking havoc on many of the Gulf Coast’s reef systems by preying on ecologically important native species and outcompeting other native predators. These fish aren’t caught on hook and line, rather they are rounded up by divers, oftentimes in competitive tournaments or state-run incentive programs such as Florida’s. In fact, the world’s largest lionfish tournament, the Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament, captured nearly 25,000 lionfish in May 2023.

Sharks

Although Alabama law prohibits the take of most shark species, they are regularly hooked off piers and deep sea fishing vessels. Hammerhead species including the great, smooth, and scalloped hammerhead are allowed 1 take per day per person as well as the commonly hooked smaller shark, the Atlantic sharpnose (top left).

You can learn more about fishing and eating Alabama seafood sustainably as well as find great recipes for your catch by visiting the Eat Alabama Seafood webpage.

Do you have photos or videos of marine sportfish? If so, share them with us using the AWW Photo/Video Submission form.