Recreational Legal Size
No restrictions i n a r ea s ope n t o
c omme r c i a l shrimping and designated
exclusive bait areas.
Commercial Pounds Allowed
No limit.
Recreational Pounds Allowed
In areas open to commercial shrimping, five (5)
gallons per person per day. In designated
exclusive bait areas, one (1) gallon per boat per
day.
LIVE BAIT
License expires September 30 of each year.
License
• Sell live shrimp for bait and operate one
boat and one truck - $105.00
• Sell live shrimp for bait and operate two
boats and two trucks - $210.00
(Limit – two boats and two trucks per dealer)
Non-resident
Non-residents transporting and/or selling live or
dead saltwater bait shall pay a license fee equal
to that charged to an Alabama resident to
conduct the same activity in the state of
residence of the applicant and in no event less
than double that of a citizen of the state of
Alabama.
Live bait boats must have Alabama
registration (no out of state catcher/facility
boats)
Place of Business
Shore Facility
A permanently erected building from which
fishing bait and fishing supplies and tackle are
routinely sold to the public; or
Vessel Place of Business Excluding Shrimp
A vessel that sells live or dead saltwater bait
(excluding shrimp) to the public. Such vessel
shall meet the requirements for a boat facility,
shall provide a physical address where vessel
will be docked or stored, shall not possess or
attempt to possess or attempt to use a trawl, and
shall make vessel immediately available for
inspection. Such vessel shall have the words
“Live Bait – No Shrimp” in letters at least six
(6) inches high on both sides of the vessel; or
Vessel Place of Business Including Shrimp
A vessel that sells live or dead saltwater bait
(including shrimp) from a designated location to
the public. Marine Resources Division shall be
notified of the GPS position of the designated
location ten (10) working days prior to utilizing
or moving such location. The vessel shall meet
all the requirements of a shore facility and a boat
facility, shall provide a physical address where
vessel will be docked or stored, shall not possess
or attempt to possess or attempt to use a trawl,
shall make a vessel immediately available for
inspection. Such vessel shall have the words
“Live Bait – For Sale” in letters at least six (6)
inches high on both sides of the vessel.
Season
No closed season, but areas may be closed by
regulation. Prohibited in permanently closed
areas. Designated exclusive bait areas are open
to live bait dealers year around from 4:00 a.m.
until 10:00 p.m.
Gear
One trawl per boat. Trawl shall not exceed fifty
feet (50’) as measured across main top line
except when in an area temporarily closed to
commercial shrimping or in a designated live
bait area the trawl shall not exceed sixteen feet
(16’). No mesh restrictions. Boats shall display
the words “LIVE BAIT” in letters no smaller
than six inches (6”) high on each side of the boat
and shall have a tank with a spray system
operated by a pump or commercial fish aerator
or a live well with forced water exchange.
Trucks must have a wooden or fabricated
transport tank with water recirculation or
commercial fish aerator and shall display the
words “LIVE BAIT” no smaller than six inches
(6”) high on each side of the truck. Boats and
Trucks licensed under a Vessel Place of
Business Excluding Shrimp shall not possess or
transport live or dead shrimp. These boats and
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No restrictions i n a r ea s ope n t o
c omme r c i a l shrimping and designated
exclusive bait areas.
Commercial Pounds Allowed
No limit.
Recreational Pounds Allowed
In areas open to commercial shrimping, five (5)
gallons per person per day. In designated
exclusive bait areas, one (1) gallon per boat per
day.
LIVE BAIT
License expires September 30 of each year.
License
• Sell live shrimp for bait and operate one
boat and one truck - $105.00
• Sell live shrimp for bait and operate two
boats and two trucks - $210.00
(Limit – two boats and two trucks per dealer)
Non-resident
Non-residents transporting and/or selling live or
dead saltwater bait shall pay a license fee equal
to that charged to an Alabama resident to
conduct the same activity in the state of
residence of the applicant and in no event less
than double that of a citizen of the state of
Alabama.
Live bait boats must have Alabama
registration (no out of state catcher/facility
boats)
Place of Business
Shore Facility
A permanently erected building from which
fishing bait and fishing supplies and tackle are
routinely sold to the public; or
Vessel Place of Business Excluding Shrimp
A vessel that sells live or dead saltwater bait
(excluding shrimp) to the public. Such vessel
shall meet the requirements for a boat facility,
shall provide a physical address where vessel
will be docked or stored, shall not possess or
attempt to possess or attempt to use a trawl, and
shall make vessel immediately available for
inspection. Such vessel shall have the words
“Live Bait – No Shrimp” in letters at least six
(6) inches high on both sides of the vessel; or
Vessel Place of Business Including Shrimp
A vessel that sells live or dead saltwater bait
(including shrimp) from a designated location to
the public. Marine Resources Division shall be
notified of the GPS position of the designated
location ten (10) working days prior to utilizing
or moving such location. The vessel shall meet
all the requirements of a shore facility and a boat
facility, shall provide a physical address where
vessel will be docked or stored, shall not possess
or attempt to possess or attempt to use a trawl,
shall make a vessel immediately available for
inspection. Such vessel shall have the words
“Live Bait – For Sale” in letters at least six (6)
inches high on both sides of the vessel.
Season
No closed season, but areas may be closed by
regulation. Prohibited in permanently closed
areas. Designated exclusive bait areas are open
to live bait dealers year around from 4:00 a.m.
until 10:00 p.m.
Gear
One trawl per boat. Trawl shall not exceed fifty
feet (50’) as measured across main top line
except when in an area temporarily closed to
commercial shrimping or in a designated live
bait area the trawl shall not exceed sixteen feet
(16’). No mesh restrictions. Boats shall display
the words “LIVE BAIT” in letters no smaller
than six inches (6”) high on each side of the boat
and shall have a tank with a spray system
operated by a pump or commercial fish aerator
or a live well with forced water exchange.
Trucks must have a wooden or fabricated
transport tank with water recirculation or
commercial fish aerator and shall display the
words “LIVE BAIT” no smaller than six inches
(6”) high on each side of the truck. Boats and
Trucks licensed under a Vessel Place of
Business Excluding Shrimp shall not possess or
transport live or dead shrimp. These boats and
3