trucks shall meet the same requirements as listed
above except the words in six (6) inch high
letters on each side of the boat or truck shall be
“Live Bait – No Shrimp”
Bull minnow traps in possession onboard a boat
on the waters of the state of Alabama or in use
by a licensed live bait dealer shall be marked
with the Alabama boat registration number.
Legal Size
No restrictions.
Pounds Allowed
Possession of no more than two standard shrimp
baskets of shrimp (live or dead) per boat or
truck. Possession of no more than four standard
shrimp baskets of shrimp (live or dead) per place
of business.
Restrictions
Drags shall not exceed 20 consecutive minutes
before retrieving trawl and sorting boat shrimp
into the live tank. Shrimp can be sold alive or
dead. Dead shrimp must have heads attached
and be packaged and sold in lots no greater than
five pounds.
SHELLFISH – OYSTERS
License Requirements
License expires September 30 of each year.
Persons are allowed to take up to 100 oysters for
personal consumption without a Catcher’s
License.
• Commercial Oyster Catcher
$30.00
(Required by all persons, must be in
possession, taking oysters for commercial
purposes.)
• Harvester education required prior to
purchase, renews every 5 years.
• Oyster Dredge
$30.00
(Required in addition to a Commercial
Oyster Catcher’s License before an oyster
dredge can be used.)
Nonresidents pay the same fee as that charged
Alabama residents to conduct the same activity
in the applicant’s state of residence, or not less
than twice the amount of resident location.
Seasons
The Alabama Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources (ADCNR) and the Alabama
Department of Public Health (ADPH) are
authorized to open and close public areas for
commercial and recreational harvest from
October 1 through April 30 of each year.
Private leases may be closed at any time by the
ADPH for public health reasons. Taking oysters
from a closed area for any reason is a
misdemeanor. Taking oysters from open areas
before or after time as set by regulation is
prohibited. Transporting oysters at n i g h t
through closed areas is prohibited.
Gear
Oysters may be taken from public and private
reefs and water bottoms by hand, oyster tongs or
oyster dredge. Dredges may only be used on
private leases or in designated public reef areas
and must be inspected and permitted by MRD.
Oyster dredges must:
not exceed 125 pounds,
have self- dumping baskets
have no more than 16 teeth
no more than 3 inches between teeth
have a rope no shorter than 15 feet with
a minimum 6 inch buoy attached with
the permit holders number affixed
No more than one dredge may be possessed
onboard at one time.
Size Limits
Oysters taken for either commercial or personal
consumption must be at least three inches (3”) in
length (5% undersize tolerance). Oysters must
be culled on the reef where they are taken.
Possession Limits
Unlawful to take or have in possession more
than the number of sacks of oysters per boat per
day as set by regulation.
Leases
Persons, firms, or corporations desiring to lease
oyster bottoms shall make application in writing
to the Commissioner of Conservation and
Natural Resources accompanied by such fee as
may be prescribed. It is the duty of each lessee
to have established an accurate survey by a
registered surveyor of the bottoms, beds, or reefs
4
above except the words in six (6) inch high
letters on each side of the boat or truck shall be
“Live Bait – No Shrimp”
Bull minnow traps in possession onboard a boat
on the waters of the state of Alabama or in use
by a licensed live bait dealer shall be marked
with the Alabama boat registration number.
Legal Size
No restrictions.
Pounds Allowed
Possession of no more than two standard shrimp
baskets of shrimp (live or dead) per boat or
truck. Possession of no more than four standard
shrimp baskets of shrimp (live or dead) per place
of business.
Restrictions
Drags shall not exceed 20 consecutive minutes
before retrieving trawl and sorting boat shrimp
into the live tank. Shrimp can be sold alive or
dead. Dead shrimp must have heads attached
and be packaged and sold in lots no greater than
five pounds.
SHELLFISH – OYSTERS
License Requirements
License expires September 30 of each year.
Persons are allowed to take up to 100 oysters for
personal consumption without a Catcher’s
License.
• Commercial Oyster Catcher
$30.00
(Required by all persons, must be in
possession, taking oysters for commercial
purposes.)
• Harvester education required prior to
purchase, renews every 5 years.
• Oyster Dredge
$30.00
(Required in addition to a Commercial
Oyster Catcher’s License before an oyster
dredge can be used.)
Nonresidents pay the same fee as that charged
Alabama residents to conduct the same activity
in the applicant’s state of residence, or not less
than twice the amount of resident location.
Seasons
The Alabama Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources (ADCNR) and the Alabama
Department of Public Health (ADPH) are
authorized to open and close public areas for
commercial and recreational harvest from
October 1 through April 30 of each year.
Private leases may be closed at any time by the
ADPH for public health reasons. Taking oysters
from a closed area for any reason is a
misdemeanor. Taking oysters from open areas
before or after time as set by regulation is
prohibited. Transporting oysters at n i g h t
through closed areas is prohibited.
Gear
Oysters may be taken from public and private
reefs and water bottoms by hand, oyster tongs or
oyster dredge. Dredges may only be used on
private leases or in designated public reef areas
and must be inspected and permitted by MRD.
Oyster dredges must:
not exceed 125 pounds,
have self- dumping baskets
have no more than 16 teeth
no more than 3 inches between teeth
have a rope no shorter than 15 feet with
a minimum 6 inch buoy attached with
the permit holders number affixed
No more than one dredge may be possessed
onboard at one time.
Size Limits
Oysters taken for either commercial or personal
consumption must be at least three inches (3”) in
length (5% undersize tolerance). Oysters must
be culled on the reef where they are taken.
Possession Limits
Unlawful to take or have in possession more
than the number of sacks of oysters per boat per
day as set by regulation.
Leases
Persons, firms, or corporations desiring to lease
oyster bottoms shall make application in writing
to the Commissioner of Conservation and
Natural Resources accompanied by such fee as
may be prescribed. It is the duty of each lessee
to have established an accurate survey by a
registered surveyor of the bottoms, beds, or reefs
4