The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Marine Resources Division (MRD) announces that Alabama state waters and federal waters will open to private vessel anglers, federal for-hire vessels and state-licensed commercial party boats (operating within the 9-mile state reef fish jurisdiction) for greater amberjack and gray triggerfish on Sunday, August 1, 2021.
The season for greater amberjack will run through October 31, 2021, and gray triggerfish season will run until December 31, 2021, or until a closure is announced by the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Anglers landing greater amberjack or gray triggerfish in Alabama are required to report their catch through Alabama’s Snapper Check system. For more information about Snapper Check, visit www.outdooralabama.com/mrd-fisheries-section/red-snapper-faqs.
All Alabama recreational anglers are reminded of the following
- The daily bag limit for greater amberjack will be one per person, per day with a minimum size limit of 34 inches fork length.
- The daily bag limit for gray triggerfish will be one per person, per day with a minimum size limit of 15 inches fork length.
- Anglers over the age of 16 must have an Alabama saltwater fishing license (resident or non-resident, annual or trip), and any Alabama resident 65 or older or a lifetime saltwater license holder must have a current saltwater angler registration. The saltwater angler registration is free and available at www.outdooralabama.com/saltwater-fishing/saltwater-angler-registration.
- All anglers 16 years of age and older who possess gulf reef fish must have an Alabama Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement which is available at https://myoutdooralabama.com/.
- Anglers under the age of 16 are not required to be licensed, possess an Alabama Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement or have saltwater angler registration, but their catch must be included in a Snapper Check landing report.
- The captain or representative of each vessel landing amberjack or tri
ggerfish in Alabama is required by law to complete one landing report per vessel trip of their harvested fish through Snapper Check prior to removing the fish from the boat or the boat with the fish being removed from the water. The fish are required to be reported prior to landing regardless of the jurisdiction in which they were caught. - Amberjack or triggerfish caught from non-powered vessels, piers and the shoreline are required to be reported through Snapper Check and require a Conservation ID number (CID). For information about how to obtain a CID number visit, www.outdooralabama.com/hunter-resources/GetYourCID.
- A landing report may be submitted through Snapper Check in the Outdoor AL app, which is available from the Apple and Android app stores or online at www.outdooralabama.com/contact-us/mobile-apps.
- Participation in a MRD creel survey or being inspected by enforcement officers is not considered reporting. Anglers must still report through Snapper Check even if encountered by MRD staff.
- Operators of vessels with an Alabama Commercial Party Boat License without federal for-hire permits must possess an Alabama Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement for charter vessels and may only fish inside the 9-mile state waters line. An Alabama landing report must be completed.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through four divisions: Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.
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