Alabama Spearfishing Rules Card

Legal status

Saltwater LegalFreshwater Permitted

Spearfishing is legal in Alabama in all waters of the state, both fresh and salt, provided the person doing the spearing is completely submerged and holds the required licenses.

License

Required: Commercial or Nongame Fish Spearfishing License (Ala. Code § 9-11-171)

Resident: $6.00 annual spearfishing license (current ADCNR fee, s2). The underlying resident annual saltwater fishing license is $30.05. Note: the statute itself (§ 9-11-171) still lists the older base figure of $5.00 for the resident spearfishing license; the $6.00 sold price reflects issuance/cost adjustments.

Non-resident: $8.50 annual spearfishing license, or $3.50 for a 7-day trip spearfishing license (current ADCNR fees, s2). Underlying nonresident annual saltwater fishing license ranges $48.20 (Florida residents) to $129.20 (Louisiana residents) to $64.90 (all other states) under Alabama's reciprocal system. Statute § 9-11-171 lists older base figures of $7.50 annual / $2.50 seven-day for the spearfishing license.

Gear rules

• Spearguns: Allowed. The statutory definition of 'spearing' (§ 9-11-170) covers 'a weapon, other than a firearm, which propels or forces a projectile.
• Pole spears: Allowed. The definition of 'spearing' expressly includes 'a spear or similar instrument that is held in the hand of the person using same'.
• On scuba: Not prohibited, and effectively contemplated: § 9-11-170 requires the person spearing to be 'completely submerged,' and the article.
• The person spearing must be COMPLETELY SUBMERGED, surface spearing is not lawful (§ 9-11-170, s1).
• Firearms may not be used to propel a spear/projectile (the definition excludes firearms), so powerheads and bangsticks are not a lawful.
• A diver's flag must be displayed on the surface where skin divers are operating (§ 9-11-174 → Title 33, Ch. 5, s1).
• For taking nongame/commercial fish by GIG or hand grabbling, only a single barbless hook may be used, treble hooks and barbed hooks are.

Do not spear

• All freshwater GAME fish, which may not be speared or gigged
• Saltwater: no blanket statutory no-spear species list, 'all species of saltwater fish' are treated as spearable for licensing purposes

Area restrictions

• No statewide distance-from-swimmers/pier/beach spearing setback appears in Article 5; the primary spatial rules are the 'completely submerged'.
• Competitive spearfishing events: when a group meets for a competitive spearfishing event, written notice of the time, date and place must be given.
• State parks, wildlife management areas, and specific reservoirs may carry additional local restrictions, not covered in Article 5; verify locally.

Before you dive

• Never dive alone: one up, one down.
• Check current seasons and sizes the morning of the dive.
• Confirm with Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) — Marine Resources Division (saltwater) and Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division (freshwater): https://www.outdooralabama.com